Although my interest in wildlife started much earlier in life, the initial stages of my professional development as a scientist began as an undergrad at New College of Florida, the public honors college for the state. During my four years at New College, I was provided with the academic freedom to pursue my interests and therein developed a strong background in biology. However, although my initial goal was a degree in marine biology, my education at NC lead me down an unforeseeable path. Although not officially, I essentially had a degree in neurobiology with a strong emphasis on the marine sciences by the end of my studies at NC. During my stay, I participated in a variety of research from the effects of cortisol-induced stress on learning in fishes to assessments of visual acuity within manatees. And finally, during my 3rd and 4th year I completed my thesis research on the cytoarchitecture of the telencephalon of a cichlid fish: Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum. Although my career has since taken me down different path, I strongly believe that my neuroethological background has provided me with greater insight into how organisms perceive their environment, as well as a better understanding of the motivations behind behavior.

After graduating in 2001, I briefly considered graduate study in the neurosciences. In fact, I received a Graduate Research Award (PhD) from the University of Queensland (Australia) for research into the visual neuroanatomy of deep sea fishes with Dr. Shaun Collin. However, due to limitations in tuition support, I decided to pursue study here in the United States. In part due to my inability to find a program that met my specific interests (i.e. Behavior, sensory anatomy/biology, and some field work), I soon realized that I was pursuing the wrong field. Recalling a winter spent surveying wolves in northern Minnesota as an undergraduate in 2000, as well as my long-time interest in predator-prey dynamics, I recognized that field-based ecological research had almost everything to offer. In the spring of 2006, I left my position as a secondary teacher in order to gain more valuable field experience with the intent of entering a graduate program in ecology.

Even though I had a very strong academic background, I have to admit I was initially concerned with how I 'looked on paper', having worked as a secondary teacher for 3 1/2 years. However, I was fortunate enough to be hired on as a field technician with Dr. Kenneth Meyer and the Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI). ARCI is small non-profit dedicated to research on a diverse array of avian species, with special attention given to those with an uncertain or threatened status. When I was hired in 2006, my initial responsibilities were to locate and monitor active nesting territories throughout Florida of one of the rarest raptors in the United States, the Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus). In time, my work with ARCI expanded to encompass a variety avian species, from avian point count surveys of small mangrove islands in the Florida Keys to trapping and tagging endangered Snail Kites (Rostrhamus sociabilis) in central Florida (See my CV for more detail).

In 2007, I began a master's in the University of Florida's Wildlife Ecology and Conservation program. Unfortunately, after one year of study at UF, I made the tough decision to leave the program due to financial limitations. However, my experience at UF provided me with a stronger foundation in statistics and modelling, and in recognizing how these would help shape me into a well-rounded and competitive ecologists, began pursuing programs with an emphasis on ecological modelling. After leaving UF in August of 2008, I was fortunate enough to quickly find just such a program here at Auburn University. Since January of 2009, I have been working with Dr. Todd Steury developing a series of population models in an evaluation of the predictive accuracy of 'Population Viability' assessments, as well as in an effort to more accurately assess persistence potential of red wolves with coyotes on the landscape (Research).