ABOUT ME

Hello! Greetings from the wild. I am the founder of Field Station, a place for science and nature storytelling, and a naturalist focused on exploring the wonderment of our natural world through scientific study and artful communication. I have spent many years studying organisms through field research with freshwater mussels and frog species as important bioindicators of healthy habitats. Because I believe that science and art are not mutually exclusive, I enjoy bringing scientific stories to life through writing and illustration.

​

As an avid explorer, I have hiked many national parks including the Smoky Mountains, Glacier, Yellowstone, and Olympic National Parks, to name a few. I spend most of my time, however, hiking in local parks and nature preserves in northern Indiana where I am a native resident. I believe that the beauty of nature can be discovered in one's own backyard. I hope to inspire kids and adults alike to care about and protect our wild places so that our children can enjoy them for many years to come. I take small groups on nature hikes as a park volunteer and teach them about insects, pond life, trees, and plants, helping them use art to express their enjoyment of nature.

​

I take my experiences in the wild and transform them into artful letters and writing that relate our everyday lives to nature and its processes. My letters transport readers to places around the world where scientific discovery has occurred or is taking place, whether it be through historical figures or more recent ones. I especially enjoy infusing poetry and song into my works and illustrating my ideas with paint, ink, or colored pencils. Letters are printed on high-quality recycled paper and envelopes are often highlighted and addressed by hand. I also welcome opportunities to use my talents to create newsletters, educational content, media communications, or other creative projects in the future for ecological or science-based organizations.

​

I have a BS in Biology from Purdue University and have been trained and certified in Anatomical Pathology, becoming a subject-matter expert in Macroscopic Renal Pathology. I have also worked in Wildlife Education and taken many courses in natural sciences including Vertebrate Biology, Entomology, and Botanical Illustration. I am also a certified Indiana Master Naturalist. Additionally, I have taken writing workshops with leading authors in the genre of nature narrative non-fiction writing, including with New York Times best-selling author, Katherine Aalto. 

​

Over the last 20 years, I have been featured in numerous galleries, shops, and art shows in various mediums. These include Monarch Festival, Eco Fest Fort Wayne, Artlink Gallery, Orchard Gallery, Avant Garde Gallery, The Firefly Coffeehouse, Homegrown, Calhoun St. Art Co-op, Paper Moon, The Find, Daffodil Hill, Cabbages and Kings, Covington Art Fair, Three Rivers Festival Art in the Park, Barr Street Farmer's Market, Broad Ripple Art Fair, Wabash Art Fair, Auburn Arts Festival, and Johnson City Arts Council show. My writing has been featured in several local and national publications, including Wildlife Conservation Magazine. I have also been a featured artist in Fort Wayne Magazine and on PBS's Arts in Focus.

​

I also spend time with my family, playing piano and clarinet, and jungling my kitchen window near my many bird feeders.

​

​