I grew up on a farm in Northern Minnesota before majoring in physics at Arizona State University, where I also studied math and education. Now I study applied math as a Ph.D. candidate at Dartmouth College. My work focuses on social problems and complex systems, examining how individuals interact with each other in large groups. I study everything from the spread of fake news to voting behavior to deciding where to eat dinner with our friends. When I'm not doing math, I enjoy hiking, snowboarding, reading, playing (board and video) games, and playing guitar. I wanted to be a part of the SEPA program because I know what it's like to grow up in a rural community with few science opportunities, and it's a good opportunity to sharpen my own skills as a mentor and a science communicator.