Title:
Adjunct Professor
Pronouns:
she, her, hers
Subject Areas
Biology
Environmental Science
Education
PhD, Entomology, University of Maryland College Park
MS, Natural Resources, University of Vermont BS, Biology, Boston College
Teaching Locations
Kaiserslautern Military Community, Germany
Email
I specialize in the ecology and genetics of insect vectors of disease (like mosquitoes and ticks) and I am excited about the intersection of environment and public health. As an undergraduate student on a pre-health path, I was inspired by my ecology classes and really felt a connection to my childhood in rural New Hampshire. I then pursued graduate work in forest ecosystem health, with a focus on invasive forest insects. The Zika outbreak in the Americas in 2015 highlighted the importance of insects in global public health for me, and I became really interested in how community ecology and landscape features influence insect-borne disease dynamics. After a few relocations, I began a PhD in entomology (the study of insects) at the University of Maryland, where I studied the ecology, behavior, and landscape genetics of
Cu lex mosquitoes, local vectors of West Nile virus. I am also excited about the ecology of other communicable diseases, like water-borne illness.
As a student at University of Maryland, I was familiar with UMGC locally but did not realize the global reach of this institution until I arrived in Germany as a military spouse. I am new to UMGC but have nearly a decade of experience in university teaching and advising. I am interested in research aimed at improving teaching and learning in STEM, especially the importance of math in biology. I am also dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusivity in STEM disciplines and supporting students in pursuit of healthcare, public health, and natural science careers.
