Professional Experience

July 2018 to present: Reporter, WINK News. Previously worked as a resident reporter at WVVA in Bluefield, W.Va.; at ABC 7 Chicago as a news planning intern; at Dateline NBC as a story development intern; and at the Northwestern University's Medill Justice Project as a multimedia investigative reporter.

Awards & Recognition

Hearst Foundation Journalism Award for Enterprise Reporting.

Assistant produced 2-hour, Dateline episode hosted by Keith Morrison, “At the Bottom of the Pool,” aired Oct. 13, 2017.

Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society - lifelong membership exclusively for students in top 10 percent of their graduating class in journalism programs across the country.

National QuestBridge Scholar - awarded to the country's most talented, determined, and self-motivated students from low-income populations who demonstrate outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges.

News Philosophy

We consume news when we are gripped by the emotions making us all human — these are the stories that knock us off our feet. Tell the stories not easily seen that must be experienced through the emotions we all feel.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement

Running and cycling! I love all of the fitness-inspired events South West Florida holds to benefit others.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Journalism, Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism, Magna Cum Laude.

Likes best about Southwest Florida

I am so grateful for the hundreds of days you can spend outdoors with friends and family.

Hometown 

Keystone Heights, Florida.

Cape Coral woman says burglars stole over $10,000 in jewelry

Thursday, a Cape Coral homeowner says a woman acted like she was inspecting a fence. Then, a man stole prized items from her home and fled. We spoke to the victim of the home burglary Friday. She says a woman knocked on her door and started peppering her with questions. This all happened along the […]

Universal reopening plan approved by Orange County task force

We are closer to theme parks reopening in the state. Universal Orlando rolled out its plan Thursday, and Orange County’s reopening task force agreed with it. But it must also be approved by the Orange County mayor and Gov. Ron DeSantis. It includes temperature checks for employees, screenings and additional sanitation for guests. We may […]

Hotels prepare for active Memorial Day weekend on Fort Myers Beach

Memorial Day weekend is coming up, and it’s normally a big money maker for hotels and businesses on the beach. But, with pandemic restrictions still in place, it’s still up in the air whether restaurants will stay busy and if hotels wiill get booked. For the first time in 20 years, AAA is not forecasting […]

Wildlife preserve protects animals during fire in Collier County

As the fire in Collier County grows Friday, employees at NGALA Wildlife Preserve in Golden Gate Estates are devising a plan to protect their animals. These are people who know what it’s like dealing with fire near the preserve. During the Collier County fires in 2017, owner Donavan Smith of NGALA was injured by the […]

SWFL restaurants hiring as employees don’t return to work

As restaurants start making their comeback, many are hiring because some employees aren’t returning due to the risks. Bayside Grille on Fort Myers Beach is one restaurant that has lost employees. Owner Robyn Schuckert said she respects their decision, but she was emotional about losing employees. “We have staff that have been here for years; […]

Tracking program helps locate missing man

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office helped find a man who was lost – all the way over in Texas. He was found through Project Lifesaver, a program that helps track vulnerable people who may wander off. The sheriff’s office said a part-time resident of Charlotte County went missing in San Antonio on Friday. The man […]

Salons see big turnout during first day back open

Many customers who went to a salon during the first day they could reopen in the state likely noticed some differences compared to their last visits. At one local salon, a divider was up to separate the customer from the employee. And, at hair salons, employees are now wearing masks and changing the way people […]

Coronavirus threatens meat supply chain, but butchers cash in

The coronavirus is threatening the meat supply. But one business is cashing in on the local butcher shops. When we visited Xpress Meat Market on Fowler Street in Fort Myers, they were busy. And the phone was ringing constantly. More people are turning to butchers because they can’t find meat anywhere else. “Since Publix, Walmart […]

Bicyclist killed in crash on Penzance Blvd in Lee County

Florida Highway Patrol responded to a deadly crash with a vehicle versus a bicyclist in Lee County Thursday. According to FHP, a 62-year-old man was riding his bike west on Penzance Boulevard near the intersection of Musket Lane when he was struck by a vehicle. FHP says the biker was ahead of the vehicle when […]