I recently completed my Master’s degree in Wildlife Biology under John Maerz at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and am currently a Research Professional at the Savannah River Site Ecology Laboratory (SREL). I got my B.S.F.R. degree at the University of Georgia and continued on for my MS degree in Wildlife Biology. My Master’s research, supported by a State Wildlife Grant (SWG) from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, focused on evaluating the effects of both roads and crabbing activities on diamondback terrapin populations. My current interests lie in turtle ecology and conservation, the ecology of marsh and estuary ecosystems and the impacts of anthropogenic activities on reptile populations. I am currently working on various projects at SREL, including the development of ecological reference models for military installations along the Atlantic coastal plain using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the reintroduction of gopher tortoises, evaluating the effects of heavy metals in long-lived reptiles, and understanding the natural history and behavior of non-native, Asian turtle species. In my spare time I enjoy any and all outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, caving, kayaking, surfing and rock climbing.