MS Student
Research Interests
My research is focused on current oak regeneration and subsequent site suitability for planting and other regeneration treatments in a project area in the southern Appalachian Mountains (Nantahala Mountains).
Education and career goals
Prior to matriculation into the NRSM program, I completed my undergraduate education at the University of Minnesota with a bachelor of science degree in applied economics. During this time, I explored the intersectionality of sustainable development and macroeconomic growth. Immediately after graduation, I served as a business analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis full time for three years. During this time, I grew professionally and worked on a national crisis response team which allowed me to travel to New York City, Atlanta, and Richmond Federal Reserve Banks. I worked with a large variety of people from senior management to interns which expanded my communication, project management, problem solving, management, and technical skills. After a handful of years of work for the nation’s banking system, I became burnt out and sought a return to my roots. Growing up in a conservation community centered around watershed and prairie ecosystem restoration and management, I knew I wanted a career in natural resources but had no professional connections, degree, or experience. I also felt like an outsider due to lack of Asian-American representation in the natural resources fields. No one in my family had worked outdoors and frankly I did not know a career in natural resources was feasible. Luckily, ready for a change and a new beginning, around June of 2021, I found a yearlong Americorps program via Conservation Legacy that placed me at the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a National Park Service site. There, I dove into prairie and forest habitat restoration, biological science monitoring of bats, monarch butterflies, and dragonflies, volunteer coordination, and outdoor event leadership specifically by and for black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) audiences. I met some of my best friends and most powerful professional connections during my term as an Americorps member. Most importantly, during this time, I met Auste Eigirdas who helped me understand the graduate school exploration and application processes. I then identified some interests including geographic information systems (GIS) and ecosystem restoration and management and met with a few potential advisors; a new beginning. I applied to the NRSM program in November of 2021. A few months later, about March of 2022, I was notified of not only my acceptance into the program but also of two fellowship awards that would see me through the NRSM masters program. Initially Joe Knight was my advisor as I desired a GIS and remote sensing track. Now, as I have honed in on a career path in silviculture through academic and now professional exposure with the forest service via a pathways internship, Marcella Windmuller-Campione is my advisor and will see me through the program.
About me
I am a triplet (two sisters), I love riding and wrenching on my bicycles, I also enjoy fishing and hunting. My favorite place to be in Minnesota is floating down the St. Croix River.
Education
B.S., University of Minnesota, Applied Economics
Favorite tree: Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
