I am an Assistant Professor in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Mary Washington. My research uses carbonate proxies, such as corals and oysters, to reconstruct past changes in climate. Scientific questions I am currently tackling include understanding how El Nino events are changing under enhanced greenhouse gas emissions and how present rainfall patterns are changing in the Chesapeake Bay region compared to the preindustrial era. I chose to teach and research at a small liberal arts school because I have a passion for teaching and sharing research experiences with undergraduates.