Position Title
Graduate Student
Education
- Ongoing - Ph.D. Anthropology (University of California, Davis)
- 2022 - M.A. Anthropology (California State University, Fullerton)
- 2014 - B.S. Geography (Illinois State University)
- 2014 - B.A. Spanish (Illinois State University)
- 2014 - Minor Environmental Studies (Illinois State University)
About
I am a PhD student specializing in primatology. My previous experiences studying abroad in Spain, serving as a Peace Corps Paraguay volunteer, and researching primate welfare at the San Diego Zoo has led me to UC Davis.
My current research focuses on the economic and social causes of natural resource exploitation in rural communities in the Republic of the Congo, and how this relates to the conservation of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes), and other endangered primate species. Specifically, I will identify economic incentives that promote sustainable development, analyze cultural perceptions of primate hunting, and evaluate the conservation status of wildlife in the Lac Télé Community Reserve. The results of my study will shed light on the socioeconomic complexities of the bushmeat trade and can be applied to communities facing similar issues across the tropics.
Research Focus
Primate conservation, international and economic development, food security, ethnoprimatology.
Awards
Provost's Fellowship in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (2022-2023)
Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship (2020-2022)