As an interdisciplinary artist, author, and naturalist, my work is inspired by wild things near my home on the outskirts of a small town in Pennsylvania: the twisty, reaching, walnut tree I pass on my way into town, the insistent keew! calls of resident Northern Flickers, the meandering creeks that pulse and rage one week, then trickle placidly the next.
In the face of loss and disruption to the cycles and stability of the natural world, I find solace in knowing that there are actions we can take to create a more hopeful future for humans and the astonishing animals, plants, fungi, and other organisms with whom we share this planet. As a graduate student in Kansas, I restored a 40-acre retired crop field to native prairie as part of my Master’s thesis. Later, as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana, I managed a nursery that produced tens of thousands of trees to combat desertification.
This sense of collaboration with nature, and working to restore some of what has been lost, weaves throughout my work. I use found and locally harvested materials to make ink and paper, and I combine these with commercially produced materials to explore the ways in which humans can partner with nature to benefit both.
Other recent work includes serving as a Fellow with the Creature Conserve Mentorship program (2024-2026), where I developed the program CoLab with support and assistance from Derek Russell, Dr. Lucy Spelman, the CoLab participants, and others. I am a Botany Lab instructor at Kutztown University, and I also host Twig & Ink, a newsletter that features interviews with people working at the intersection of science, art, and writing, along with my own art and writing.
I make a lot of lists! I also love to dance--en pointe, contemporary, and around the house. I think I could walk forever along the ocean.
Want to know more?
Interview with Yvea Moore for her Be the Change series
Article about tree exhibit.
Cook Prize honor acceptance speech and interview
Interview with Christy Mihaly.
Blog post for Charlesbridge.
Interview with Sue Heavenrich (of Archimedes Notebook)
Book review and guest post on Sophia Mallonee's blog.
Interview with Brianna Caplan Sayres.
Guest blog post for Alan Marks.