My academic background includes a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of New Mexico with a specialization in physiological plant ecology, geochemistry, and climate-vegetation relationships. My Master’s degree in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan involves a specialization in limnology with a focus on nutrient cycling. I hold a Graduate Certification in Academic Leadership for Higher Education Administration. I have been PI or co-PI on numerous grants and projects, ranging from my current $2.5 million NSF grant for enhancing STEM education and research using indigenous paradigms to smaller NSF and NIFA grants involving two main areas: community-based participatory research in climate change and energy sustainability, and creating the infrastructure for a science degree program.