I find joy in connecting people, bringing them together through stories, art and the love of the outdoors. We live in a time where we are all journalists, storytellers sharing right from our homes. My hope is through writing and photography, I can challenge and empower people through conversations about our public lands, affordable housing, climate change, wildlife conservation, kindness and our connection to nature.

While I pursued BA degrees in journalism and psychology from Miami University (2004-2008), I worked as the Managing Editor on the university paper, The Miami Student. It was during those late nights, while we were racing to break a news story, that I realized how much I enjoyed telling stories and the way those stories influence change.

After I graduated, I worked as the Communications Assistant for The Midwest Democracy Network (2009), an alliance of political reform advocates committed to improving democratic institutions in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. I managed the network website, wrote articles and press releases, and attended organization events. I spent the next 7 years working in marketing and communications for schools across Illinois and Colorado. Most recent, at the Colorado School of Mines (2013-2016), I launched several of their social media channels, managed a team of communications professionals and was the main university photographer for news and events.

It was during my time at Mines that I became interested in alternative living. I was living in an apartment in Denver and felt disconnected from my environmental impact. I decided I would trade my 1,000-square-foot apartment for a 140-square-foot camper trailer. I downsized my belongings and lived off grid in a family’s backyard. I didn’t know anyone else living that way so it felt pretty isolating. I started an online blog called Tiny House, Tiny Footprint where I documented my experiences living small. The journalist in me wanted to find others like me, so I began seeking out others living alternatively.

I lived out of a camper trailer from 2014-2016 and out of vans from 2016-2018. Throughout that time, I also started sharing stories on an international community website called Vanlife Diaries. Their blog and Instagram account were growing quickly and they wanted someone to join their team. From 2016 onward, I began hosting vanlife gatherings and meet ups across the country. The first one was in Colorado, and this past year, we’ve expanded to offer events in Idaho, New Mexico, Louisiana, Asheville and Texas. Throughout that time, I’ve been collaborating with outdoor companies to help spread their sustainability messages and how their gear helps make life easier in a van.

I spent two years collecting stories of why people choose to live alternatively and published a book featuring more than 200 people and rigs called Vanlife Diaries: Finding Freedom on the Open Road. My hope was to inspire those who pick it up to travel, connect with nature and be a little more free. The book has been featured in a variety of publications and has been spotted in bookstores internationally. I also helped work on the documentary, The Meaning of Vanlife. The movie explores how the vanlife movement that exemplifies a deeper societal trend towards minimalism and authentic community building.

I’m currently running two online communities, consulting with outdoor companies as a content creator and hosting events. I’d love to work with you on your next project.

Thank you for stopping by! Feel free to send me a message.