I’ve always been interested in nature, and have always wanted to join an outdoor profession. Having grown up camping and hiking in all the beautiful landscapes we have in Utah, I started my natural science career studying geology at the University of Utah. From there, I took an interest in our water resources and went to Utah State University to learn about stream restoration, native fish conservation, and all the other stuff that makes working with rivers so fun. I am coming to the Jordan River Commission from a background of laboratory science, field science, and most recently community science, all through the lens of our local streams and water.
My role as the Jordan River Restoration Coordinator is a joint position between the Jordan River Commission and the Utah DNR Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. It’s my job to facilitate collaboration for ecological restoration projects along the whole Jordan River, and among all the many agencies and entities along its banks. In practice, this looks like coordinating invasive species removal and revegetation, managing project funding, and being a knowledgeable resource for our community.
As I’ve progressed through school and outdoor professions, I’ve found that I am most interested in applied conservation science and real-life, work-ready skills that can directly improve the current world. I’ve also found that teaching these skills is incredibly rewarding, and effective translation of our science to help our community is critical to building a better future. I believe the work the Jordan River Commission and Forestry, Fire and State Lands does for our community is very important, and I am excited to be a part of the team.
