Colorado State University

I graduated from the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga in 2014 with a bachelor's of science in Biology, concentrating in zoology. I then went on to work for both the Memphis Zoo and Oklahoma City Zoo. In Memphis, I cared for their reptile house, aquarium, and nocturnal mammals house. I became the primary trainer for a large spotted genet and assisted a PHD student in her research and tracking of wild copperhead snakes. At the Oklahoma City Zoo, I was a carnivore zookeeper where my primary animals were coyotes, African Painted Dogs, and the nocturnal house. I switched to veterinary assistant with my municipal animal welfare facility in 2020 and continued that position for 4 years until I was hired on by the local humane society. My current role is as a pet placement coordinator where I help place animals in our rescue, with appropriate foster parents since our organization is mostly foster-based. I also breed Web-footed geckos, Pachydactylus rangei, and am hoping to increase its interest in the reptile world as well as educate the public on this interesting and not well-known bioluminescent species.