About Me

We will have a healthy earth when we have respect for our fellow humans and all life on the planet; likewise, until all of humanity is respected, safe, and healthy, we will continue down the path of environmental woes. 

Education is my lifestyle! After years of teaching outdoor recreation, I realized loving the outdoors does not ipso facto make one a good environmental steward; we all need help being good caretakers of our natural world. To be a better guide on that journey, I headed back to school to become a Tree Storyteller, receiving my Master of Forestry in the Human Dimensions Lab with a focus on science communication (Northern Arizona University, class of 2022).  

My supportive style of education enfolds students into the joys of learning and helps facilitate the leap from loving to caring for nature. Sometimes even involving a rope swing! I thrive on translating theory into tangible - and fun - learning moments. My years of international travel make me comfortable with the great diversity of humanity.

As the Education Specialist at the World Heritage UNESCO sister parks, Aztec Ruins National Monument and Chaco Culture National Historical Park, I learned how much I enjoy developing science-based educational programs. Wow! Integrating collaboration, brainstorming, creativity, science, and research into education was exhilarating. I developed 11 ranger-led programs during the post-graduate school 9-month internship. The programs received praise from National Park Service education and interpretation staff with decades of experience.

Being a whitewater kayak instructor fine-tuned the skill of instantly adapting to student needs. With potentially life or death consequences, providing actionable feedback while continuing to reach the goal becomes critical. I attained the American Canoe Association Level 4 Instructor Certification; the terminal Level 5 is waterfalls and I didn’t get that far! 

I currently facilitate seeing and embracing shared common ground values among a diverse and potentially oppositional group of stakeholders for the long-term sustainability of conservation and outdoor recreation access to our public lands. Building this collaborative community provides the framework for long-term success. 

I recently completed a 3-month training in the nursery phase of the reforestation pipeline. It's a complicated field with many unknowns due to global warming and mega wildfires, but I'm up for the challenge! I especially love translating these complexities into relatable anecdotes for the public.