College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Education:

Ph.D. - Wildlife, Wildlands, and Aquatics Science and Management, Texas Tech University, 2022

M.S. - Biology, Western Kentucky University, 2016

B.S. - Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, 2014

Background:

I grew up near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I went to the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point for my B.S. where I first developed my interest in wildlife disease ecology. I then went to Bowling Green, KY to complete my M.S. at Western Kentucky University where I studied the community ecology of the Lyme disease system including ectoparasitism of small mammals and prevalence of the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi in small mammals. Afterwards I went to Lubbock, TX to complete my Ph.D. where I studied the ecology of free-ranging exotic invasive axis deer in central Texas including population ecology, genetics, susceptibility to chronic wasting disease, and impacts on riparian habitats.

Research:

Broadly, I am a wildlife ecologist specializing in disease ecology and population ecology in mammals, particularly invasive species. I utilize both field and laboratory-based techniques to answer questions regarding management of wildlife species. Currently, I am working with Dr. Jean Tsao, Dr. Henry Campa, and Dr. Edward Walker to develop a drug delivery unit protocol to eventually provide a drug to reduce tick parasitism on deer in an urban/suburban setting like East Lansing to minimize tick populations and the risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.