My love of nature started at an early age. I grew up in the woods of central New Jersey—my backyard was a forest protected by New Jersey’s Green Acres Program. I spent countless hours exploring the woods and observing the birds, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, foxes, deer, and other wildlife. I learned about the intimate connection between humans and nature, and how changes in one affect the other. This early experience laid the foundation for my understanding of the world and my place in it.
I have also been working with words since I wrote my first poem at the age of four. I love writing about my own ideas, as well as pulling other people’s ideas together into a clear, readable piece. I also love the process of turning a disorganized, confusing first draft into a coherent text, or simply providing a light touch-up and polish. Throughout my student and professional life, I have gravitated towards writing and editing—not just producing my own work but helping others with theirs. For example, as associate and managing editor of the Journal of Environment and Development, I helped authors from numerous disciplines get their papers published. My work as a writer and editor for Environmental Quality International, a Cairo-based Egyptian consulting firm, helped the firm win and keep several contracts from the United States Agency for International Development.
My years of teaching Environmental Communication at the University of California, San Diego, have also taught me a lot about how to communicate environmental issues to a diverse audience, ranging from people who are serious and committed environmentalists to those who need to be convinced that environmental problems directly affect them. I love figuring out ways to tell environmental stories that will entice people to think about their relationship to their environment in new ways. I have even had the satisfaction of helping some of my students change their career paths to become environmental lawyers, journalists, and advocates.
Green Path Solutions combines these lifelong passions into a single endeavor: helping those who work to improve our relationship to our environment to clearly and compellingly convey their work to others. Whether you want to reach new people with your project or idea, raise money for your environmental nonprofit, or publish your results, I can help you.
Memberships:
- International Environmental Communication Association
- North American Association for Environmental Education
- Society of Environmental Journalists
Education:
- Certificate in Sustainability and Behavior Change, University of California, San Diego Extension
Ph.D. in Communication, University of California, San Diego
M.A. in Anthropology, African Studies University of Florida
B.A. in Anthropology and English, Williams College