What is your previous work experience?

Since 2017, I have held several internships and jobs that built on personal areas of interest. At the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, I helped protect endangered piping plovers on one of Cape Cod's barrier islands. The following summer, I interned at the Solar Energy Industries Association where I assisted in lobbying Congress for the continuation of solar energy subsidies. In 2020, I completed a fellowship with Rock Creek Conservancy and drafted a report encompassing the environmental issues facing Rock Creek Park in D.C. and Maryland. My most recent position has been with NOAA Fisheries, where I write articles, coordinate social media posts, and improve the NOAA Fisheries website as a communications specialist.

Why did you choose the Nicholas School?

The Nicholas School offers a solid balance of science and policy teaching that can benefit my professional goals. Ideally, I want to conduct applied science research on how climate change is affecting marine environments and I want to be able to communicate the findings of my research effectively. With a Nicholas School education on scientific methods and policy-making, I will be able to explain the impact of my research to a variety of audiences, maximizing the utility of my research.

What are you looking forward to as a new Nicholas School student?

I am looking forward to meeting fellow members of my cohort. Everyone brings such interesting stories and experiences with them that I can't wait to hear about. I am also looking forward to learning more about marine management. While I have only been away from schooling for a year now, I miss learning new information about topics that I am passionate about.

Do you have any areas of interest or special focus you will undertake during your time at the Nicholas School?

I have flown quadcopter drones for recreational and scientific purposes and flying drones has developed into one of my passions. For this reason, I am looking forward to taking advantage of the resources at Duke's Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Laboratory. Drones provide unique and unrivaled capabilities when it comes to doing scientific research in the marine setting. I am hoping to integrate them into my Master's Project.

What plans do you have for your career after the Nicholas School?

While I am excited to narrow my professional interests by pursuing different topics at the Nicholas School, I know that I want my future jobs to involve field work in some capacity. Being around the water is a lot of fun for me and field work will only build passion for the research I'm doing. I'm very interested in how climate change is affecting natural systems, especially physical ones like oceanic currents, so that could be a specific area of interest for my career.