As a South Carolinian, Laura has spent most of her life in the Southeast and absolutely loves the variety of ecosystems across the region. Laura comes to SouthWings after serving as the Satilla Riverkeeper in coastal Georgia, an area that holds a special place in her heart after spending several years experiencing the magic of Georgia’s barriers islands as a naturalist on Little St. Simons Island and a sea turtle technician on Cumberland Island. She has also worked with extension programs at University of Florida and Clemson University, as well as a small nonprofit in Sanibel. As her experience in the region grows, she recognizes the vital connections between the unique forest and plant communities, rivers, and coastal ecosystems--and the people that depend on them. Laura holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Clemson University. She earned her Masters of Science in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development in 2016 from University of Georgia, followed by a year in Washington, DC as a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow where she worked in NOAA’s National Sea Grant Office. She loves kayaking and birding, and learning new things. In her free time, you also might find her talking to her house plants or tending a vegetable garden.
