I grew up in northeastern Ohio where I enjoyed collecting butterflies and other insects from an early age. A piovotal moment in my education occurred when my undergraduate advisor (Dr. Gerald Svendsen) encouraged me to attend an ecological field studies program in northwest Montana at the Flathead Lake Biological Station. This experience connected me with my M.S. thesis advisor (Dr. John Pagels) who greatly facilitated my development as a field ecologist. While studying the population dynamics of mammals, I discovered a passion for plants which eventually steered me towards a PhD program in Plant Biology. My dissertation ultimately focused on the complex interactions between plants and animals. How these interactions regulate biodiversity is now an underlying theme of my teaching and research. I currently live in southeastern Connecticut and enjoy connecting with nature, playing guitar, sporting events, live music and sharing those experiences with my family and friends.