2014—present  Assistant Professor of Meteorology at UNC Charlotte

2013—2014  Assistant Professor of Meteorology and Physics at the United States Air Force Academy

2012—2013  Instructor of Meteorology and Physics at the University States Air Force Academy

2013  Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from North Carolina State University

2009  M.S. in Atmospheric Science from North Carolina State University

2007  B.S. in Meteorology from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana

My research centers on better understanding the physical processes within severe thunderstorms and how changes in temperature, moisture, and wind impact storm behavior. I am also an avid reader, and love spending time in bookstores. My husband and I also love playing board games together. Being outside is very relaxing for me, whether I’m going for a walk, a hike, or chasing thunderstorms.

As long as I can remember, I’ve loved watching thunderstorms. I would often watch The Weather Channel to know when they would arrive, then go out and sit on my front porch to watch them roll through. I excelled in science classes throughout high school, but struggled a bit with the math. This became more of a challenge in college, where I received some of my lowest grades ever in a math course my first semester. Through hard work, sheer determination, and a lot of help from my peers, my math grades got better every semester, and I eventually earned a minor in math, along with my B.S. in meteorology. I originally went to graduate school thinking I would get an M.S. and then work for the National Weather Service. However, I loved teaching, and I found my research really interesting, so I decided to continue on and pursue a doctorate. While it was a very challenging experience, I now have so many more opportunities, a rewarding career, and am a better scientist for going through it.