About
I am grateful to have completed my MSc, PhD and now begin post-doctoral work in the AWP because of its research focus on the human dimensions of animal welfare. For my MSc, I studied the use and perceptions of on-farm emergency slaughter for dairy cows. For my PhD, I used an approach to inquiry called institutional ethnography to understand the social organization of animal sheltering and protection in BC, Canada. I have also conducted research about evaluating on-farm interventions and undergraduate student engagement in virtual classroom settings. My current post-doctoral research focuses on understanding the social, moral and ethical dimensions of gene editing in farm animals.
I am originally from Wisconsin, USA and have worked on farms that raised chickens, turkeys and rabbits. After receiving my undergraduate degree, I served as a Peace Corps volunteer for three years in the West African country of Togo. In the Peace Corps, I encouraged collaboration throughout the community and created a place to teach and discuss practical and inexpensive methods for improving the welfare of animals. I have been a volunteer for various companion animal organizations including feral cat trap-neuter-release and adoption programs, the Humane Society and currently, the BC SPCA.
Education & Awards
BA Spanish and Environmental Studies (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
MSc Applied Animal Biology (UBC)
PhD Applied Animal Biology (UBC)
Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF), UBC
Haynes Graduate Scholarship for the Advancement of Animal Welfare
Land and Food Systems Graduate Student Teaching Assistant Award 2019
Land and Food Systems Graduate Student Service Award 2019