I grew up along the shores of Lake Erie in northwest Pennsylvania where my love of fly fishing encouraged my observation and study of the freshwater fish and benthic macroinvertebrates of my local waterways. I went on to study Ecology at Penn State Behrend, where I took courses that helped me learn in depth about the plants, reptiles, and amphibians of Pennsylvania.

After college I moved to Pittsburgh, where I have worked as a Naturalist Educator for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy since 2014. In this role, I've developed a deeper love for and interest in fungi, insects, birds, trees, spring ephemeral wildflowers, lichens, slime molds, and many other fascinating forms of life.

In 2018 I joined the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club, for whom I became an "Identifier" in 2020, and President in 2021. I also joined the Botanical Society of Western Pennsylvania in 2020, and the Ohio Moss and Lichen Association and Orthopterists' Society in 2021.

In 2019 I began exploring the visualization of sounds (spectrograms) of insects and birds, learning to identify many of the singing insects and songbirds that call western PA home. In 2020 I began experimenting with field recording and volunteering for the Center for Conservation Bioacoustics at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

I am continually looking for ways to learn more about the natural world and connect with others through exploring the wonders that are all around us.

Favourite Taxa

View All