I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in the UNL School of Natural Resources. My research emphasizes concerns related to biodiversity conservation and sustainability; in particular avian ecology, agroecology, restoration of working landscapes, and the role of birding as a medium for environmental awareness and education.

My current research focus is on how organic agricultural landscapes in Nebraska can be structured and managed to maintain food production while conserving biodiversity and enhancing ecosystem services.

I received a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Environmental Policy from Drake University in 2003, a M.S. in Biology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2006, and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources with a specialization in Applied Ecology from UNL School of Natural Resources in 2010.