I graduated from Michigan State University's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources with a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science (minoring in Agribusiness) and earned my Master's Degree at Eastern Michigan University's College of Business in Human Resource Management and Organizational Development. Since 2007 I have incorporated my biological background into full time regulatory positions as a Plant Protection and Quarantine staff member within USDA APHIS, where I specialized in managing biological control parasitoid releases of more than 500,000 organisms annually by coordinating shipments and analyzing data for 15 states, and as an Agriculture Officer, where I have enforced USDA quarantines and investigated biological threats on an international scale since 2014.My lifelong passion is horses, and I currently compete through both USEF and USDF in rated Arabian/National Show Horse and Recognized Open Dressage Competitions. I am a United States Dressage Federation Bronze Medalist, a multiple Reserve National Champion and Top Ten award earner at National Show Horse Finals and U.S. Arabian Nationals, respectively, and am recognized by the Arabian Horse Association as a Rider of Excellence and Horseman of Merit, with more than 100 titles at the Regional and National levels in performance, in-hand and on judging teams. As an approved judge in the Michigan 4-H horse program, I have been involved with youth equine activities since 2006. To supplement continuing education in equestrian sports, I graduated from the USDF 'L' Program with Distinction in 2012 and consistently participate in equine educational opportunities, ranging from judging conferences to training clinics.