Experience

Savanna Institute

• United States
• Farming
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Technical Service Provider

  • Jun 2023 - Present

• Research Fellow

  • Apr 2022 - Present

  Synthesizing scientific literature on multi-functional buffers.Updating "Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways" with expected publication in 2024.



Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Urban Agriculture Educator

  • May 2022 - Jun 2023

  Created a curriculum with 11 main topics on small-scale mixed vegetable production and delivered curriculum to New American farmers in Central NYS Assisted in the development of a 180-ac farm property to support RISE's Syracuse Refugee Agriculture Program. Created a curriculum with 11 main topics on small-scale mixed vegetable production and delivered curriculum to New American farmers in Central NYS Assisted in the development of a 180-ac farm property to support RISE's Syracuse Refugee Agriculture Program.



Cornell University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Seasonal Maple Technician

  • Nov 2021 - Apr 2022

  Assisted in the seasonal maintenance and tapping of a 7,800-tap commercial sugar bush operation Provided a literature review of over 20 promising agroforestry crops that are compatible in a forest understory Assisted in the seasonal maintenance and tapping of a 7,800-tap commercial sugar bush operation Provided a literature review of over 20 promising agroforestry crops that are compatible in a forest understory



Route 9 Cooperative

• Carrollton, Ohio, United States

• Agroforestry Apprentice

  • Aug 2021 - Nov 2021

  Navigated through the harvesting, processing, packaging, and online shipping of 80,000+ pounds of fresh chestnuts and value-added products Assisted in the preparation for the annual harvest party that hosted over 50 participants from different states across the Midwest and Northeast Participating in Savanna Institute’s online agroforestry courses Navigated through the harvesting, processing, packaging, and online shipping of 80,000+ pounds of fresh chestnuts and value-added products Assisted in the preparation for the annual harvest party that hosted over 50 participants from different states across the Midwest and Northeast Participating in Savanna Institute’s online agroforestry courses



Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions

• Think Tanks
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Americorps Vista

  • Jun 2020 - Jun 2021

  Developed planting plans for the 2021 growing season in 3 planting spaces: high tunnel, food forest, and perennial community pantry garden. Supervised groups of volunteers in perennial plant installation and construction of a 30' x 100' high tunnel. Assisted in hosting two online conferences through Zoom. Edited and produced organizational outreach videos. Developed planting plans for the 2021 growing season in 3 planting spaces: high tunnel, food forest, and perennial community pantry garden. Supervised groups of volunteers in perennial plant installation and construction of a 30' x 100' high tunnel. Assisted in hosting two online conferences through Zoom. Edited and produced organizational outreach videos.



Hawks' Nest Translations

• Rochester, New York Area

• Part-Time Translator

  • Jan 2014 - Jan 2021

  I periodically translate Mandarin to English jobs. I periodically translate Mandarin to English jobs.



Peace Corps

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Peace Corps Volunteer

  • Mar 2019 - Mar 2020

  Volunteered in Peace Corps Zambia in the LIFE project (Linking Income, Food, and Environment). Worked specifically with local farmers in Eastern Province, Zambia to promote better nutrition, environmental stewardship, and improved crop management and soil conservation. The experience occurred over a year until Peace Corps evacuation of all currently serving volunteers. It involved full immersion into another culture, language, and living style. Primary Projects: • Led over 10 trainings reaching over 60 farmers. Trainings covered tree nursery establishment and management, out-planting techniques including establishment of agroforestry species (i.e., Faidherbia, Sesbania Sesban, Pigeon Pea, Tephrosia, and Moringa) as part of conservation farming, and proper care of trees throughout a full year. • Led by example and demonstrated tree nursery establishment and care. Supplied over 150 tree seedlings to the community sourced from own labor in addition to facilitating the distribution of over 120 seedlings sourced through the USAID Community-Based Reforestation Initiative. Overall, helped in the planting of over 400 new trees in the community including fruit, agroforestry, and forestry species. • Facilitated 4 budgeting and business skills trainings that empowered over 50 community members, over half of them women. • Linked 50 interested farmers to experts in the area who taught the improvement of fruit trees through budding and grafting. Secondary Projects: • Established a beekeeping cooperative that will promote modern beekeeping techniques in the village. Taught alternative income-generating activities to the cooperative such as candles and lotion using wax. • Participated in a malaria bike tour in which 5 communities within Chadiza district (over 100 total miles) were taught prevention and appropriate mosquito bed net care and installation. Show less



