ABOUT ME
Though I graduated from James Madison University in 2016 with a degree in Media Arts and Design, a few months into the industry proved that my heart was not in the right place to continue on with my chosen career path. I grew tired of the corporate world and started to regret the academic choices I had made when I got to college – I originally intended to go to school for Biology and work in conservation genetics and zoology. I’ve always felt deeply torn between both the creative arts and STEM, but my 18-year-old brain convinced me I’d be happier living in the world of television and movies. Age has taught me differently.
After landing my first job at Discovery and realizing that I was miserable, I started to shift focus and find opportunities that would bring me joy outside of my desk. I eventually found and was chosen for a volunteer position at the Smithsonian National Zoo in the primate house. The second I stepped back behind the line to meet the gorillas for the first time, my world changed. I instantly knew that this was where I belonged.
Thankfully, this gave me the motivation and wherewithal to pull myself out of my career woes and begin exploring options that would allow me to start fresh and develop my love for biology and wildlife. I discovered the biology program at George Mason University – their focus on research and ties to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute quickly captured my attention – and I took a leap of faith (and financial stability) and applied.
Three years later, and not a day goes by that I don’t revel in the experiences and newfound understanding of the natural world that I’ve now been gifted from my time at Mason. Despite the inherent difficulties that come with transitioning between two totally unrelated fields, I am more determined than ever to find my space in the conservation world.
I know without a shadow of a doubt that my now 29-year-old brain has led me to the right place. All I hope for as I explore a path forward is that I can allow my scientific and creative selves to co-exist and grow together, in a way that puts my unique skill set to good use for the betterment of the planet and all its living organisms.