I am currently on the lengthy path to becoming a professor of ecology. I recently finished my bachelor's degree in biology, graduating summa cum laude. Returning for up to 8 more years of school did not seem enticing immediately after graduation. What changed?

After graduating, I experienced the full extent of what the teaching profession should be. My professors began pouring their free time into helping me with anything they could. The mentoring they provided me shaped my future, and I want to share this kind of learning experience with others.

Of course, I love my science; that is a given for anyone teaching their subject matter. I want to be to be more than just a source of information. In our technological society, information about biology can be found anywhere. What cannot be found anywhere is a teacher who will work with students as individuals, invest in them, and care about their progress. This is what I strive to be.