Professional achievements
• ECCI Rod Breuer Excellence Award.
• Published in American Chemical Society Journal of Physical Chemistry B.
• Level 1 fiberglass reinforced plastic inspector.
Community involvement
Arkansas Environmental Federation, College Mentorship Program; Arkansas Environmental Federation, Public Education Committee; American Chemical Society; UCA Alumni Association.
A small habit that has helped you succeed
“A small habit that has made a big impact on my success is reminding myself that no one really knows exactly what they’re doing, but some people just do it anyway. Embracing that mindset has helped me try new things with confidence, even when I feel unsure. Pushing past the fear of not knowing has opened doors and allowed me to grow in ways I never expected.”
What you’re most passionate about in your career
“Keeping our earth clean. My job allows me to work with industries all over the country that manufacture thousands of products we use every day. However, manufacturing comes with the release of pollutants that can be potentially dangerous. The role I play in this is helping those industries keep these pollutants at a safe level to ensure that the air we breathe and water we drink remains healthy and clean for both humans and nature.”
First job and lessons learned
“My first ‘real’ job was at the University of Central Arkansas during my freshman year, working for the UCA Foundation. I helped process invoices, expense reports and assisted with other financial tasks as needed. This role taught me the importance of attention to detail. When handling large sums of money at a university, there is little room for error. The experience helped shape me into a much more detail-oriented person.”
Biggest obstacle you’ve overcome
At 23, I had just graduated with my undergraduate degree and was preparing to begin a Ph.D. program in Chemistry at the University of Kentucky. I had chosen an apartment, packed my bags and was ready to take the next step in my academic journey. Then, just two weeks before my move, everything changed. I received a call from my doctor about thyroid nodules which we had previously believed to be harmless. They had not only doubled in size, but also in number. While they couldn’t officially diagnose cancer without a biopsy, my doctors were candid: If they could call it cancer without testing, this would be one of those cases. Faced with this sudden and serious health concern, I had to make an incredibly difficult decision — I withdrew from the Ph.D. program and put all my plans on hold to stay in central Arkansas for immediate surgery. I was fortunate to be treated by some of the best surgeons at CARTI. While I was still in recovery, my surgeon told my family they were confident it was cancer, though we would have to wait for the biopsy results to be sure. Six days later, the results came back — it wasn’t cancer. Hundreds of prayers from those around me were answered. I was incredibly relieved and grateful, but the experience had already altered the course of my life. Recovery was just the beginning. It has taken nearly two years to stabilize my thyroid hormone levels with medication, and managing life without a thyroid remains a daily challenge. This unexpected detour changed my career path and my outlook on life. Despite the obstacles, I am incredibly blessed with how everything unfolded. Focusing on my career and God became a source of purpose during recovery. Having such supportive family, friends and company made navigating this difficult time more manageable, and I’ve come to deeply appreciate both the resilience I’ve developed and the opportunities that have come from adapting to this new reality.
Who you look up to and why
“The biggest role models in my life and the people I constantly look up to are my mom and dad. My mom embodies grace, resilience, kindness and patience. She is the foundation of our family, offering unwavering support and encouragement in everything my sister and I do. My dad is hardworking, protective, loving and strong. He is the rock of our family, holding us together through everything and constantly raising the bar for the men in my sister and I’s lives. I feel truly blessed to have them as role models.”
One book everyone should read and why
“‘90 Minutes in Heaven’ — this book shares the story of Don Piper and his recollection of a fatal car accident where he was pronounced dead at the scene. For 90 minutes, he was declared dead and during that time, he describes entering the gates of heaven and gives a vivid, inspiring account of what he saw. The book also covers the long and painful recovery he faced afterward, and how his faith was the only thing that kept him going through every step of the journey. It’s a compelling testimony of the goodness and grace of God.”
A word that describes you
“Ambitious”