Did you always want to work with lizards? 

    As a kid, I spent a lot of time outdoors looking for animals. 

    But I didn’t know that was something I could do as a job until college. That’s when I joined a research program and chose lizards. I fell in love! 

How exactly do you study lizards? 

    When I catch a lizard, I measure its weight and length. I also clip its toenails, because those clippings can tell me about its diet. I then compare that information with information about its habitat, or home. This helps me learn how its environment might be changing. Things like dry seasons can affect lizard health. 

Why is your work important? 

    Everything in nature—including lizards—has a special role. It’s important we understand those roles and how they work together. When we know more about the environment, we can protect it.

How does social media help you do your job?  

    In 2018, I started a game called #FindThatLizard. It’s a fun way to reach people around the world. I hope that when others learn how cool lizards are, they’ll care about them more.

You work with students a lot. Why is that important to you?  

    We need people from all backgrounds involved in wildlife sciences. That’s why I have tried to teach Black, Brown, and Indigenous middle school girls about science careers. It’s also why I use social media to educate others. I want kids to see someone who looks like them and think, “Hey, I can do that too!”