I was born in Brazil and came to live in the US in 1997. I have a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master's in Environmental Biology from universities in Brazil, and a Ph.D. in Botany (Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology) from the University of Hawaii.

My major interest in Biology is plant ecology. I have done research in the Brazilian Amazon on the role of vines in forest ecology, in Hawaii on forest hydrology, and, here in the Tampa Bay area I studied plant communities on small islands. More recently, I have been interested in using gardening as an educational tool. I teach one biology course through gardening (BSC 1005CH) and am the advisor of the Food For Thought Club at the SP/Gibbs campus.

Awards
2025 SPC/NISOD Outstanding Faculty Excellence Award
2020 League for Innovation Excellence Award recipient

Grants
2024-2025 SPC Foundation Innovation Grant: Growing Together: Establishing Accessible Garden Beds to Enhance Campus Inclusion
2024 SPC Foundation Innovation Grant: Seeding Success: Cultivating Community through Campus Gardening
2023 SPC Foundation Innovation Grant: Fostering a Sense of Belonging Through Food and Science at SPC
2021 SPC Foundation Innovation Grant: Supporting Remote Lab Classes in Biology
2020 SPC Foundation Innovation Grant: Increasing Active Learning in Biology Classes
2019 SPC Foundation Innovation Grant: Gardening As A Tool To Teach Biology For Non-Majors
2018 SPC Foundation Titan Achievement Grant: Learning Biology Through Gardening