My personal interest in ecology, forestry, and fire originated from my upbringing in Boulder, Colorado, where as a kid I spent hours exploring ponderosa pine forests. I graduated from the University of Colorado in 2010 with degrees in Environmental Studies and History, and spent the next 3 years working on a fire and fuels crew. In that time I experienced catastrophic wildfires, long and brutal droughts, and rapidly developing mountain communities invading forests with no plan for sustainability. These issues encouraged me to go back to school and experience a new region of the western United States. Currently, my research looks into the influence of climate and increased competition related to fire suppression on sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) growth and defense. This project combines my passions for ecology and history by using dendrochronology methods to reconstruct how sugar pine vigor and health change over time and what mechanisms drive that change.