I grew up in eastern Nebraska and received a bachelor’s in Animal Ecology Interpretation from Iowa State University. During my time at ISU, I went on a semester exchange to UAF during Spring 2006, and decided to move to Fairbanks for good in the spring of 2008. I started working at UAF in 2012, and earned a Master’s in Applied Linguistics from UAF in 2020. When not working, I enjoy cross country skiing, fat biking, quilting, and spending time with my husband and two Bernese Mountain Dogs.