Undergraduate degree: University of Louisville, Geography with a concentration in Environmental Analysis, 2012

Age: 25

Prior to SNRE: During my undergraduate career, I had the opportunity to do an internship at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where I conducted research on spatial and environmental analyses of food price indices for low income food-deficit countries. I traveled to northern Ethiopia for my undergraduate thesis research, where I mapped cropped fields surrounding villages that participate in weather-based crop insurance.

Why Environmental Informatics?: I am interested in methods of adaptation in areas of the world that are most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, in particular semi-arid regions of Africa that are vulnerable to food insecurity. I chose Environmental Informatics in order to gain the analytical skills and technical knowledge needed to address these pressing problems.

The best part of SNRE so far: I'm most impressed by the flexibility of the program—I can satisfy the course requirements for the degree, but still have a large degree of freedom to choose what is best for me. For instance, I am planning on obtaining a certificate in African Studies in addition to an MS in Environmental Informatics.

“SNREdiest” thing she’s done: I participated in a gingerbread house competition and my lab group made a treehouse!

After graduation: I hope to continue my graduate education and obtain a PhD.