I am an Associate Professor of Biology at University of Illinois Springfield. I have been passionate about biodiversity from a young age with fond memories of catching lizards in my California backyard as a child and frogs in Ethiopia when I lived there for a year when I was in 4th grade. I have a BA in Biochemistry from UC Berkeley, MS in Wildlife Ecology from University of Michigan, and PhD in Terrestrial Ecology from University of Michigan. I currently work with students in tallgrass prairie restoration sites at The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon reserve. I teach ecology and conservation biology at UIS. I am interested in ways we can increase biodiversity conservation outside of natural areas whether it is in our backyards, places of work, or roadways. Always excited to learn more!