After honorably discharging from the Marine Corps in 2020, I moved to Ames to obtain my BS in Kinesiology from Iowa State University. I worked in Dr. Meyer’s lab as an undergraduate research assistant throughout my undergraduate studies and moved to UW-Madison to continue working with him. My research interest focuses on the effects of physical activity on mental health within the Veteran population and the neurobiological mechanisms involved. During my MS, I hope to explore the relationship between the cessation of Active Duty related physical activity on mental health. Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my dog, family, and friends, weight training, golfing, playing sports, playing the guitar, and more recently, sketching traditional art.