I am a plant ecologist and Professor of Biology at Clayton State University where I teach ecology and plant biology courses. My research focuses on the effects of urbanization and climate change on riparian (riverine) plant community restoration, with a particular emphasis on the role of seed germination in shaping community dynamics.    In addition to my work as a plant ecologist, I explore the intersection of ecology and technology through both artificial intelligence and mobile app development. As the founder and director of the Applied AI Institute, I lead AI literacy initiatives and develop AI applications in research. We also lead AI literacy workshops and organize EcoHackathons to foster innovation and collaboration across disciplines.   Finally, I support the College of STEM at CSU as the Associate Dean.