Prior to my time at USF I volunteered with the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR). I was able to assist with a wildlife survey focusing on gopher tortoises. Later, I was able to earn an environmental education internship with the GTMNERR through the Academy of Environmental and Urban Planning teaching coastal ecology to elementary and middle school students. During my time at USF, I have cultivated an interest in wetlands, Florida ecosystems, and ecology. I was able to assist in graduate research projects studying mangrove wetlands and eventually conduct my own piolet study. In 2018 I compiled the results of this study into a research poster which I presented at the USF Undergraduate Research Conference. My research examined the effects of establishment and maturity of A. germinnans on recruitment success. I have also had the pleasure of gaining experience in wetland delineation, plant identification, permitting, analyzing potential for wetland mitigation, GIS, and vegetation and hydrologic monitoring as an intern with Birkitt Environmental. Currently, I am assisting in a research project where the goal is to determine what is suitable habitat for the Florida Sand Skink. I will graduate in August of 2018 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Science and Policy.