Bio

CHILDHOOD

​My fascination with reptiles and amphibians has been a part of my life for as long as I can recall. My parents humored my quirky interests and allowed countless critters into our home. Some of my favorite childhood pets included painted turtles, fire-belly newts, tiger salamanders, and a wide variety of snakes: corn, garter, rough green, king, and boas.

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The experiences of childhood, of scouting, and of being a camp counselor fostered my love for the outdoors, instilled a passion for teaching, and pushed me towards an academic understanding of the natural world.

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EDUCATION

I received my B.S. in Biology from Iowa State University (2009), my M.S. in Biology from the University of Texas at Tyler (2011), and my Ph.D. in Applied Bioscience from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2016).

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My dissertation work focused on understanding how variation in prey availability among populations of water snakes shaped their life-history patterns.

 

CAREER

After earning my Ph.D., I worked as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2016-2018).

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In 2018, I became an Assistant Professor of Biology at Southern Arkansas University, home of the Muleriders in Magnolia, where I teach Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Vertebrate Physiology, Vertebrate Anatomy, and Herpetology.

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In 2023, I became an Associate Professor of Biology at Southern Arkansas University.