My path to science hasn’t followed the traditional route, and I’m proud of that. As a Muscogee-Creek woman, I carry with me a deep respect for the balance between people, wildlife, and the land. My early years in wildlife rescue and community conservation taught me that science and traditional values can walk hand in hand—each enriching the other. Now, as a PhD student at the University of Central Florida, I study Florida’s bats to understand how environmental change impacts their survival. My lived experiences and cultural perspective guide me to ask questions that connect ecology, stewardship, and resilience, reminding me that different paths can lead to powerful insights.

I’m especially passionate about how biodiversity and disease are intertwined, and how maintaining healthy ecosystems protects both wildlife and human communities. Through a One Health lens, my work aims to show that conserving species diversity is not only vital for the natural world but essential for our collective well-being.