e-Portfolio

You have reached the e-Portfolio portion of my site.  Thank you for taking the time to visit this portion of my site.  Below you will find a number of links to abstracts and publications I have written or co-written, as well as a couple of links to presentations that I have given at various conferences, meetings, or other events. 

Journal of the North American Benthological Society Article Abstract

JNABS 2003 National Conference Presentation in Athens, Georgia

Penn State Behrend Undergraduate Research Grant

Springton Manor Farm Nature of Things Creature Feature Article

 

Education

Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.          M.S., Biology October 2005      Focus: Biodiversity and conservation
The Pennsylvania State University, Erie, PA        B.S., Biology May 2003    Focus: Ecology 

 

Work and Research Experience

  Technical Programs Coordinator – SWANA January 2006 - Present

Managed and organized technical content for conferences and online training, oversaw program budgets, developed
            and wrote content for quarterly technical division newsletters, managed annual awards program, organized and
            oversaw onsite conference management, prepared post-conference performance reports, designed marketing
            pieces for conferences and events, managed 120+ speakers at various events, developed ex post facto
            recorded-training materials program, and conducted program committee meetings to identify industry topics to
            address.  Technical divisions responsible for at this position included Communication, Education & Marketing;
            Landfill Management; Planning & Management; Special Waste; and Waste Reduction, Recycling and Composting.

 
   
  Laboratory Instructor – Georgetown University Summer 2005

Instructed an Introductory Biology II laboratory class, which focused in ecology and biodiversity.  Prepared presentations and quizzes, graded assignments and reports, and assisted students with experiments and projects.

  
   
  Graduate Thesis Research – Georgetown University August 2003 – December 2005

Conducted research on local Lepidoptera diversity in a tidal marsh and low-forest environment and how management of their aquatic habitat may better preserve their host plants and maintain species population numbers.  Analyzed samples, identified species, wrote reports and scientific papers, and gave presentations at national conferences and in school  departmental seminars.  Wrote grant proposals, obtained permits, and presented at various conferences and departmental seminars.  Research also resulted in a short feature segment in a local environmental documentary film presented at the 2006 Washington, D.C. Environmental Film Festival.

  
   
Teaching Fellow – Georgetown University August 2003 – May 2005

Assisted in teaching Conservation Biology and History of Life, as well as Introductory Biology II laboratory classes.  Led class discussions and projects, graded and provided feedback on assignments, and gave lectures on conservation issues.  Lectures included legislation workgroups, aquatic invertebrate lab sections, biological statistics, natural environment conservation, among others.

  
   
Teacher for Summer Science Partnership Class – Washington, D.C. July 2004

Instructed a summer science class for students from Ron Brown Middle School in southeast Washington, D.C.  This summer science class focused on water resources and how the students could relate within their urban environment.  Portion focused on wastewater management.

  
   
 County Park and Butterfly House Education Assistant – Glenmoore, PA May 2002 – August 2003

Developed a basis for an EPA grant project and later returned to Springton Manor Farm, a park in the Chester County Parks and Recreation Department, to prepare a butterfly house for public opening.  Obtained USDA permits, created educational programs, researched plant growth and interaction as well as butterfly behaviors.  Developed a five-year plan for the house and wrote an inaugural year process and status report.  Also developed and taught a stream ecology program in addition to other natural resources programs.  Worked with training and scheduling volunteers.

  
   
Undergraduate Aquatic Invertebrate Research – Penn State University September 2001 – May 2003

Launched a chironomid midge culture and manipulated spatial patch structures using chironomid midges to determine if landscapes affect biotic stream assemblages.  Designed research to test midge habitat preference.  Conducted research about different instar competition consequences.  Presented at multiple conferences.

  

Skills

  • Aquatic – Understanding of coastal processes and the impact of invasive species on our waterways, electroshocking, hydrolab, knowledge of watersheds and other aquatic systems, secchi disk use, and seining.  Experience identifying algae and  invertebrates, and also testing dissolved oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus levels.
  • Teaching and Outreach – lesson plan development and teaching for different ages and backgrounds; laboratory experiment and lecture facilitation; pedagogy practices application; recycling program promotion and community recycling program operation; and school, small organization, and other focus group educational outreach.
  • Community Organization – Target audience analysis; promotional and marketing media (brochures, flyers, articles, etc.) preparation; public program scheduling and coordination; small budget preparation; and locating and setting up vendors and suppliers. 
  • Computer – Databases, EndNote, Excel, FrontPage, MagnetMail, Online Presentation Software, Paint Shop Pro, PowerPoint, SAS, SPSS, and Word.

Relevant Course Work

  • Conservation Biology  and Teaching Biology: Pedagogy and Practice – Georgetown University
  • Biological Teaching Methods, Coastal Environments, Ecology and Limnology – Pennsylvania State University

 

Transcripts and references furnished upon request.