Since I was a child, I always wanted to work with animals. I grew up around them and wanted to pursue a career as a wildlife biologist. In order to follow my dream, I studied Biology/Ecology and Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The summer after graduating, I worked for the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in Northern California.

I came to Maui in the fall of 2014 as a Americorp Kupu intern to work with the Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project. I instantly fell in love with the project and the birds and was ecstatic when I got hired on full time with the Seabird Recovery Project as a Field Biologist in 2015.

I started Advance Wildlife Education (AWE) in May 2016 after an outreach event at a seabird colony on Maui, people saw the burrows in the ground and thought they were made by rats and mongoose. They were very surprised once they found out the holes were actually dug by native seabirds. After learning more about the species, the group was very supportive and wanted to spread the word and help protect the colony.

I realized that people want to help but they cannot protect what they do not know exists. Recognizing this need for wildlife education in order to get public support, as well as additional funding for these nonprofits that are struggling so much financially, I created Advance Wildlife Education. I combined my passions for wildlife and art in order to form a bridge between the community and the biologists, to educate through creative and beautiful educational coloring books, attire, artwork, and jewelry.