Research and Additional Work

Opportunities throughout my career allowing me to facilitate relationships with plants to address food security, mental health, historical understanding, and increase the appreciation of plants.

San Isidro Labrador | Artist: Joaquín Castañón                                     Bolivia | Date: 1866 | Medium: Oil on canvas

The Art of Plants

Ethnobotanical analysis of San Isidro Labrador, 1866 for the San Antonio Museum of Art's exhibit: Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii (Feb 24 –May 21, 2023).  

Master (Madurai Veeran) douses himself with turmeric water to purify the human body of the Kali worship Marlo (priest) that he is inhabiting

Toronto Hindu Temple

Working with Dr. Shannon Novak (Professor of Anthropology, Syracuse University) supporting research with an Indo-Guyanese immigrant community in Toronto, Canada, using my experience as an ethnobotanist to observe plant use in their practices.

Using a gaiwan (盖碗; /ˈɡaɪwɑːn/), a traditional lidded cup used for tea assessment while in Fujian, China.

Chinese Tea Industry

Worked for a high-end Chinese tea company. My work primarily consisted of tea education and included travel to Fujian, China meeting with tea producers allowing me to observe the diverse ways people interact with and enjoy Camellia sinensis. 

Food & Refugees

I managed the Baltimore, MD branch of the New Roots Program with the International Rescue Committee addressing holistic challenges in refugee populations across the United States.

In addition to community gardens, New Roots also spearheads farmers market partnership programs, mental health programming, nutritional education, backyard gardening support, general health education, garden training, and community engagement.

Note: I deliberately chose not to include any images with refugee’s faces in order to respect their privacy.