About me
My background
I grew up in a small town in rural Nebraska, where I graduated as part of a class of 24 students. I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for my undergraduate education, where I discovered the elegance of math and a profound love for learning about the Earth. I earned a BS in geology with minors in math and physics, and although geology was my first (scientific) love, I gravitated toward physics and computational science for my graduate degree. Now I study geophysics and use seismology to decode Earth's seismic selfies.
Outside of the office
Not limited to academic science, my love for the Earth extends beyond the office. My absolute favorite thing to do in the world is backpack. Most of the photos on this website are from my hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019. I've also hiked the Wonderland Trail in Washington, and have section hiked some of the Arizona Trail since moving to Tempe for my PhD. Other local trails have also lent themselves to plenty of overnight escapes, and it's been a joy and privilege to experience the beauty of the Sonoran desert. I'll be heading back out for another long walk on the PCT starting April 2025.
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Besides living in the dirt for weeks (preferably months) at a time, I knit and crochet, play the piano and the trumpet, read everything from non-fiction to fantasy, and travel whenever I can.
Things I care about
I care very deeply about environmental justice, especially where it intersects with racial justice. I believe in direct mutual aid and building strong, healthy, supportive communities, starting at the local level. I do my very best to make the spaces that I occupy inclusive, because I believe that in the optimization problem of progress, all voices need to be at the table in a safe and supportive environment. I care about making STEM a better place for anyone who is driven to the pursuit of knowledge, and about the integration of many perspectives and systems of knowledge.