I attended Ocean City High School (Ocean City, NJ), where I was an active member of concert band, marching band, jazz band and jazz rock ensemble. I graduated in spring of 2005. People always ask: was it awesome growing up and going to school at the beach? Yes… yes it was.

I attended William Paterson University of New Jersey for two semesters, majoring in music, before transferring to the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (now Stockton University). I graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Geology (minor in environmental studies).

As an active member of Geology Club at Stockton, I nurtured my love of the outdoors and my inquisitive mind. Every hike became a learning experience and every formation posed a question. My professors and mentors taught me how to find the answers to those questions all around me. I cherished my time at Stockton and I carry the knowledge I gained to this day.