Hi! I’m an urban community forester living and working in New York City. I am passionate about exploring the connections and interactions between people and plants. From street trees to urban birding to the urban ecology in between, I share stories through writing, teaching, and speaking.
What I Do
Write
My favorite topic to write about is people-plant relationships, from governments and nonprofits to everyday people. I’m currently working on a project exploring the history of Black New Yorkers’ engagements with forested landscapes. Read a few of my stories linked below.
Teach
I’m an adjunct professor in environmental studies. I can teach courses in the environmental and social history of parks and urban forests, methods of observing nature, and woody plant identification.
Looking for an engaging activity for your staff? I can lead a plant phenology journaling workshop.
Speak
I’ve presented my research at academic conferences and lecture series. Watch my “Spark Trees” given to the Torrey Botanical Society. I’ve been a guest host for the American Birding Podcast. I also host Your Bird Story, Local Nature Lab’s podcast initiative. Listen to a fan-favorite episode.
What I’ve Written
Toponymy, Migration Migration & Pigeon Peas
Making etymological connections between birds of the Caribbean, with a focus on Jamaica, and U.S. East Coast. BIRDING, June 2024. Read the article.
The Rise of Plantfluencers
Creative online influencers are helping a diverse new generation of gardeners begin a love affair with plants. The American Gardener, Jan/Feb 2024. Read the story.
An African American Tree Activist Lived in Brooklyn
A Southern magnolia still grows in Brooklyn, one of the botanical legacies of African American environmental activist Hattie Carthan. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Blog, March 2023. Read the post.
Biography
I write stories about people’s relationships with plants and narratives that connect people to trees. I write for scholarly and general audiences. I wrote a dissertation on the discursive transformation of urban trees from beautification to ecosystem services. I’ve also written for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Blog, the American Gardener, and City Trees.
I write about urban birding, with bylines at Popsci.com, Audubon.com, and Audubon magazine.
Additionally, I’m developing expertise in phenology monitoring, tracking seasonal changes in nature. I have spoken about the topic on WNYC and administer a phenology project in Washington Square Park that won a PhenoAward from the USA National Phenology Network.
To learn more about the benefits of phenology—read my co-authored opinion piece, For well-being and science, chip in with nature observations, published in the Portland Press Herald.