Get to know me!

Hi! I’m Lucy. Here’s a little about me.

I am a scientist with an interest in climate adaptation and resilience. I did my undergraduate work in Plant Biology at Michigan State, where I was able partake in unique and wonderful experiences in Ecuador, Malawi, and around Michigan and was able to witness firsthand the beauty of plant diversity and cultural diversity. These experiences led me to include minors in Science Environmental and Technology Public Policy, as well as Environmental Sustainability. After a brief internship as a seed collector for the Bureau of Land Management in Carlsbad, NM, I decided to go to graduate school at the University of Minnesota to get my Ph.D. My dissertation focused on how populations of bur oak responded to different climates, with the goal of informing land managers on potential seed sources for adapting northern forests to climate change. My Ph.D. provided me experience in plant ecophysiology, plant community ecology, plant quantitative genetics, and spectral biology.

One constant about me throughout my life is that I love a good story. As a scientist, I am always looking for interesting stories and telling them through different avenues. I have written stories about diverse environmental topics in the Great Lakes Region, worked on communications for various environmental organizations, and developed public engagement strategies to bring scientists’ work into communities. All of these experiences have solidified my core belief that science should be inclusive and accessible.

In my personal time, I enjoy getting lost in fictional worlds, curled up with a book and my beloved cat, Juno. I enjoy creating and am working on knitting and embroidering projects and am reminding myself that learning, not perfection, is the goal. I love exploring my city and trying new (to me) restaurants with my husband and friends.

To read more reflections about my journey so far, check out my first blog post, where I get even more longwinded (if that is even possible)!