I am a first generation college student from a low-income background.
My maternal grandparents were farmers and I worked in their vineyard since before I can remember.
I am a first generation American and my father and family are from Brazil.
I was raised between the Finger Lakes, NY, and Miami, Florida.
I was home-schooled until middle school and my mom was my teacher.
I went to a community college after high school and there I found out that you could have a career doing things that I thought of as hobbies (exploring the outdoors!).
I have a MS in Marine Ecology and studied seagrass physiology, never expecting I would ever work with 'land' grass.
I worked for over a decade doing research support before I decided to back to school and get a PhD.
I love to garden, hang out with my animal family, read, cook, bake bread, kayak, swim, hike, travel, and eat great food.