About Me

ABOUT

I have always strived to drive my career based on passion for the subject matter. This mentality has taken me on a career journey that I can reflect on with fondness and pride.

The study of plant science captured my attention early on. Working with plants engaged my desire to be outdoors, while the science and technology behind growing plants also stimulated my mind. My undergraduate years were spent developing skills in data collection, laboratory techniques, and field research.

I then pursued a Master’s degree in horticulture and specialized my knowledge in viticulture. Studying vineyards rounded out my career experience by adding an artistic and cultural element to the science. Through this endeavor, I gained skills in teaching, research, and data analysis.

I cherished the first years outside of academia, which were spent working for a winery. I worked not only with the estate vineyards, but also with growers in seven different counties across California. Vineyards have the pleasant circumstance of being situated in the most beautiful landscapes. Though, with each nuanced environment, comes different management needs and thus, a very technical knowledge base is required to be successful. I saw firsthand how maps could be used for such versatile data management needs. I created maps not only for navigation, but also for visualizing cover crops, budgets, yield, quality, pests, varieties, and more. It seemed like most communication and analysis could be traced back to maps. This realization led me to my fascination with maps.

I moved to Portland, Oregon, where I honed in on my excitement for data and mapping. I will complete the GIS certification program with Portland Community College by spring. I delighted in the focused course material and even took part in the GIS club activities as acting Vice President. I was also fortunate to earn work experience using my research background and newly sharpened GIS skills with the Sustainable Urban Places Research Lab as a research analyst. This work had a major focus on tree canopies, temperature, and air quality as they relate to city demographics. Work from this time period can be viewed under the portfolio section of this website.

Looking forward, I am seeking job opportunities that embrace some combination of mapping, science, research, community, and plants, while also fostering my passion to continue learning and growing within my career pursuits.