Professional Experience

July 2018 to present: Reporter, WINK News. Previously worked as a resident reporter at WVVA in Bluefield, W.Va.; at ABC 7 Chicago as a news planning intern; at Dateline NBC as a story development intern; and at the Northwestern University's Medill Justice Project as a multimedia investigative reporter.

Awards & Recognition

Hearst Foundation Journalism Award for Enterprise Reporting.

Assistant produced 2-hour, Dateline episode hosted by Keith Morrison, “At the Bottom of the Pool,” aired Oct. 13, 2017.

Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society - lifelong membership exclusively for students in top 10 percent of their graduating class in journalism programs across the country.

National QuestBridge Scholar - awarded to the country's most talented, determined, and self-motivated students from low-income populations who demonstrate outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges.

News Philosophy

We consume news when we are gripped by the emotions making us all human — these are the stories that knock us off our feet. Tell the stories not easily seen that must be experienced through the emotions we all feel.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement

Running and cycling! I love all of the fitness-inspired events South West Florida holds to benefit others.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Journalism, Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism, Magna Cum Laude.

Likes best about Southwest Florida

I am so grateful for the hundreds of days you can spend outdoors with friends and family.

Hometown 

Keystone Heights, Florida.

Fort Myers police investigating at William St and Bert Dr

Fort Myers Police Department responded to the intersection of William Street and Bert Drive in Fort Myers Saturday. Police put up crime tape for several hours, blocking a portion of Bert Dr., to conduct an investigation. The scene is now clear, and no other details have been released at this time. Trust WINK News to […]

Cape Coral community members build 100 benches for school bus riders

Community members in Cape Coral continue to work to keep children safe, especially at bus stops. With two children killed at bus stops to begin 2019 in the city, Cape Coral community members look to bring about change and improvements to increase safety. Organizers said volunteers worked together to to build 100 benches for school […]

Lee school’s top choice to head transportation turns down role

Plagued with controversy, from bus stop safety to late pickups and drop-offs, to buses never showing up at all, School District of Lee County has had its fair share of transportation issues. Now, the district’s top choice to lead the department turned down the job offer. That comes after controversy about his past resurfaced at […]

Deadline to voice an opinion on the future of SWFL wetlands nears

We are just days from the deadline for the public to weigh in on the future of our wetlands. While some call them nature’s filter for protecting and cleaning out water, the federal government is thinking about loosening the rules related to wetlands. “Everybody should be looking at it,” said Dr. Win Everham, professor of […]

Cleanups on Fort Myers Beach manage red drift algae

If you go to Fort Myers Beach, you have probably seen the red drift algae lurking on the shore. Beachgoers say there have been improvements from Sunday when the beach was packed with the thick, mucky algae. There are strategic cleanups being done Monday to manage the large amount of red drift algae seen on […]

Naples movie theater opens after being closed from Hurricane Irma damages

A year and a half after being damaged by Hurricane Irma, the Hollywood 20 movie theater in Naples is reopen for business. “After the hurricane had passed, we drove by and saw that the roof was damaged and everything was boarded up” Rafael Olivo said. “And I was like, ‘Oh no. Hopefully it opens up […]

Man accused of 1998 Lee County murder appears in court

A man accused of a murder that happened 21 years ago appeared in court for the first time since his arrest. Luis Nieves, 52, faced a judge in Lee County Saturday for the murder of Thelma Storrs in 1998. MORE: Man arrested for 1998 murder in Lee County  Nieves was arrested Friday after a witness came […]

Cape Coral police move memorial of 8-year-old killed in hit-and-run

Police returned to the scene of a March hit-and-run in Cape Coral to move the memorial for an 8-year-old girl due to the needs for the active investigation. Cape Coral police packed up stuffed animals and other tokens Friday left at a memorial for Aiken. Police planned to restore the memorial when they were able […]

Person holds a cane toad. (Credit: WINK News)

Cane toads are bad for pets, may be good for your health

If you have lived in Southwest Florida long enough, you have seen those pesky hoppers. Experts constantly warn to keep pets away from dangerous cane toads, but their venom may actually help you in the future. Cane toads are likely in your backyard and deadly. “I know they are super important for some reason,” said […]