Personal Information:

Originally from the northwest corner of Connecticut, I attended Colorado State University and graduated in 2003 with a BS in Natural Resources Management, a Minor in Forestry with a concentration in Fire Science and Restoration.
My previous employment history includes working in landscape maintenance and construction, as a research technician on the Hayman Fire, and most recently as a consulting utility forester where I obtained my International Arborist license and worked with a Pacific Gas and Electric in California.

Research at the University of Tennessee:

Currently I am working on a project in the Cumberland Mountains outside of Knoxville. This area has recently seen an increase in land area disturbed by surface coal mining activities. On the site, plots were set up and 1200 seedlings (of 5 different species) were planted within 5 different ground cover treatments. The main objectives of the project are to determine the effects native warm season grasses on tree seedling growth and survival and to determine the microsite interaction with tree growth and survival. My expected date of graduation for the Masters of Science in Forestry is May 2007. We also have several other projects including a fertilizer-seeding rate investigation on seedling growth on a newly reclaimed surface mine.

Environmental Interests:

I am most passionate about forest restoration work. I believe that creating healthy forests that can be used for recreation, hunting, timber, minerals, preservation, and conservation can be achieved by proper land management. My interests vary greatly and include urban forestry, private timberland management, fire mitigation and restoration, forest recreation, restoration of drastically disturbed lands, and the importance of native species. I feel that we are to be stewards of our natural resources. Being a steward means managing the land for all the needs and ensuring that those needs can be met in the future. My interests range widely because the environment is a part of everything we do.

For more information about the 2005 Mine Site project or any of our projects, please feel free to contact me.