In my heart, I have always been a teacher! Even when I was pursuing my Ph.D. and later when I served as an administrator, I was always finding opportunities to get into the classroom!”
Libby’s Story
Teaching Discipline
Biology
Why Biology
“I have always gravitated towards biology. I was very fortunate to have easy access to nature and spent a lot of time outdoors, wandering in the woods near my house, riding horses, or exploring my aunt and uncle’s sheep farm! At a young age, I loved learning about ecology and how ecosystems function. As I got older, I began to realize how important an understanding of science is to understanding many of the world’s issues, as well as caring for the health of ourselves and our loved ones. I hope to never stop learning biology!”
Professional Experience
Libby earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from the University of Chicago in 2012. Her dissertation work involved understanding the role individual behavior plays in shaping the dynamics of infectious diseases in insects.
Libby served as a graduate administrator for the Committee on Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chicago from 2012 to 2017.
From 2018 to 2019, Libby worked as a data scientist and researcher for Alma Advisory Group, a consulting group that specializes in helping school districts across the U.S. with their human resources needs.
Libby will begin her second year of teaching at Northside College Preparatory School during the 2020–2021 school year.
Volunteer Experience
Libby was a founding volunteer and organizer for the Chicago chapter of Expanding Your Horizons, an organization that develops STEM conferences for middle school-aged girls. Currently, she sponsors her school’s chess team, as well as the Women in STEM and Girls Go Cyberstart clubs.
Hobbies
Libby enjoys going on adventures (both real and make-believe) with her two young sons, dabbling in urban gardening, and traveling.
Academic Background
- University of Illinois at Chicago (Master of Education in Science Education)
- University of Chicago (Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology and Evolution)
- Indiana University, Bloomington (Bachelor of Science in Biology)