I am a PhD Candidate in Biology, in the Plant Sciences subprogram, in a joint program between The New York Botanical Garden and The Graduate Center of The City University of New York.  I spend my time between New York City and Central America conducting research, writing, and teaching.

I have a BA in Biology from Reed College in Portland, Oregon.  I participated in the Alternate Biology program with a secondary focus in Cultural Anthropology.

My professional interests include: ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, traditional knowledge, traditional foods, food security, tropical ecology, tropical agriculture, plant tissue culture, phytochemistry, plant defense mechanisms, botanical therapeutics, reproductive health, phytoestrogens, fertility, gender, ethnography, cultural competency, and innovation in education.