Curriculum Vitae
Education
Ph.D., Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. 2008. Colorado State University. Thesis title: Hybridization between spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) and diffuse knapweed (C. diffusa): Patterns and implications for invasion.
GPA 3.9/4.0
Master of Science, Biology. 2003. Georgia Southern University. Thesis Title: The role of evolutionary processes in a biological invasion: an experimental study with Silene latifolia.
GPA 4.0/4.0
Bachelor of Science, Biology with a Chemistry minor, 2001. University of Iowa. Thesis Title: Seed production and seedling competition in garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata): implications for management.
GPA 4.22/4.0 Valedictorian, Honor's with Highest Distinction
Grants
Society for the Study of Evolution International Travel Award for Young Scholars to attend Neobiota in Prague, Czech Republic, September 23-26, 2008. $700 (2008)
EPA STAR Fellowship FP-91676001-0. "The role of hybridization in biological invasions: a study with Centaurea maculosa and C. diffusa." $111,000 (2006-2008)
NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant #0607974. "The role of interspecific hybridization in biological invasions: an experimental study with Centaurea maculosa and C. diffusa." $11,951 (2006-2008)
William M. Brown Professional Development Award, CSU. $500 (2004, 2006)
Sigma-Xi-Grant-in-Aid-of-Research. "The role of evolutionary processes in a biological invasion." $737 (2002)
Competitive Research Grant - Georgia Southern University. $300 (2002)
Awards
Western Society of Weed Science First Place Graduate Student Oral Paper Presentation - Basic Sciences and Weeds of Range and Forest Sections (2008)
Robert L. Zimdahl Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Weed Science (2007)
Robert L. Zimdahl Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Pest Ecology (2005, 2006)
Plant Population Biology Ecology Section Travel Award for the ESA Annual Meeting - Portland, Oregon (2004)
Colorado State University Recruitment Scholarship (2003)
Georgia Entomological Society First Place B.S./M.S. Paper Presentation (2003)
Georgia Academy of Science Outstanding Paper Presentation in the B.S./M.S. Biological Sciences Section (2003)
Academic Excellence Award - Georgia Southern University (2001 & 2002)
Irene Burt Boole Botany Scholarship - Georgia Southern University (2001 & 2002)
Iowa Lakeside Laboratory Summer Scholarship for Ecology (2001)
Everet R. Johnshon Award for the Highest GPA in the College of Liberal Arts - University of Iowa (2001)
Evelyn Hart Watson Scholarship for Outstanding Freshman in Biology - University of Iowa (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)
Howard Hughes Undergraduate Internship (Summer 2000)
Howard Hughes Fellow (Fall 2000)
Teaching Experience
TA for Plant Biology - CSU (2007)
TA for Majors Biology of Organisms - CSU (2004 & 2005).
Guest lecture for Ecology - Undergraduate course, 130 students - CSU (2005).
Guest lecturer for Seed Ecology - Graduate level seminar GSU (2003).
Guest lecturer for Scientific Presentation - Graduate level course GSU (2003).
TA for Environmental Biology Laboratory - GSU (2001 & 2002).
Academic Service
Reviewer for Acta Oecologia, American Journal of Botany, Biological Invasions, Ecological Monographs, Ecology, Ecology Letters, Evolution, Evolutionary Ecology, Journal of Ecology, New Phytologist, Oecologia and Plant and Soil.
Graduate Student Council Health Insurance Committee (2005-2006).
Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management Student Liaison Committee (2004-2006)
Volunteer for the Society for the Study of Evolution Annual Meeting, Fort Collins, CO - AV Assistant and Hike Leader (2004).
Graduate Student Host for Colloquium in the Life Sciences speaker - Dr. L.M. Wolfe (2004).
Planning Committee for the Front Range Ecology Symposium (2003, 2004 & 2005).
Volunteer for the Society for the Study of Evolution Annual Meeting, Chico, CA - AV Assistant (2003).
Mentor for two GSU undergraduate research projects (2002).
Women in Science and Engineering Mentor and Mentee (1997-2001).
Howard Hughes Mentor to minority high school students (2000).