I was raised in a small town, Epworth, Iowa and decided to attend the University of Iowa to study Chemistry and Physics. My interest in chemistry stemmed from my high school A.P. Chemistry teacher who was engaging while lecturing and broke down concepts into more understandable terms. By working with students at the college level, I discovered my interest in helping students understand and engage in chemistry in the same way my high school teacher helped me. In the Cole research group, I hope to deepen my understanding of student learning and improve student understanding and interest in chemistry.  

Outside of academics, I’m often reading, playing the piccolo or piano, or hanging with my friends.