About Me
Born and raised in Flatbush, Brooklyn, I have spent my life working in and for the city of New York: its environment and its people. I attended John Dewey High School, located in Coney Island, and graduated with honors. From there, I joined AmeriCorps, where I spent two years working for the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.
As an AmeriCorps member, I spent one year on an Environmental Restoration Team working throughout the five boroughs. We restored trails; removed invasive species; restored such native species as the Prickly Pear Cactus and Bobwhite Quail in Pelham Bay Park; and protected the tiny Piping Plovers of Rockaway Beach. During my second year, I acted as an assistant to the Urban Park Rangers of Brooklyn. Based at the Salt Marsh Nature Center in Marine Park, we were responsible for patrolling the borough's parks and guiding public and school tours on subjects ranging from the "History of Coney Island" to "Trees and Trigonometry." I was given a fair amount of independence in this position, and projects I took on included writing a Historic Sign for the Four Sparrow Marsh Preserve and cataloging the Rangers' library at the Nature Center.
As an AmeriCorps member, I spent one year on an Environmental Restoration Team working throughout the five boroughs. We restored trails; removed invasive species; restored such native species as the Prickly Pear Cactus and Bobwhite Quail in Pelham Bay Park; and protected the tiny Piping Plovers of Rockaway Beach. During my second year, I acted as an assistant to the Urban Park Rangers of Brooklyn. Based at the Salt Marsh Nature Center in Marine Park, we were responsible for patrolling the borough's parks and guiding public and school tours on subjects ranging from the "History of Coney Island" to "Trees and Trigonometry." I was given a fair amount of independence in this position, and projects I took on included writing a Historic Sign for the Four Sparrow Marsh Preserve and cataloging the Rangers' library at the Nature Center.
Returning to school, I earned a B.A. in Anthropology from Stony Brook University. I also completed a Minor in Medieval Studies. My focuses included archaeology and Latin. While at Stony Brook, I was an active member of the Black Widows, the Women's Rugby Club; the Anthropology Society; and the LGBTA. I served as Secretary of the latter two organizations. I also spent a summer interning in the Plant Records Office of the New York Botanical Garden.
Since graduating from Stony Brook, I have worked as an intern with the American Lung Association; as an educator with the New-York Historical Society; and as a temp with the firm Professionals for Nonprofits. I have also worked as a freelanced editor and proofreader, primarily with Vox Pop, a neighborhood coffee house and publisher in Flatbush. My credits include American Assassination and The Big Wedding.
In 2008, I returned to school once again to earn my Master's degree in Library Science at Pratt Institute. While there, I focused on Children's & Young Adult Services and Reference Services, with the aim in mind of working for an urban public library system much like the one I grew up with in Brooklyn; this is the best way I can see to give back to my community and the libraries that have given me so much.
In 2011, I was hired by the College of New Rochelle at the Brooklyn Campus of the School of New Resources, a program for returning adult students (21+), located in Bedford-Stuyvesant. I served as an Adjunct Reference Librarian, answering reference questions, teaching information literacy, and helping supervise the circulation desk. My most rewarding moment each year was to watch as my students graduated, having finished the projects they worked so hard on and which I had the privilege of helping them with. Due to budget cuts, I discontinued in this position as of March 2014; however, I remained at the College of New Rochelle as an Adjunct Instructor for the Spring 2014 semester, teaching two sections of an introductory class on information literacy.
Starting in 2014, I worked as a Credential Evaluator for an educational nonprofit called World Education Services. WES helps people coming to the United States or Canada as students or immigrants get credit for education they have already received abroad. I examined each diploma or transcript to develop an accurate assessment of its American or Canadian educational equivalency, and to help clients start their studies or lives here. I left that position in 2017, in order to pursue work in the library field once again.
Since then, I have devoted myself to keeping up to date in the field by way of professional development, and I have been working as a freelance editor and bibliographer. I have also been volunteering as an Adult Literacy Tutor at my neighborhood library branch, working with adults preparing them for High School Equivalency classes.
Since graduating from Stony Brook, I have worked as an intern with the American Lung Association; as an educator with the New-York Historical Society; and as a temp with the firm Professionals for Nonprofits. I have also worked as a freelanced editor and proofreader, primarily with Vox Pop, a neighborhood coffee house and publisher in Flatbush. My credits include American Assassination and The Big Wedding.
In 2008, I returned to school once again to earn my Master's degree in Library Science at Pratt Institute. While there, I focused on Children's & Young Adult Services and Reference Services, with the aim in mind of working for an urban public library system much like the one I grew up with in Brooklyn; this is the best way I can see to give back to my community and the libraries that have given me so much.
In 2011, I was hired by the College of New Rochelle at the Brooklyn Campus of the School of New Resources, a program for returning adult students (21+), located in Bedford-Stuyvesant. I served as an Adjunct Reference Librarian, answering reference questions, teaching information literacy, and helping supervise the circulation desk. My most rewarding moment each year was to watch as my students graduated, having finished the projects they worked so hard on and which I had the privilege of helping them with. Due to budget cuts, I discontinued in this position as of March 2014; however, I remained at the College of New Rochelle as an Adjunct Instructor for the Spring 2014 semester, teaching two sections of an introductory class on information literacy.
Starting in 2014, I worked as a Credential Evaluator for an educational nonprofit called World Education Services. WES helps people coming to the United States or Canada as students or immigrants get credit for education they have already received abroad. I examined each diploma or transcript to develop an accurate assessment of its American or Canadian educational equivalency, and to help clients start their studies or lives here. I left that position in 2017, in order to pursue work in the library field once again.
Since then, I have devoted myself to keeping up to date in the field by way of professional development, and I have been working as a freelance editor and bibliographer. I have also been volunteering as an Adult Literacy Tutor at my neighborhood library branch, working with adults preparing them for High School Equivalency classes.
Since 2007, I have been a clarinetist with the Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps, a community band. With the LGBAC and its parent organization, LGBA, I have had the chance to perform in the 2009 Inaugural Parade for President Obama; at Carnegie Hall; in Cologne, Germany; and parading down Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Each year has brought more opportunities to advance myself as a performing artist and to advocate for my community. From 2011 until 2014 I served as the band's Communications Coordinator, maintaining our Facebook page and editing The Weekly Reeder, our newsletter. Beginning in 2019, I was made our Social Media Manager, maintaining our Instagram and Twitter presence in addition to our internal and public Facebook pages.
Starting in high school, I have also volunteered with such diverse organizations as the New York Aquarium at Coney Island, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Brooklyn Public Library.
In my spare time, I also knit and cross-stitch, and am an avid reader.
Starting in high school, I have also volunteered with such diverse organizations as the New York Aquarium at Coney Island, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Brooklyn Public Library.
In my spare time, I also knit and cross-stitch, and am an avid reader.
