My Story

I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio but was fascinated with the Alaskan wilderness from an early age. I finally had the opportunity to travel from Cincinnati to Alaska in 2001 as a college student. It was love at first sight! My schooling brought me back to Alaska between 2002 to 2004 to complete field work in the Brooks Range for my graduate work in geology. I found summer work in Alaska between 2005 and 2009 and the dream to relocate from Ohio to Alaska was born. That dream was finally realized in 2015. I’ve worked as a geology instructor at the college level for the last 17 years. In 2023, however, I decided it was time to retire from teaching and embark on a new adventure.

I am a self-taught painter and craftsperson. I have always had a passion for painting but the pandemic years certainly lit a fire in me and I found myself wanting to paint more than anything else. I found myself painting on everyday objects and giving my creations out as gifts to help spread a bit of joy during a challenging time. I soon realized that I wanted to get more serious about my projects and I started to develop a business plan.

I describe myself as being wildly domesticated. I have always felt most at home when I am outside in nature. Although my ultimate life goal is still to live off the grid in the remote wilderness, the day-to-day demands of society and family keep me living firmly on the grid. This tension between the wild and the domesticated helps to define both my creations and my life in Alaska. I strive every day to bring more of the essence of the wilderness into my home. My new business venture AK Black Currant strives to share some of that experience with others!

I currently live in Anchorage, Alaska with my microbiologist husband, three stepchildren, and our pets Jackson and Katmai.