A little bit about me

I am an educator, photographer, and filmmaker with a background in marine and environmental science. My work sits at the intersection of science, storytelling, and place. I believe students learn best when they are invited to bring their full selves into the classroom and when science is presented not as a static body of facts, but as a living way of understanding the world around them.

I earned a B.A. in Environmental Science from The Colorado College and a Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Before pursuing full-time teaching, I worked as an educational content creator, filmmaker, and photographer focused on marine science, fisheries, and food systems. This work sharpened my ability to translate complex scientific ideas for broad audiences, a skill that now directly informs my classroom practice.

In the classroom, I aim to create an environment rooted in trust, inquiry, and mutual respect. I see teaching as a collaborative process rather than a one-way transfer of information. Students are encouraged to ask questions, test ideas, revise their thinking, and communicate their understanding in multiple ways. Writing, discussion, visual storytelling, modeling, and hands-on investigation all have a place. Not every scientist wears a lab coat. Some carry cameras, notebooks, or fishing bibs. The point is that science is something you do, not something you memorize.

I am especially drawn to place-based and project-based learning. Whether examining local hydrology, climate systems in the Southwest, or global connections between ecosystems and human activity, I want students to see science as relevant to their lives and communities. My goal is for students to leave my classroom not only with stronger scientific literacy, but with a sense of agency, curiosity, and responsibility toward the natural systems that sustain us.

Outside the classroom, I remain actively engaged in documentary photography and filmmaking. These pursuits keep me learning alongside my students and remind me that creativity, humility, and curiosity are essential tools for both science and teaching. At heart, I believe in education as a relational practice.