I am a graduate student in Ellen Damschen’s lab at Washington University. My general research interests are in plant community ecology and ecosystem restoration.  Much of my work has focused on measuring plant community responses to management activities.   While at Washington University, I am interested in examining the relationship between plant community diversity and ecosystem function across a range of land disturbance histories.  Understanding the mechanisms that link diversity and function will help measure restoration success and prioritize restoration activities.
Before coming to Washington University, I did my Master’s work at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  For my thesis project I investigated restoration techniques for restoring mined land with native plant species.  I examined the role of seeding rate, mycorrhizae, and fertilizer on native plant response.  I also worked as an ecologist at The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas, where I managed the ecological monitoring and measures program.