Education

University of Wisconsin - Madison • Madison, WI

Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies - Environment & Resources, M.S. | September 2023 - TBD

Drake University • Des Moines, IA

Dual degree student, Triple Major in Public Relations (B.A.J.M.C.), Astronomy (B.S.), and Physics (B.A.) with a Minor in Mathematics | August 2014 - December 2018

  • Awarded the Jon Vermedahl Award for first-year physics student with most positive progress

  • Awarded the Holmes-Cowper Scholarship Award for Outstanding Junior Astronomy Student

  • Awarded 2017 Clarion Award for Written Original Material for Easter Seals ATC Facebook Content Calendar group submission

  • Recipient of the Presidential Scholarship from Drake University

  • Drake University Dean's List 2015 and Spring 2017, President's List Spring 2016

  • GPA: 3.46/4.0 Cumulative

  • Graduation: December 2018

 

 

Experience 

Earthwise Pet • Madison, WI

Quarry Kennels • Stoughton, WI

Two Rivers Marketing • Des Moines, IA

Strategic Communications Specialist, February 2021– October 2021

  • Serves as the primary daily PR contact for four clients and provide regular status reports on current projects

  • Manage ongoing media relations and conduct active outreach to build more connections

  • Develop PR content such as press releases, case studies, social and website content

  • Provide PR strategy support to clients to accomplish target goals

Two Rivers Marketing • Des Moines, IA

Strategic Communications Coordinator, November 2019–February 2021

  • Assist in the ideation, planning and execution of PR content for clients to use as communication between their various audiences, such as press releases, social posts, articles and ads

  • Maintain working documents with research and insights to report to the client

The Science Center of Iowa • Des Moines, IA

Part-time Programs Presenter, January 2019–March 2020

  • Communicated scientific information in an entertaining, engaging, interactive, and relatable way to a variety of audiences in bite-size science shows

  • Engaged with visitors to encourage STEM learning and be a resource to the public

  • Traveled across the state of Iowa to bring science programming and presentations to new locations and populations

  • Lead the organization, coordination, and communication of monthly star party events that are free and available to the public, as well as operating the telescopes

The Museum of Flight • Seattle, WA

Brooke Owens Fellow Intern, Digital Learning Department, May 2018-August 2018

  • Adapted material science and astronomy curriculum to support student participation in a five-week MIT Zero Robotics competition program

  • Coordinated events and acquired skilled individuals as key-note speakers for the Western Aerospace Scholars Summer Program

  • Co-created and co-lead a week-long astronomy and aerospace camp for the middle school girls program, Amelia’s Aero Club

The drake Municipal observatory • Des Moines, IA

Observatory Assistant, September 2014–December 2018

  • Set up and operated reflecting Cassegrain telescopes, as well as use an 8 1/2 inch refractor

  • Located and identified various night sky objects for people to view

  • Educated visitors about the night sky and what they were observing

 

drake university physics and astronomy department • Des Moines, IA

Alumni Newsletter Editor, November 2017–December 2018

  • Assisted in the revitalization of the Drake Physics & Astronomy Department alumni semesterly newsletter

  • Planned newsletter content and wrote articles about department updates, news, and events as well as relevant topics in the scientific community

 

The annual • Des Moines, IA

Writer, November 2017–May 2018

  • Produced science-related articles for the Drake University award-winning magazine

  • Investigated scientific topics and articulated them to readers in an eloquent fashion

 

The Science Center of Iowa • Des Moines, IA

Camps Educator, May 2017–August 2017

  • Constructed and executed a scientific-based curriculum for children in grades 1st through 8th

  • Engaged and educated kids about various scientific concepts through intellectually stimulating and exciting activities while reaching them at their level of understanding

  • Collaborated with other staff to lead groups of approximately two dozen campers each week

  •  Learned to be adaptable and comfortable working with all age groups and science topics to help instruct camps where needed

 

drake university school of journalism and mass communication • Des Moines, IA

Communications Research Coder, September 2017–January 2018

  • Primary Investigator: Matthew Thornton, Ph.D.

  • Conducted objective analysis of political articles associated with the 2016 presidential election

  • Categorized key components of articles to find themes and trends among the political media for the 2016 election

 

Drake University physics and astronomy department • Des Moines, IA

Physics Lab Grader, January 2017–May 2017

  • Evaluated Physics 011 lab reports to check for accuracy and understanding and gave constructive feedback

 

Drake University physics and astronomy department • Des Moines, IA

Astronomy Lab Assistant, January 2016–January 2017

  • Set up lab equipment such as telescopes, centrifuge instruments, and spectroscopes when needed for lab activities

  • Assisted students with lab activities and calculations when support was needed

 

Research Experience

drake university physics and astronomy department • Des Moines, IA

The Influence of Bulge Morphology on the Nuclei of Seyfert Galaxies 

Student Research, January 2016-May 2018

  • Primary Investigator: Charles Nelson, Ph.D.

  • Analyzed Hubbell Space Telescope images of Seyfert galaxies to determine the host galaxy morphology and the bulge magnitude

  • Used software called GALFIT and IRAF and developed basic skill of image processing

  • Presented research poster at DUCARS 2016, DUCARS 2017 at Drake University and WoPhyS 2018 at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

 

drake university physics and astronomy department • Des Moines, IA

MISSFIT (Magneto-Ionization Spacecraft Shield for Interplanetary Travel)

Student Research, January 2017-May 2018

  • Collaborative student-lead research project

  • Researched solar wind composition and magnetic field properties to develop a feasible radiation shield for interplanetary travel

  • Presented research poster at DUCARS 2017 at Drake University

 

Leadership & Community Engagement

  • Member of the Central Iowa PRSA Chapter

  • 2018 Fellow of the Brooke Owens Fellowship Program

  • PR News PR People Award finalist in the Student of the Year category in 2018

  • President: The Society of Physics Students at Drake University (2015-2017)

  • Member of the Drake University PRSSA chapter

  • Student Volunteer: The Science Center of Iowa, Passageway Clubhouse, Christ Lutheran Church

  • Stoughton (WI) High School golf team player all four years; lettered in both athletics and academics

 

Computer Skills

  • Python, proficient skillset

  • IRAF, proficient skillset

  • GALFIT, basic skill of image processing

  • Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), highly proficient

  • Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and Premiere Pro, proficient skillset 

Invited Talks

Misic Conference: Focus on Inquiry • Ankeny, IA

Keynote speaker, April 12, 2018

PR senior Capstone presentation • Des Moines, IA

Co-presenter of PR senior capstone project, April 18, 2018

astronomy & physics senior capstone presentation

Des Moines, IA

Presenter of astronomy & physics senior capstone research project, May 5, 2018

Student panel discussion, Teaching & Learning Committee meeting for the drake Board of Trustees • Des Moines, IA

Student Panelist, October 5, 2018