There are few things that I love doing more than geoscientifc analysis (i.e., geophysics, geospatial, and remote sensing), environmental action (particularly around water resources and climate), and working towards the resilient development of people and communities.

So that is what I do.

I currently work in geophysics, hydrology, and geoscience at the Illinois State Geological Survey in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois in the Earth Characterization Center. The Illinois State Geological Survey is a part of the Prairie Research Institute, an interdisciplinary research institute located at the University of Illinois.

I am currently completing a PhD at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I am in the Department of Earth Science and Environmental Change in the School of Earth, Society, and Environment studying near surface geophysics and geomorphology using remote sensing data.

I earned master’s degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in environmental policy in the Urban and Regional Planning Department (now, the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture) and in water resources management in the Environment and Resources program of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.  My thesis topic was the resilience of avocado farmers in San Diego County in the face of water scarcity, environmental changes, and market forces. It can be found here (full text PDF available here). My work as a graduate student at UW also included work with public health and local Ethiopian governance groups, specifically through Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and nutrition. I also worked with Indigenous groups in Wisconsin towards increased food system sovereignty.

I completed my undergraduate work at Wheaton College (IL), where I received a B.S. in Physics: Geophysics. During that time, I also completed a B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies and a certificate in Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR) (an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the partnering with organizations and people living in the “Global South” towards more resilient communities). I also completed a minor in Spanish Language.

In my free time I like long bike rides along the country roads around Urbana-Champaign (I’m still riding the bike I got for my birthday in fifth grade, though with many modifications), kayaking and canoeing in the Sangamon River, playing basketball and volleyball, and enjoying the outdoors. Since I’ve been in the Midwest, I’m learning to appreciate winter sports.

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