Desert Thunder Parent Teacher Organization - Goodyear, AZ  

Sept. 2017 - present

Board Member and Member

Duties:  Supported PTO in planning and implementing school-wide and grade level events to support teachers, parents, and students.

​

Aggies Elevated - Logan, UT                  

Sept. 2016 - present

Practicum Student

Duties:  While working on my masters at Utah State, I have been able to contribute the Aggies Elevated program.  This program is a two year residential, college experience specifically for young adults with intellectual disabilities.  I assess adult students with intellectual disabilities in reading and transition related topics and teach a transition specific course, Navigating Adulthood. website

​

Pacific Primates - Haiku, Hawaii          

Sept. 2009 - Jan. 2010
Monkey Caregiver
Duties:  Prepared and fed breakfast to over 70 New World primates
and administered necessary medications. Cleaned primate
enclosures and provided stimulating enrichment.  Worked with
sanctuary staff to observe primate behaviors and tend to animals in
the infirmary. website


Secret Garden - Koh Tao, Thailand     

July 2008 – Aug. 2008
Conservation Volunteer
Duties:  Taught swimming/English to primary school Thai
students.  Conducted daily beach cleanings, led weekly surveys of
grass planting progress in rockslide area, and participated in
monthly reef cleanings.  Created informational materials for local
people and tourists on environmental issues.  Participated in
replant for erosion prevention.  Created island-wide directory of
businesses to assist in local census. Planned successful fundraising
events with other volunteers. article


Texas State Aquarium – Corpus Christi, TX

June 2007-June 2008
Volunteer Scuba Diver
Duties:  At the Texas State Aquarium, I have been trained in
conducting underwater feeding shows for the public in the “Flower
Gardens” coral reef exhibit feeding sting ray, moray eel, barracuda,
angel fish, sea turtle, porcupine fish, etc…  I have prepared food for
exhibit animals and cleaned multiple display tanks while using
scuba including the large “Oceans of Steel” off-shore exhibit
containing tarpon, nurse shark, a 7ft sand tiger shark, moray eel,
trigger fish, etc. website


Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge, LA                 

April 2005
Volunteer Technician – Black Bear Project
Duties:  As a volunteer on my husband’s Louisiana black bear
project, I assisted in radio-tracking female bears after they had
been relocated to artificial dens.  I drove an ATV and hiked in the
swamp listening for radio signals.  I assisted in tracking and getting
a visual on a female bear that had successfully adopted another
bear’s abandoned cub.  This unusual phenomenon was later
published in the journal Ursus by John Benson in which I am
mentioned in the acknowledgements.


University of Montana – Missoula, MT      

July 2002 – January 2005
Volunteer Technician – Elk Project
Duties:  While in Montana, I spent countless hours as a member of
my husband’s field crew for the duration of his master’s research
project.  As a volunteer, I took part in searching for and processing
calf elk on ground-capture crews as well as from the helicopter.  
After the capture season, I spent the summers with my husband
radio-tracking the newly tagged elk, investigating mortality sites,
collecting fecal samples, visiting with local landowners and
assisting in presentations.  I was also able to help with the
anesthetizing and relocation of a problem bear with Montana Fish
Wildlife and Parks, the capture and transport of an injured red-
tailed hawk to the rehabilitation center in Helena, the release of an
injured elk calf back into the wild, as well as helping other
graduate students on projects such as bird banding and netting
turtles for a mark/recapture study.

​

Best Buddies – Huntsville, TX     

August 2001 - May 2002
Volunteer Companion
Duties:  While in my undergraduate program at Sam Houston State, I volunteered in the Best Buddies organization, where I was a friend to a young woman with an intellectual disability.  As Best Buddies, we attended functions together, went on community outings together, and are still friends today - 15 years later.

​