Growing up along Lake Huron in northern Michigan sparked my love for nature, adventure, creativity, and risk-taking. That passion eventually led me to study Environmental Science and Oceanography at the University of Michigan. As a first-generation college student, I worked hard to gain hands-on experience and explore my evolving interests, fortunate to be part of inspiring communities like the UM Kessler Scholars and the NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program. One of the most transformative experiences was studying abroad on a small, underserved island in Turks and Caicos. There, I learned that the true heart of any project isn’t just the data or the landscape—it’s connection, culture, and the power of conversation.

Since then, my focus has grown from environmental research into a deep commitment to community-driven storytelling and reporting. After a few cross-country road trips, temporary jobs, and a lot of dreaming, I took the leap to fully pursue a career dedicated to listening and writing. That journey led me to the University of California, Santa Cruz, where I recently completed my Master’s in Science Communication.

Now, I am incredibly excited to return home to the Great Lakes and channel everything I’ve learned back into the region and the people that first shaped me. I am deeply passionate about journalism that does more than just explain complex topics; I want to look at how these issues impact our daily lives, bridge local perspectives, and amplify regional voices. For me, effective communication is about exploring the powerful, deeply human connections between coastal communities and the natural world around them. My goal is to produce engaging, accessible multimedia stories and reporting that serve the community and foster a shared sense of place, especially one as unique as Michigan.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me out in the community or immersed in nature: hiking, beachcombing, capturing everyday moments on film, journaling, practicing yoga, or crafting.

Follow along on my socials to learn more about my work, regional stories, and wanderings!