I have always been intrigued by the complex nature of all ecosystems scattered around the world and how so many varying components are capable of working together in harmony.  As a child I grew up on a farm in the southern Appalachian mountains near Asheville, NC.  Constantly observing my surroundings, I began to recognize how different trees preferred different areas and how similar trees were exceptionally larger on some sites than others.  The majority of youth was spent backpacking and hiking in this beautiful mountain range and I always knew that my career would involve some form of natural resource management.

    I received a B.S. in Forest Management from NC State and my M.S. in Forest Soils from the University of Washington with Dr. Robert B. Harrison.  At the University of Washington, my research was based on predicting fertilization response of Douglas-fir plantations to multiple applications of urea fertilizer by using various soil and site variables.  

    Currently, I am pursuing a Ph.D. in forest soils and silviculture with my major advisor and mentor Dr. Thomas R. Fox.  My research is broadly based around the role of soil heterogeneity and how nutrient cycling varies both spatially and temporally.  The two major heterogeneity components that I am investigating include 1) the impact of red-backed salamanders and 2) the role of decomposing stumps. After completing this research, hopefully this information can be used to manage our forests for timber and non-timber forest products without compromising biodiversity.

    The impact of globalization, population growth and urbanization on biodiversity will be at the forefront of many forestry debates in the 21st century; thus, understanding what impacts various management regimes  have on biodiversity will be pivotal for maintaining forest sustainability.