What were you doing before you applied to the Conway School?
I was in the process of transitioning out of a career in art museums and community non-profits. And I had just started a family (I started Conway while oldest child was 2 – it was a juggling act).
What brought you to Conway?
Size and length of program.
Imagine we just met, and recognized we had common interests. How would you describe Conway to me?
Intense–and the best education you’ll ever get!
What advice do you have for someone just starting out in the field?
Get as much hands-on, on-the-ground experience as you can.
What are you doing right now, and what do you love about it?
As a supplement to my design work, I’m working on some creative non-fiction. It allows me to explore ideas that overlap with my professional practice but don’t typically fit into detailed site design.
List one or more books that you find influential in the field of ecological design and/or planning.
With People in Mind: Design and Management of Everyday Nature
What book changed your life?
Barry Lopez, Arctic Dreams (I’m a huge Lopez fan).
What is your favorite tool?
For my professional practice, an Ipad and Permethrin-treated field clothes are key field tools. (Regarding the Permethrin, I don’t love poisons but it helps minimize my tick exposure given that I work in habitats that can have very high tick populations.) For my home landscape (which serves as mini lab for me), I love my Felco pruners, hori-hori knife, and electric string trimmer.
Which aspects of your Conway education do you use in your current work?
Conway taught me the importance of telling compelling stories and doing rigorous analysis–I use this every day in my work.