ABOUT ME

If you came here for a story about how I have wanted to be a conservationist since I was a young boy, or to read about my life-long passion for animals and the outdoors, then alas–this is not one of those stories. Growing up in Connecticut, I showed very little interest in nature, with a reputation for incessantly complaining my way through even a mere one-mile hike in the forest. But when I was 16, in the midst of my era of teenage angst, I found myself in need of an escape. Inspired by the photography of legends like Paul Nicklen, Chris Burkard, and Ami Vitale, I took an impromptu trip to the Canadian Rockies and discovered a passion for the natural world through the lens of my camera. That single, two-week trip changed the trajectory of my life, and jumpstarted this unpredictable but fulfilling journey towards a career in conservation.

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After receiving my Bachelor's in environmental science and Master's in ecology & conservation biology at Columbia University, I moved to northern California to work at the Suisun Resource Conservation District as a wildlife biologist. Now, I am pursuing my doctoral degree at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability. After barely being able to stand the sight of a mosquito, my work has taken me to many bug-infested landscapes to study turtles, mice, black bears, and today, wolves, all in the pursuit of sustainable conservation. In my research, I aim to use an interdisciplinary approach to examine complex conservation issues, combining social and ecological sciences to promote coexistence between people and animals. In the future, I hope to inspire others to cherish the planet through the use of visual arts–as photography did for me–while also utilizing scientific research to create meaningful change. 

 

When I'm not taking photos, you can find me hiking in a national park (38 out of 63 down!), playing golf, watching a sci-fi TV show, or struggling to make a loaf of sourdough bread.