EDUCATION
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Master of Science in Applied Geosciences, Hydrogeology concentration; GPA: 4.0; 2010
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies & Political Science, minor in English; GPA: 3.88/4.0; Summa Cum Laude; 2008.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Philadelphia. Feb 2014-present
Director of Environmental Art at 340 acre nature center in Philadelphia
-Oversees all aspects of creating and implementing environmental arts program in gallery spaces and on the Center’s grounds
-Identifies and implements environmental art engagements & exhibitions from artist selection through installation
-Collaborates with staff on marketing exhibitions while developing programming in support of exhibitions
-Advances a range of innovative art projects, including LandLab, a residency where artists explore remediating environmental issues on the Center’s property in collaboration with scientists & staff
-Coordinates integration of art across the organization and in key efforts like Master & Strategic Plans
-Works closely with the Development Department on fundraising for the art program
-Works with the Environmental Art Committee, a board-level advisory group of trustees & professionals
-Serves as an active presence in the arts and environmental communities, seeking out opportunities for partnerships and collaboration. Spoke on panels at the Alliance of Artist Communities conference, in 2015 on ecological artist residencies and at the 2014 Arts + Ecology Preconference on funding
-Recruits and supervises interns
Brown University Environmental Leadership Lab, Providence, RI. 2002-15
Instructor, 2004, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2015; Participant 2002-04. 12 day summer outdoor residential pre-college program. Experiential and inquiry-based learning to empower students to enact social change related to the environment in their communities
-Developed and taught curriculum. Led development of modules on coastal ecology, agriculture, stormwater, watersheds, yoga and meditation. Collaborated on modules on climate change, forests and native history, environmental justice. Facilitated discussions on leadership styles, diversity, and social change. Facilitated and debriefed group activities on low ropes course.
-Co-developed and taught curriculum for a new week-long program in 2015 focused on coastal and watershed issues. Led a lesson on Communication, Art, & Social Change.
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Philadelphia. July 2010-Feb 2014
Physical Scientist in EPA’s Mid Atlantic Region, Water Protection Division, Office of Program Support. Work emphasized making key environmental information, messaging, and data understandable to the public and available to staff.
ACADEMIA & RESEARCH
“Globalization: The Crucial Phase,” Brian Spooner, 2015. Co-author, Chapter 15: Academically Based Community Service Learning, with Joseph S. Sun, John D. Keegan, Megan Dougherty
Masters Project Design, 2010. Pennypack Creek Stream Assessment Survey: Sandyford Run Subwatershed. With Philadelphia Water Department.
Senior Thesis, 2008. “The Role of Transboundary River Systems in Political Conflict and Cooperation”
Penn Engineers Without Borders, 2007-08. Worked with Penn students, professors, and community members on the design, construction, and mapping of a gravity-fed spring system in rural Cameroon
National Science Foundation REU award, Luquillo Long Term Ecological Research Station, 2007. Conducted hydrological research in the tropical rainforest of Puerto Rico.
DANCE, MOVEMENT, & ART
Independent dancer and choreographer, Philadelphia. 2008-present. Performs and creates modern dance works in a variety of contexts.
Nova Dance Company, Newark, DE. 2008-10
Founding member of modern dance company. Performs in, choreographs for, and produces annual shows. Emphasis on education. Developing integrated dance/science lesson plan on macroinvertebrates. Served as Treasurer. Coordinated budget, fundraisers, and applications for grants and non-profit status.
Winged Woman Dance Company, Philadelphia, PA. 2008-10
Performing member of Philadelphia-based contemporary dance group.
Formed Declarations. Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2009
Conceived, co-choreographed, co-produced, and performed in evening-length program on Futurism, Dada, & Surrealism. Examined the manifestoes of avant-garde movements and dance as a declaration of politics and aesthetics. Collaborated with Julia Cuccaro.
Stage Lights Dance Studio, Newark, DE. 2008-09
Instructed Ballet, Modern, Repertoire, Conditioning, Yoga, & Dance History to dance students ages 11-18 at inaugural Summer Intensive Program. Program Director, 2009.
Penn Dance Company, University of Pennsylvania. 2004-08
Member of student-run modern dance group; includes technique class, rehearsal, choreography, and performance. Choreographed 8 original works. Restaged a 2008 work for the company’s 40th anniversary concert, 2015. Co-Chair, 2006-07.
Selected Dance Training (since age 3)
Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company (Pre-professional Ballet)
Koresh School of Dance (Modern Jazz, Ballet)
Pilobolus, Improvisation & Choreography Master Classes, 2013 & 2015, Philadelphia
Dance Alloy (Modern), Point Park College (Ballet), Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
Chautauqua Institute Summer Intensive (Ballet)
Other Arts Training
Printmaking Techniques: Focus on Non-Toxic Practices. Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, 2015
Drawing. Perkins Center for the Arts, Collingswood, NJ, 2014
Yoga Teacher
Dhyana Yoga, 200 hour Training Program, 2010, 2015
Banyan Yoga & Ayurveda, 2010-11
DANCE COURSEWORK
Present: Creating Site-Specific Dance & Performance Works, California Institute of the Arts, Coursera.org
Undergraduate:
THAR298 – Creating, Managing, & Presenting the Arts
ENGL329 – American Modern Dance in the 20th Century
ENGL250 – 19th Century Romantic Ballet
Independent Study reconstructing the futurist dance as envisioned by F.T. Marinetti. With Professor Marion Kant. Research & choreography presented at 2008 International Coccia Conference on Futurism, Slought Foundation, Philadelphia.