Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, I have always gravitated towards ocean and coastal ecosystems. After earning a bachelor's degree from Cal Poly SLO in Anthropology and Geography and a minor in Biological Sciences, I spent five years in the field of environmental education, learning the value of connecting people to places to advance conservation interests. Driven by the desire to directly impact environmental policy, I went on to receive my master's from UW's School of Marine and Environmental Affairs and a Graduate Certificate in Climate Science. I am currently gaining hands-on experience working at the intersection of science and policy as a Washington Sea Grant Hershman Fellow at the Puget Sound Partnership.