Please describe your educational background and what sparked your interest in atmospheric or related sciences.

I received my bachelor of science from Valparaiso University. While in school, I interned at WGN TV and then after college went onto working for stations in Rapid City, SD, Sarasota, FL, Santa Barbara, CA, and I’m now currently in Denver, CO anchoring our morning shows on WeatherNation. My mom’s story of surviving the Super Outbreak of 1974 Xenia tornado sparked my interest in becoming a broadcast meteorologist to help warn people of events like this. I guess you could say I made my first broadcast on my Fisher-Price tape recorder!

What was your first job in the field and how did you end up in the job you are in now?

I guess you could say my first full-time gig in TV broadcasting was with KOTA Territory News in Rapid City. It was an amazing experience because not only did I get a chance to do weather but I also learned how to be a one woman band reporter, a producer, and also a news anchor. In addition, the weather in this area was always changing and so I had gained experience covering almost every type of weather pattern from blizzards to flooding to severe storms. With hard work, dedication, experience, and all my successes and failures, I truly believe it brought me to this point working for a national weather network.

What opportunities did you pursue that you knew would be beneficial to securing a job in the profession?

I wasn’t afraid to travel all across the country! I continued to network with those in the business and at stations and areas I wanted to be in. I had amazing mentors as well who helped me along the way, especially at the early stages. My internships senior year also helped as well plus my weathercasting classes which helped make my demo reel.

What other courses/skills beyond the required math and science courses do you think would be the most helpful to individuals wanting a career in your profession?

If you want to go into broadcasting, take as many classes related to that as you can as well as maybe one or two in public relations. While the math and science are extremely important, those other classes will help prepare you for what’s to come being in the broadcasting world.

What is your typical day on the job like?

At my current station it’s very busy! I’m awake between midnight and 1 AM, I do my make up at home, and then when I get to work I literally hit the ground running between 2 and 4 AM. I am doing my forecasting and putting together all of my graphics, and then somewhere in there I also have to do my hair for on air. Then my morning consist of both live national hits as well as doing regional forecasts & some in the Caribbean. Then there’s also making sure social media is updated and any other graphics with the changing weather throughout the morning. Of course when there’s breaking weather including severe storms and tropical systems, it gets a lot busier than this!

What do you like most about your job? What is the most challenging thing about your job?

I think what I love most about my job is not my passion for science, but the lives I can make a difference in every single day. Most days, it’s helping families prepare their kids for school, helping people get ready for work, or how the weather could impact their pets. But the days when there is threatening weather, when you have tornado warnings or a hurricane moving toward people or flash flooding occurring, I really love the privilege I get to help warn people and help them stay safe and get through the storm. I think the most challenging thing is that the weather can be ever-changing at times, and trying to keep up with it and be as accurate as I can and get out information as fast and accurately as I can. I think it’s tough too when there is breaking weather and we have storm related deaths because you still have to go on the air and continue doing your job while inside your heart breaks for those people involved.

Does your job allow for a good work/life balance? If not, why?

I think this question is based on the individual and the kind of weather that’s happening during that workday. My boyfriend and I work together to make sure we have a good work and life balance, but there are times when my job has to come first and it can take up extra “us” time. Also, there are events with my family I have not been able to attend because of my busy work schedule and even around the holidays it can be tough. But I have learned that your loved ones need to always come first, and even if it takes work, you can always find that balance even if it’s a little bit teetered from side to side at times.

Over the course of your career what is the most exciting thing that has happened to you?

I have been on TV now for more than a decade, and there have been so many exciting parts of my career from some of the things I have gotten to cover to the opportunities I’ve had in communities to give back. I think all of that came together when I was awarded my college’s first ever Decade Achievement Award in 2018 for all of my work on television, in the communities, and with alumni relations. I was extremely humbled and it’s truly an honor to have receive that award, also serving as a role model to current students!

Is there anything you wish you had done differently in your career?

Honestly, no. And if you ask why, it’s because every single thing I’ve done in my career so far has gotten me to the point I am at today. I have had failures, I have had forecasts that have been wrong, I have been fired, and I have been passed on for jobs that I thought I wanted more than anything in the world. But everything happens for a reason and I appreciate my life and career so much better looking back on the way everything played out.

What are some "must haves" on a resume if a person wants to gain employment in your field?

While you’re in college, do as many internships as you can! But then even once you get into your field, it’s not just about where you worked but it’s about what you have done in the communities you’ve served. And also, it might not be in a resume, but make sure that you find mentors that will help you not just in the beginning but stay with you until the end.