Who am I?

I'm a Geologist with the United States Geological Survey Geoscience and Environment Chance Science Center, where I primarily work on the National Geologic Synthesis project.  Prior to joining the Survey I worked as an Engineering Geologist with the California Department of Water Resources, where I supported the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), a landmark initiative to stabilize water quantity and quality in California's groundwater basins.  My primary responsibilities include acting as the SGMA point-of-contact for several Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), providing technical reviews and evaluations of groundwater sustainability plans (GPSs), managing sustainability grants (Prop 1 and Prop 68), and providing technical support to field projects such as well installation and levee repair.

I earned my B.S. and M.S. degrees in Geology from California State University, Fresno, where I studied igneous petrology and geochemistry under the guidance of Dr. Keith Putirka.  My senior thesis research examined the relationship between the onsets of extension and volcanism in the southern Basin and Range Province, which we published in the journal Geosphere.  My Master's thesis work focused on using mineral thermometry to examine the influence of magma recharge on the timing of volcanic eruptions at Brokeoff Volcano, a Pleistocene aged stratovolcano in the Lassen Volcanic Center.

Research Interests