Major: environmental science
2010 AMERICA EAST ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
TWO-TIME TEAM CAPTAIN
SAAC PRESIDENT
what are you up to now?
I am a Conservation Project Manager at the National Aquarium. We work to research, steward, and restore critical habitat throughout Baltimore City and the Chesapeake Bay at large. My largest project is the City Nature Challenge, a friendly international competition between cities to increase urban biodiversity data and to engage as many people as possible in Community Science https://aqua.org/support/conservation/city-nature-challenge-baltimore
What is the coolest thing about what you do?
The opportunity to have a direct and positive impact on the environment. When I moved to UMBC from Southern California I fell in love with the Bay and all the beautiful ecosystems surrounding it. Not only do I get to work to protect and conserve those ecosystems, but I also get to connect with community members and bring them along with me. Throughout the year we host numerous community volunteer events, for all who want to do their part to help keep our ecosystems healthy for animals and humans alike https://aqua.org/get-involved
What's been your favorite moment at your job?
I've been fortunate enough to have worked for the Aquarium for the last 10 years. In that time, I've had many job titles and responsibilities, and a whole lot of opportunities to do some truly cool stuff. Being asked to choose a favorite one is hard, especially since it changes all the time! Thinking on it right now, I'd have to say going down to DC to represent the Aquarium during Capitol Hill Ocean Week. I was tasked with engaging Senators, Congressmen, and congressional staffers around Ocean Acidification models. It's easy to feel powerless in this field especially when you're talking about Climate Change and other large-scale existential threats. But on that day, I felt empowered, having the opportunity to talk to people with the power to make policy changes that could make or break some of the biggest challenges we are facing.
How did UMBC prepare you for life after college?
I think the most valuable lessons I learned at UMBC were the ones I learned about myself. I'm eternally grateful to UMBC for fostering an environment that allows its students to challenge themselves, to take risks, to feel empowered to make change. I stepped onto campus as an uncertain and shy 17 year old and I left a self-assured individual ready to find their place in the world.
What's your favorite UMBC memory?
My junior year we hosted the University of Colorado Boulder for a pre-conference tournament. This was before the Events Center was even envisioned - so the match was taking place in the RAC. It was our primetime home opener of the season and we had worked hard to get the buzz going around campus to make it an event for students to attend. And boy did we. We played in front a crowd of over 1000 people, the largest crowd we'd ever hosted for a volleyball match in the RAC. They had to pull the track bleachers down to fit everyone in! I will always remember that night: how pumped and rowdy the crowd was, the electricity buzzing through the air. It buoyed us to push a very good PAC 12 team to five sets. Even though we lost, I remember feeling so proud and accomplished afterwards. Still do to this day.
What do you miss most about UMBC?
I miss the community. While I have worked hard in my years post-graduation to carve out a community of my own in Baltimore, nothing can truly top those years living on campus with my best friends and teammates, all working collectively and individually towards our goals. It's a special time in my life that I will always look back on fondly, especially with so many of my friends spread across the world.