bio
Background
Growing up in suburban Chicago, IL, Blair's earliest passions were drawing and sports. Despite living in the suburbs, Blair's family has roots in rural Illinois. Her Father's family farmed. Her paternal Grandfather worked for the Illinois Soil and Water Conservation district after farming. Her maternal Grandmother was a public interest environmentalist working on solid waste and air pollution issues throughout Illinois. At a young age, Blair learned respect for the land and the necessity to care for it also.
By high school, Blair decided to focus on the sport of basketball and expanded her artistic attention to graphic design.
Family vacations, school trips, and road trips to compete in basketball tournaments gave Blair the opportunity to see many different parts of the US and abroad. As a result of this travel, Blair developed an immense appreciation for the diversity of communities, eco-types, and the wildlife she encountered. Hard work on the court afforded her the opportunity to compete for Emory University. Blair chose Emory in part because they offered a Visual Arts co-major.
Education
Blair received her Bachelor of Arts from Emory University in Environmental Science and Visual Art. She went on to complete a Master's of Science in Conservation and Ecosystem Management from Newcastle University, Northumberland (UK).
While in Newcastle, her dissertation research focused on investigating the relationships of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi within Calaminarian grasslands, a habitat that is in decline worldwide.
Growing up in suburban Chicago, IL, Blair's earliest passions were drawing and sports. Despite living in the suburbs, Blair's family has roots in rural Illinois. Her Father's family farmed. Her paternal Grandfather worked for the Illinois Soil and Water Conservation district after farming. Her maternal Grandmother was a public interest environmentalist working on solid waste and air pollution issues throughout Illinois. At a young age, Blair learned respect for the land and the necessity to care for it also.
By high school, Blair decided to focus on the sport of basketball and expanded her artistic attention to graphic design.
Family vacations, school trips, and road trips to compete in basketball tournaments gave Blair the opportunity to see many different parts of the US and abroad. As a result of this travel, Blair developed an immense appreciation for the diversity of communities, eco-types, and the wildlife she encountered. Hard work on the court afforded her the opportunity to compete for Emory University. Blair chose Emory in part because they offered a Visual Arts co-major.
Education
Blair received her Bachelor of Arts from Emory University in Environmental Science and Visual Art. She went on to complete a Master's of Science in Conservation and Ecosystem Management from Newcastle University, Northumberland (UK).
While in Newcastle, her dissertation research focused on investigating the relationships of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi within Calaminarian grasslands, a habitat that is in decline worldwide.