Outside

Outdoor Education and Mentorship

Outdoor education is a meaningful part of my life outside research. I am motivated by teaching, mentorship, and helping people build confidence through shared challenge - values that also shape how I try to collaborate as an engineer and researcher.

My guiding journey began the summer after finishing undergraduate at Purdue, when I led 21-day backpacking trips across the Hawaiian Islands with Wilderness Adventures. I now live in Austin, TX, where I volunteer with Explore Austin, a nonprofit dedicated to long-term youth mentorship through outdoor adventure. I primarily facilitate mountain biking, canoeing, and outdoor skills/medicine programming. During the academic year, students build foundational skills; each summer culminates in a week-long expedition where they apply what they have learned. In 2024, we completed a week-long canoe expedition together - a highlight of the year.

Life Outside Research

Many of the photos below are from trips I have helped lead; others are from time outside with friends. This page is the less formal corner of the site: a place for mentorship, landscapes, and the parts of life that keep the technical work grounded.

If you enjoy the outdoors as well, I would genuinely love to hear what you have been exploring lately.