M.S. Student Graduate Teaching Assistant Stratigraphic Paleobiology Sequence Stratigraphy Paleontology Paleoecology I am a Master’s student in Geology at the University of Georgia, where I also work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. My thesis research uses fossil associations in offshore mudrock facies of the Pennsylvanian Breathitt Group (eastern Kentucky) to reconstruct sequence-stratigraphic stacking patterns. I apply multivariate ordination techniques (DCA and NMS) to identify ecological gradients that correlate with water depth, offering a paleoecological approach to sequence stratigraphy. Beyond research, I am an active member of UGA’s GeoAmbassadors program, which supports departmental outreach and engagement through K–12 programming, campus events, and advising the Geology Department. I also serve as the graduate representative for Geology on the Graduate Student Association (GSA), where I attend monthly meetings to communicate between UGA's graduate leadership and the geology student body. I earned my B.S. in Earth Space Science from the University of Indianapolis, where I was a student-athlete on the UIndy Men’s Soccer Team and a graduate of the Ron and Laura Strain Honors College. During my time there, I worked in the Rock and Mineral Lab, assisting with specimen identification and curation. I also gained valuable museum and science communication experience in the Fossil Prep Lab at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, where I served as both a Paleontology Intern and Assistant Preparator. My academic interests lie at the intersection of paleontology, stratigraphy, and science communication. I hope to pursue a career in museum education, outreach, or teaching, helping others connect with Earth’s history through engaging and accessible learning. Education Education: B.S., University of Indianapolis, 2024 Research Research Areas: Paleobiology Sedimentary Geology Research Interests: Master's Thesis: Using Ecological Gradients in Offshore Facies to Infer Stacking Patterns: Pennsylvanian Breathitt Group of Eastern Kentucky, U.S.A. As part of my M.S. research at the University of Georgia, I am developing a paleoecological approach to sequence stratigraphy by analyzing fossil communities in offshore marine mudrocks of the Pennsylvanian Breathitt Group. These deeper-water facies are typically understudied due to a lack of sedimentary structures, but they preserve fossil associations that reflect ecological gradients correlated with water depth and substrate consistency. I use multivariate ordination techniques (Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling) to quantify these gradients and reconstruct stratigraphic stacking patterns where traditional lithologic methods are limited or absent. My fieldwork spanned four weeks in eastern Kentucky, where I systematically surveyed and sampled fossiliferous marine units at roadcut exposures across the outcrop belt. Using a combination of USGS geologic quadrangles and elevation data, I identified marine zones by correlating them with stratigraphically associated coals. Back in the lab, I have completed fossil identification and counting for my new dataset, which includes species abundance data from 14 marine tongues. These data, along with previously published datasets from Chesnut (1991) and Bennington (1995), have now been analyzed using ordination methods to identify recurring fossil associations and their relationships to environmental gradients. The next phase of the project focuses on using these gradients to interpret sequence-stratigraphic stacking patterns across the Breathitt Group. Grants: Geological Society of America Graduate Student Research Grant. Proposal funded for $1454. 2025. Paleontological Society Allison R. "Pete" Palmer Award. Proposal funded for $854. 2025. SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology Student Research Grant from the Dr. Paul Potter Endowment funded for $750. 2025. University of Georgia Miriam Watts-Wheeler Fund. Proposal funded for $1500. 2025. Degree Completion Date: Fri, 05/01/2026 - 12:00pm Dissertation/Thesis Title: Using Ecological Gradients in Offshore Facies to Infer Stacking Patterns: Pennsylvanian Breathitt Group of Eastern Kentucky, U.S.A.
