University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University

About Me

I'm originally from Pipe Creek, Texas, located in the Texas Hill Country about 60 miles NW of San Antonio. My father still lives there and we visit him each spring break.

I obtained my B.S. degree at the University of Texas at San Antonio. I finished the degree in 3 1/2 years and found I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. Along with some friends, I traveled and lived in Mexico, Central America and South America. During that 2 year time period, I worked as a research assistant for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Barro Colorado Island, a small island in the middle of the Panama Canal. Afterwards, I worked for the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Is., part of the Galapagos Is, Ecuador. During this time of my life, I learned a tremendous amount about other cultures and developed a heightened awareness of global poverty and habitat destruction.

After returning to the United States, I obtained my M.S. degree in Agronomy at the University of Georgia and pursued coursework towards a PhD at the University of Minnesota.

My husband and I have lived in Menomonie for over 20 years. We have 3 children. Among our favorite pastimes are playing tennis and camping in our wonderful national parks.

My experiences at Stout...

One of my favorite teaching activities is training BIO 111 students to monitor the water quality and overall health of Galloway Creek, a small urban stream that runs directly through the heart of Menomonie. In addition to the ongoing water quality monitoring on Galloway Creek, I also organize community service projects for BIO 111 students. Among the projects we've pursued are: stenciling storm drains to prevent water pollution, stream cleanups, invasive species removal, and conducting RecycleMania educational and promotional activities.

I also collaborate with Applied Science majors (environmental science concentration) and Environmental Studies, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) minors, and Sustainable Design and Development minors on various research projects, such as Galloway Creek automated monitoring, wetland delineation and restoration, and recycling behavior of Stout students. Working with Honors Program students to develop and implement project contracts with an environmental emphasis has also proven to be personally rewarding.

Three projects I've recently undertaken are the Recyclable Art Competition held each fall in honor of America Recycles Day, the RecycleMania national college campus recycling competition held each spring semester (January-April), the Spring Move Out for off-campus students, and I've agreed to be the Recycling Liaison for the UW-Stout Sustainability Steering Committee.

I'm one of the faculty advisors to GreenSense, the UW-Stout student environmental organization. We have lots of fun while taking on a wide variety of environmental projects. If you're interested, please join us. Send me an email and I'll let you know when our next meeting time is or join the Green Sense facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2209150016

Awards I've Received

• The State of Wisconsin Citizen-Based Monitor of the Year Award
• Wisconsin Association of Environmental Education Award
• Outstanding School of Education Partner
• Chancellor's Award for Excellence
• Merle Price Award
• UW-Stout Outstanding Teaching Award Recipient (selection by student vote)