ABOUT ME

At around five years old I became fascinated by dinosaurs. I suppose many at that age do, but most grow out of it at some point. My mom would often remark that it was "just a phase." It wasn't. I simply never grew up. Dinosaurs were just the starting point, and quickly I found myself infatuated with all of natural history. Ever since then, my goal has been to be a paleontologist, but perhaps more importantly, to share the history of life on Earth with anyone who would listen.

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Growing up in the Cincinnati area, I was fortunate enough to encounter fossils on a regular basis. I could go fossil collecting and be struck by the concept that the little marine creature I held in my hand had not been seen for over 400 million years. Nearby was Big Bone Lick, the birthplace of vertebrate paleontology in the United States. In high school, I volunteered at the Cincinnati Museum Center as a youth educator. I made sure to take all the opportunities I could to further my career goals.

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I did my undergraduate studies at Northern Kentucky University, and graduated with a degree in Geology in May 2024. There, I was afforded many opportunities, including studying abroad in the UK, and my first research project. I worked on the histology of a horned dinosaur called Einiosaurus procurvicornis. During this time, I also worked at the Newport Aquarium on the exhibits team, speaking to guests of all ages about the amazing aquatic life we housed there.

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Now, I have found myself in the Virginia Tech Paleobiology lab, working with Dr. Sterling Nesbitt on some of the enigmatic animals of the Triassic Period. You can read more about my current research here.