I joined DNCR in 2016 to help leadership with strategic planning and innovative collaborative projects. I shifted to the Education & Outreach team in 2017 to expand educational work and draw on my 22+ years of experience at locations like those in DNCR. This diverse background helps me with our Learning Happens Here focus on continuing our outreach efforts to schools and communities, supporting field trips to our public locations, and creating professional learning opportunities for DNCR educators.
I love learning and sharing information with people- especially about animals, nature and science. My undergraduate studies (Go Irish) focused on biology, animal behavior, and chemistry. My focus on how things work developed beyond just gaining knowledge and into a passion to share information and help things “make sense” for others. I attended graduate school (Go Bucks) specifically for that purpose studying natural resources through the perspective of environmental education, communication, and interpretation. This passion, drive, and training evolved to working with audiences and communities around the country at many locations (zoos, aquariums, a state wildlife federation, a historic site, a state park, and botanical garden) helping create enjoyable, personal, and meaningful connections to the resource and content- whether that be an animal, a native plant, a sculpture, or a historic event. I am passionate about lifelong learning and experiential education for all residents of our state. My personal time includes playing with a teenager, a dog, and two cats and time outside with family hiking and exploring new areas.
Contact me for:
- Assistance with outreach program ideas especially ones reaching underserved audiences.
- “Plott’s Tales and Trails” book information and related programming at schools and community centers.
- General questions about field trips to DNCR locations.
A Fun Fact About Me: I assisted with honeybee dance language research by tagging bees with small, numbered discs and recording their dances in the hive— and was stung exactly zero times.