I come from a family of artists, farmers, and mental health workers, and my work reflects that blend of creativity, care, and connection to the land. For 25 years, I have worked as an environmental artist and educator, and I now serve as an environmental scientist for California State Parks. Independent projects include Farm Unfixed, an Ozark-based teen internship in ecological science, and Block Stewards with Julie Coffey, a neighborhood initiative exploring native forb trials in urban parkways.
In Southern California, my work focuses on native habitat restoration and wildfire management planning, with attention to improving land access for local tribal communities. My ecological research has explored post-fire resiliency and fire severity in coastal sage scrub habitats, linking practical land management with scientific understanding.
As an artist, I have presented exhibitions such as Fruiting Bodies (2019–20, Descanso Gardens) and A Better Nectar (2014–16, CSU-Long Beach; Gillespie Science Museum; The College of New Jersey), which explore the symbiosis between bumblebees and the plants they pollinate.
I hold an MFA from CalArts (1996) and a Master’s in Conservation and Restoration Science from UC Irvine (2022), where I now teach, alongside courses at ArtCenter College of Design. Grants and fellowships include the California Community Foundation, the City of Los Angeles, the Reed Foundation, Metabolic Studios, and the Graham Foundation. My work has been featured in KCET, KCRW, Los Angeles Times, Art in America, Art Forum, and Smithsonian Magazine, and my science and community projects have been highlighted at the California Invasive Plant Council and California Native Plant Society conferences.
I thrive at the intersection of art, community, and science and hope you do too!