As the fifth of seven children raised in San Diego, CA, I spent my childhood outdoors running around our avocado grove, playing soccer and swimming in the ocean. A nature lover at heart, I pursued degrees in biology and eventually ocean conservation. After working as a high school biology teacher and as a SCUBA diver on an island in Honduras, I eventually settled in as an educator at an aquarium for 10 years.
An eternal student, I am back in school once again working on a Ph.D. in environmental behavioral marketing. My varied interactions with the public have shown me that excitement and understanding alone will not bring about positive change for the environment. I want to improve our understanding of what motivates (and hinders) consumers to be “green”.
I have been known to pick up trash off the street (that isn’t my own!), fish plastic bottles out of trashcans to recycle and to whip out my sustainable fish card while eating with friends or family at a restaurant. Every little bit counts, right? But I do understand that being green is not always easy, especially when we consider all of the different options that we face everyday as consumers. On top of that, there are a lot of other things demanding our attention and we do what we can to get through. If I am able to help a little and ease the way to being green, I will consider it a good day.
When I finally take a break from my studies, I spend time with my partner Aaron, also a Ph.D. student, and our two cats Tiger Shark and Cuttlefish. We like to cook, listen to music, watch Jeopardy, and travel (when time and money allow). Besides SCUBA, my other hobbies include photography, gardening, yoga, and learning how to play guitar. It is a lot to juggle but it’s all worth it.
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