Over the past several years, I've had the privilege of working with children and families across school, clinic, home, and early intervention settings, supporting development through individualized, evidence-based care while collaborating closely with educators and caregivers. Along the way, I've also led educational programs, coordinated international service-learning experiences, managed operations, and built partnerships focused on improving outcomes for the communities they serve.

Throughout my clinical career, one theme has remained constant: children learn best when they are actively engaged, connected to their environment, and empowered through meaningful experiences. While working directly with students, I began to see an opportunity to create impact on a broader scale—not only by supporting individual children, but by helping schools build environments that naturally foster curiosity, wellness, confidence, and belonging.

That realization inspired me to found Dig In Collective.

Rather than stepping away from occupational therapy, I'm expanding upon the principles that have guided my work as a clinician. Dig In Collective applies my background in child development, sensory integration, executive functioning, social-emotional learning, and family-centered practice to help schools create enriching, standards-aligned learning experiences through gardens, outdoor classrooms, nutrition education, and community partnerships.

My goal is not to introduce another program for schools to manage. Instead, I hope to collaborate with educators to strengthen the incredible work already happening by integrating experiential learning, whole-child wellness, and nature-based education into existing curricula and school initiatives. I believe that when children have opportunities to connect with food, nature, and their communities through authentic, hands-on experiences, they don't just learn academic content—they develop the confidence, resilience, and life skills that support lifelong success.