The Fresh Air Fund

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Camp Instructor

  • Jun 2018 - Aug 2018

  Led and taught 20 50-minute classes per week on the art of creative writing. Created lesson plans and learning strategies for pre-high school NYC children Took care of the needs of 5 campers during evenings and weekends, making sure that they had a safe and fun summer camp experience. Led and taught 20 50-minute classes per week on the art of creative writing. Created lesson plans and learning strategies for pre-high school NYC children Took care of the needs of 5 campers during evenings and weekends, making sure that they had a safe and fun summer camp experience.



EARTHDAY.ORG

• United States
• Environmental Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Earth Day Intern

  • Sep 2017 - Dec 2017

  I assisted Earth Day Network in its preparations for Earth Day 2018 and 2020 - year-long campaigns that bring together actors from across the world to target an environmental issue. Earth Day 2018 will be on plastic pollution. My work included: · Building a preliminary relational database of organizations working on plastic and ocean pollution through Microsoft Access · Researching the plastic industry and the health impacts of plastic pollution · Supporting coordination efforts between Earth Day Network and contacts in Beijing, China · Attending environmental events in Washington, D.C. to gather new ideas and perspectives Approximately 20 hours/week Show less



US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Field Research Assistant

  • May 2017 - Aug 2017

  I worked in Dr. Lindsey Milbrath's lab and assisted efforts to research biological controls for the invasive weed species: Swallow wort and Knapweed. My work included: · Organizing and preparing materials for field work · Processing samples in a quarantine lab · Data collection and entry through Excel Approximately 35 hours/week I worked in Dr. Lindsey Milbrath's lab and assisted efforts to research biological controls for the invasive weed species: Swallow wort and Knapweed. My work included: · Organizing and preparing materials for field work · Processing samples in a quarantine lab · Data collection and entry through Excel Approximately 35 hours/week



Hudson Valley Research Laboratory

• United States
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Agricultural Invasive Species Outreach Educator

  • Jun 2016 - Aug 2016

  I worked on efforts to improve the laboratory's outreach to the greater community. My work included: · Capturing over 180 minutes of film on the lab’s current and past research projects · Editing and producing 13 2-8-minute videos on agricultural invasive species and their management strategies · Traveling to the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station and Cornell campus to capture further perspectives from research partners Approximately 30 hours/week I worked on efforts to improve the laboratory's outreach to the greater community. My work included: · Capturing over 180 minutes of film on the lab’s current and past research projects · Editing and producing 13 2-8-minute videos on agricultural invasive species and their management strategies · Traveling to the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station and Cornell campus to capture further perspectives from research partners Approximately 30 hours/week



Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

• United States
• Higher Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Community Development Research Intern

  • Jun 2016 - Aug 2016

  I worked as an intern through the Cornell CALS NYS Internship Program to research youth retention and attraction in the Hudson Valley. My work included: · Conducting independent interviews and focus groups with Ulster County (New York) community members · Researching the community history and demographics through an online economic profile system · My work culminated in a final research paper and public presentation Approximately 10 hours/week I worked as an intern through the Cornell CALS NYS Internship Program to research youth retention and attraction in the Hudson Valley. My work included: · Conducting independent interviews and focus groups with Ulster County (New York) community members · Researching the community history and demographics through an online economic profile system · My work culminated in a final research paper and public presentation Approximately 10 hours/week