ABOUT ME

Canine Behavior, Animal Welfare, Zoo Research

I am an animal welfare scientist, currently obtaining my PhD in Psychology at Arizona State University. As a member of the Canine Science Collaboratory, I am studying positive emotional states in dogs, and how humans understand happiness in canines. 

I have a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Stetson University, in DeLand, FL. I also have a Master's degree in Biology with a concentration in Animal Behavior from Sonoma State University, in Rohnert Park, CA. My research has included social network analysis with hamadryas baboons and kin recognition in pygmy rattlesnakes. In addition, I have worked at multiple zoological institutions and private companies, including The St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Disney's Animal Kingdom and AnimalConcepts, all with the mission to enhance animal welfare.