I am a native New Mexican born and raised in Gallup.

Around the age of eight or nine, I expressed an interest in animals and told my father that I wanted to run a pet store. He took my curiosity to a new level by introducing me to the local veterinarian, who educated me about what his job entailed. I was enthralled from that moment on, and have never wanted to be anything else.

I went to New Mexico State University for my undergraduate degree, primarily studying biology. After three years, I was granted early acceptance to the Colorado State University Veterinary Program.

After veterinary school, I got married and had a beautiful daughter. I worked at four different veterinary practices with a full variety of animals and expanded my education firsthand under the tutelage of some wonderful doctors. I still appreciate the vets that mentored me. Most of the practices were mixed animal, but one was specialized around exotics. Finally, after working for other vets for nine years, I went into practice for myself. While embarking on a new business adventure, I also went back to school to study alternative therapies to better serve my clients, including chiropractic and acupuncture.

I have always had a fascination with rhinoceros and, when I was a senior in veterinary school, I had the opportunity to work with a baby rhino from the Denver Zoo that had a fatal disease. This was the beginning of my undying passion for helping rhinos.

I began traveling to South Africa to volunteer and work the front lines in conservation. I have devoted my attention in the States to public education and raising awareness of the poaching crisis, along with fundraising for the reserves desperately trying to keep their wards safe from harm. After personally seeing the greatest needs and witnessing the biggest struggles faced by those trying to safeguard the animals, I started the Veterinary Conservation Coalition to do my part to help fund the fight. Our mission is to protect the most vulnerable species before they vanish forever.