About
I have always been intrigued by the complex relationships between humans, animals, and our shared environment.
As an undergraduate at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, I dove head-first into these interests and triple-majored with honors in International Business, Business Administration, and Philosophy focusing on topics including animal ethics, business operations, and resource economics.
Upon graduation, I decided to pursue a career as a zoological/wildlife veterinarian so that I could put my passion for conservation into practice. After completing all pre-requisite requirements, I was accepted into veterinary school at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
After completion of veterinary school with honors, I went on to complete a 1-year internship in small animal medicine and was then accepted into a 3-year post-doctoral Zoological Medicine residency training program through North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Zoo. During my veterinary and residency training, I completed research projects in diverse topics including ecotoxicology and even tarantula anesthesia (!).
Upon completion of my residency training, I was invited to UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to help with teaching veterinary students and providing medical care for the Sacramento Zoo's animals. Shortly after, I was appointed into my role as assistant professor of Zoological Medicine and also became a Board-certified Veterinary Specialist in Zoological Medicine.
My primary personal research interest is in understanding the health effects of microplastic pollution. Through the HEAL (Health Effects of Anthropogenic Litter) Lab, our team conducts a variety of projects that include development of validated methodologies, performance of environmental monitoring, and evaluating effects on wild animal populations and their ecosystems.
Joined
August 2020
