About Me
I work at the intersection of academic research and community practice, exploring how people navigate environmental hazards in their daily lives. As a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan, I use qualitative interviews, surveys, and spatial analysis to understand protective decision-making around wildfire smoke, heat, and air quality, particularly in rural and under-resourced communities. My research is grounded in years of climate justice organizing in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I learned that the most important questions emerge in collaboration with communities facing compounding climate threats. I am passionate about translating research into actionable insights and building partnerships that center reciprocity and local knowledge. Outside of work, you can find me hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, or knitting.
Education
2023-2028: PhD Candidate, University of Michigan, School for Environment and Sustainability
2017-2021: Bachelor of Science with Honors, Stanford University, Earth Systems Program
Research Positions
Graduate Student Research Assistant
Western Forest and Fire Initiative (WFFI), University of Michigan
2023 — Present
Member of interdisciplinary research team exploring the social, ecological, and technical aspects of the wildfire challenge in the Western U.S.
Conducting work on human perception and response to wildfire smoke
Supervising three undergraduate and two masters-level research assistants
Research Affiliate
Wong-Parodi Lab, Stanford University
2022 — 2025
Co-led qualitative study with the Tule River Tribe (CA) exploring environmental and community resilience in the face of heat, air quality, and water quality issues
Led community recruitment of a pilot for the “Our Communities, Our Bay” research study to understand how low-income communities in the Bay Area are impacted by climate hazards; troubleshot technology and recruitment issues
Research Assistant
Social Ecology Lab, Stanford University
2018 — 2022
Facilitated field data collection and analysis from 250+ participants on whale-watching trips with community partner Oceanic Society, wrote literature review & manuscript
Led survey development, deployment, analysis, and writing of journal article examining university-land trust partnerships in partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Work Experience
Grants
Lead Community Partnership Graduate Consultant
Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning, University of Michigan
2024 — Present
Support Ginsberg’s relationships with community by consulting with partners in check-in meetings, scoping partnership projects, and updating priorities in Salesforce database
Advocate community partner priorities in matching projects with university resources
Coordinate five graduate student staff working with the Community Engagement team
External (National)
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship, Honorable Mention 2025
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
Rosina M. Bierbaum Award in Climate Adaptation and Mitigation 2024, 2025
Ayers-Brinser Award for Doctoral Excellence in Natural Resource Policy and Management 2024
Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
Phi Beta Kappa (elected as Junior) 2020
Miller-Marsden Prize for Innovative Research on the Environment 2021
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Achievement 2021
Award for Outstanding Service to the Earth Systems Program 2021
2025 Catalyst Grant, University of Michigan, $15,000
“Translating Extreme Wildfire Smoke Findings for Community Protection”
2024 Graduate Student Research Grant, University of Michigan. $1,500
2024 Rackham Public Scholarship Grant, University of Michigan. $10,000
“Designing & Implementing Mobile Climate Resilience Hubs in North Fair Oaks, CA”
2020& MUIR Research Grant, Stanford University. $7,500 (awarded twice)
2021
Resilient Homes Program Manager; Grant Writing Consultant
2021 — 2023; 2025 — Present
Climate Resilient Communities (CRC)
Second employee at a community-based organization: led grant writing (over $1.6 million in grants secured), hiring (8 employees), strategic planning, project coordination, grades 8-12 education programming, and grant administration
Worked one-on-one with income-qualified residents with free home repairs, weatherization services, and energy efficiency upgrades; managed two staff for program
Coordinated groups of students from Stanford, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis to implement community-based academic projects on a range of topics (duration one term to full year)
Currently serving as a grant-writing consultant for the organization
Honors & Awards
