I grew up in a small town in Maine and earned my BA from Smith College in American Studies with a minor in Education in 2007.  Following a year working in the non-profit world, I earned my master's in Education Policy from University of Massachusetts Amherst where my research focused on the experiences of students with disabilities at the college level.  This research sparked a desire to focus on education at the K-12 level, specifically on improving educational outcomes for students with disabilities.  I came to UVM in the fall of 2010 to pursue my doctorate.  I am currently working with Dr Katie Shepherd in the Special Education Program and my research focuses on the Response to Instruction (RtI) model, specifically how it can be used to both improve educational outcomes and increase educational equity for all students.  I am also currently serving a term as the president of the Graduate Student Senate, working to improve graduate student life at UVM.  In my spare time, I?m usually trying to enjoy all things outdoors in Vermont, especially hiking and spending time on the lake.