Hello. This is my story.

Growing up in upstate New York gave me plenty of opportunities to explore the outdoors and fall in love with Biology, and summer visits to the Jersey Shore fueled my interest in marine biology.  Throughout my undergraduate education at Long Island University (New York), I had several practical experiences, including working in an aquarium, sailing the Caribbean, and studying white sharks which built a strong foundation in the sciences.

I moved to California for grad school, and as a Fulbright Scholar and Ecology Ph.D. student at UC Davis (California), I  studied fish and fisheries in the amazing southern Gulf of California. I continue my research today working with multiple non-government organizations in the Caribbean to promote and manage marine-protected areas, monitor coral reefs and fisheries, and educate fishermen.  More recently, I have served as a professor and Biology department chair at William Jessup University (California), both on-campus and online, and I teach Biology labs locally at Palm Beach Atlantic University. My family relocated to Port St. Lucie last summer, and while continuing to teach in universities I have been busy as a scuba diving instructor, completing over 300 dives and issuing more than 200 certifications on our amazing coral reefs!

Through my twenty-five years of experience in the fields of biology, marine science, and ecology, students have always been most important. I love learning and teaching and believe we all have something to learn from each other and our world every day.  As a teacher, I best fulfill my responsibility by meeting students where they are and leading them to a greater knowledge.  In each and every setting, I aim to lead a student from point A to point B.  When a student struggles, I aim to identify the barriers to learning, help the student navigate the challenges, and celebrate small milestones.  I look forward to working with you and your student.