I was born and raised in Ohio, where I found my love of rocks, fossils, and the natural world. I never grew out of my love for paleontology, although my specific interests within the field have shifted. I received my B.S. in Earth Sciences from The Ohio State University (thesis: Changes in Belize Coral Reef Bivalve Assemblages Over Time Contradicts What is Seen in Panamá), where I worked with Dr. Jill Leonard-Pingel. I continued my research and received my M.S. in Earth Sciences, working in the same lab advised by Dr. Jill Leonard-Pingel (thesis: Uncovering the Past: Utilizing Invertebrate Subfossil Assemblages from Belizean Lagoonal Reefs to Determine Timing and Drivers for Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystem Decline). Now, in Dr. Kemp’s lab I am excited to move into the terrestrial realm, working with her and the many students involved in the ongoing Jamaican vertebrate paleontology projects as Education and Outreach Coordinator!