Through my work with the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (NEMIGLSI), I lead and foster meaningful hands-on, place-based learning experiences that help youth connect with and learn about the natural resources and partners in their communities. I facilitate school-community partnerships to protect the Great Lakes and natural resources across eight counties in northeast Michigan. These diverse partners include Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Michigan Sea Grant, Huron Pines, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, conservation districts, municipalities and more. Through these partnerships, we engage students, teachers, and community members to better protect our natural resources. I have directly supported efforts connected to Great Lakes issues like biodiversity conservation, invasive species removal, green infrastructure installation, threatened species monitoring, water quality studies, marine debris prevention and more. I create virtual, hybrid and in-person content and facilitate meetings and workshops to meet the needs of the students, teachers, and community partners.

In addition to my expertise, I am also passionate about conserving northeast Michigan’s abundant natural resources and the Great Lakes. So passionate that in 2020, I founded my own non-profit, Great Lakes Great Responsibility, that aims to prevent marine debris from entering the Great Lakes basin by educating and inspiring others to clean up litter in their own communities.