I have worked at the interface of science and education for over 25 years, publishing in both the scientific research and science learning literature. I am passionate about science, data and learning, and committed to engaging diverse audiences in "doing science." I have been the Implementation Manager for COMET, a UCAR UCP program in the Education and Training Center, since August 2019. I lead program management and the scientists and instructional designers at COMET, as well as support business development activities and proposal management. Prior to joining COMET, I was the lead for Science Engagement and Education for the NSF-funded National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) for ten years, where I led development, implementation, and evaluation of education and engagement programs and tools to enable the scientific community to effectively discover, access and use NEON data and resources. As Director of Science and Education at NEON, I also led a team of 60 scientists, technicians, educators, graphic designers, and outreach specialists that executed NEON Science and Engagement activities. Before joining NEON in 2008, I spent nine years as Head of Education at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History at the University of Oklahoma. There, I was a member the Senior Leadership Team for the museum and led programs that integrated science with educational programming, such as innovative teacher professional development workshops, field courses, K-12 classes, and exhibit development. I was both a student and instructor with the Organizaton for Tropical Studies (OTS) graduate course. I earned a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from the University of Missouri and a B.A. in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania.
