I received my bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I learned so much during my time at UTC. My biology classes taught me about the complexity of the natural world and my environmental science courses explained how we are affecting these systems. During my junior year at UTC I interned with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. The goal of this internship was to establish a “green fee” on UTC’s campus by promoting a $10 per semester student fee increase. After a semester of creating outreach materials and giving classroom presentations the students voted to accept the fee. Now UTC receives around $180,000/year to be used solely for sustainability. I graduated with a 3.74 GPA and a feeling that I had made UTC a better place!
After graduating I moved to the Bay Area to do AmeriCorps. I worked for the Conservation Corps North Bay doing restoration and ecosystem management at Lands End within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. My time at Lands End really enhanced my field experience. I helped plant 12,000 native coastal dune scrub and Riparian species, supervised volunteer programs, removed invasive plants, performed line transect vegetation monitoring, carried out Monterey cypress understory test plot experiments, participated in butterfly surveys, learned how to apply erosion control materials, helped install an irrigation system, and learned common and scientific names of many California species.
After finishing my year of AmeriCorps I was promoted to a restoration technician position with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. As a restoration technician I worked in a variety of plant communities including coastal scrub, dunes, riparian forests, wetlands, grasslands, and redwood forests. Restoration technicians were required to perform a variety of tasks including: planting, manual and mechanical invasive species removal, plant identification, watering, seed collection, nursery support, biological monitoring, and data entry. My work with the GGNPC and other restoration companies made me realize how amazing California's ecosystems are and also how much these beautiful places need our help.
While working on my Master's degree I worked at Floral Native Nursery in Chico, CA. My role at the nursery was to provide the customers with information on the native plants they grow and sell. This included information on sunlight and water requirements, deer resistance, height and width, and pollinators. I performed nursery maintenance projects such as weeding, watering, pruning, and native plant propagation. It was a really great place to work because I got to learn about the flora of California and encourage people to plant natives.
I am currently teaching labs in the Biological Science Department at California State University, Chico. The lab that I teach focuses on the uses of plants, plant anatomy and structure. Teaching has helped reinforce my knowledge of botany and public speaking skills. I've enjoyed sharing the wonders on the plant world with students and I hope that after taking the course they have a greater appreciation for botany.
After graduating I moved to the Bay Area to do AmeriCorps. I worked for the Conservation Corps North Bay doing restoration and ecosystem management at Lands End within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. My time at Lands End really enhanced my field experience. I helped plant 12,000 native coastal dune scrub and Riparian species, supervised volunteer programs, removed invasive plants, performed line transect vegetation monitoring, carried out Monterey cypress understory test plot experiments, participated in butterfly surveys, learned how to apply erosion control materials, helped install an irrigation system, and learned common and scientific names of many California species.
After finishing my year of AmeriCorps I was promoted to a restoration technician position with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. As a restoration technician I worked in a variety of plant communities including coastal scrub, dunes, riparian forests, wetlands, grasslands, and redwood forests. Restoration technicians were required to perform a variety of tasks including: planting, manual and mechanical invasive species removal, plant identification, watering, seed collection, nursery support, biological monitoring, and data entry. My work with the GGNPC and other restoration companies made me realize how amazing California's ecosystems are and also how much these beautiful places need our help.
While working on my Master's degree I worked at Floral Native Nursery in Chico, CA. My role at the nursery was to provide the customers with information on the native plants they grow and sell. This included information on sunlight and water requirements, deer resistance, height and width, and pollinators. I performed nursery maintenance projects such as weeding, watering, pruning, and native plant propagation. It was a really great place to work because I got to learn about the flora of California and encourage people to plant natives.
I am currently teaching labs in the Biological Science Department at California State University, Chico. The lab that I teach focuses on the uses of plants, plant anatomy and structure. Teaching has helped reinforce my knowledge of botany and public speaking skills. I've enjoyed sharing the wonders on the plant world with students and I hope that after taking the course they have a greater appreciation for botany.