Professional Experience:
 
I joined the WINK News team in June 2022 and worked as an Environmental Reporter for the first year and a half. Now I work as a general assignment reporter.
At the University of Florida, I reported, produced, and anchored for WUFT News.
Awards & Recognition:
 
National Student Edward R. Murrow award and first place in BEA's news magazine category for coverage of Hurricane Ida's aftermath in Houma, LA.
Education
 
Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication-News, University of Florida. GO GATORS!
Likes best about Southwest Florida
 
The beach, the people, and the lack of a winter.
Memorable Assignments
As a native Floridian, I have witnessed the impact of hurricanes and tropical storms throughout my life. During my senior year at the University of Florida, I took an investigative reporting class and traveled to Houma, Louisiana, after Hurricane Ida. There, I saw the devastation from the storm and the resilience of a community rising from the rubble. That story solidified what I wanted to do - become a broadcast journalist.
Just months after joining the WINK News team, Hurricane Ian struck, and once again, I saw the familiar sight of a community uniting in the wake of disaster. Those stories of hope, moments of kindness, and the people within hold a special place in my memory.
Hobbies and Interests: 
I love doing anything outdoors! On weekends, you can find me on a walk at one of my favorite nature preserves, including Six-Mile-Cypress and Audobon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and then at one of our beautiful beaches.
Hometown: 
I was born and raised in Orlando. My mom, dad, and two brothers still live there. They are the reason WINK News viewership out of Central Florida spiked starting in June 2022.
Fun fact: 
My number one goal is to be on Jeopardy one day. Growing up, my dad and I watched every night we could, and I continue that tradition today.

FGCU Water School studying toxicity of airborne blue-green algae

Blue-green algae is a toxic issue no one wants to see in Southwest Florida waters. Now, FGCU is receiving thousands to help study the airborne toxins released by the algae. Its toxins pose a risk to sea life and to people around it. The school spent $83,000 to buy a machine to study the toxicity […]

North Fort Myers homeowner finds humane way to remove bee hive from yard

Thousands of bees took over a man’s backyard. But instead of killing them, Walid Boggio decided to save them. He picked up his phone and called an expert to see what could be done. “I wanted to try to keep them,” Boggio said. But keeping the bees wasn’t practical and Boggio didn’t want to exterminate […]

Over the summer, K-12 teachers in Southwest Florida attended a STEM workshop taught by experts from Florida Gulf Coast University.

SWFL K-12 teachers learned from FGCU experts at STEM workshop

Over the summer, K-12 teachers in Southwest Florida took a week off from the break to attend a STEM workshop, in which experts from Florida Gulf Coast University taught the educators. WINK News reporter Elizabeth Biro attended the workshop and explains how the teachers are bringing those hands-on lessons back to their classrooms. The activities […]

Citrus greening impacting farms in Florida

An insect is devastating a historically fruitful industry in Florida. It’s called citrus greening. The insect stops the tree from getting water and nutrients from its root system which causes trees to produce smaller fruit. An Alva citrus farmer predicted his entire orange grove will be done in the next three to five years. A […]

dolphin

Group pushes beached dolphin back into Gulf, but should they have

A group in Naples celebrating after pushing a beached dolphin back out to the Gulf, but wildlife experts say this is nothing to celebrate. Touching a marine animal that is stranded on the beach could actually hurt them. Sometimes, they’ll even go back to the water more hurt than they started. Too often Florida Fish […]

Florida Manatee

Southwest Florida manatees still under threat after record year for deaths

Southwest Florida’s most beloved water mammal is dying. Last year, Florida hit a record number of deaths for manatees. Although fewer deaths have occurred this year, chronic starvation remains manatees’ most significant threat. Captain Barry Berger from Manatee Sightseeing and Wildlife Adventures describes the gentle giants best. “Man, these are huggy bunny animals. If you’re […]

Monkeypox

SWFL dermatologist outlines monkeypox symptoms, risk factors

It can be weeks before monkeypox symptoms develop. WINK News spoke to a dermatologist in Estero who saw a monkeypox patient and explained what to look out for. The dermatologist also said that even though two children have been diagnosed with monkeypox, the primary risk group is men who have sex with men. The CDC […]

Monkeypox

Second case of monkeypox reported in Lee and Collier counties; 4 total in SWFL

The Florida Department of Health is reporting a second monkeypox case in Lee County and a second case in Collier County as of Friday. Southwest Florida now totals four cases. According to FDOH data, there are 227 cases of monkeypox across the state of Florida with the majority (117) in Broward County. In Miami-Dade County, […]