I graduated in 2012 from UC Santa Cruz, where I completed my B.S. in marine biology. Throughout my undergraduate career and beyond, I have participated in marine mammal demography, research and conservation research. I have also spent many years of leading outdoor education programs with K-12 students. My favorite group of marine mammals to work with are pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), and much of my work has involved living on islands and remote international field stations. Some locations have included the Southeast Farallon Island, the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea, Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands, Maui, Ano Nuevo State Park, and Corsica in the Mediterranean. When I am not working with pinnipeds or searching for birds, I guarantee you can find me on a boat, diving, or investigating some super cool invertebrates with students at low tide.

My thesis is focused on identifying seasonal variation in spatial overlap between human and seabird use along the Trinidad Coast to better predict timing and location of potential disturbance events. I will be working very closely with the Seabird Protection Network and The California Coastal National Monument - part of the Bureau of Land Management’s National Landscape Conservation System.