Sarah received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Soil Science from the University of Tennessee as well as certificates in Applied Violin and Watershed Management. During her undergrad, Sarah examined carbon isotopes from tropical agricultural soils as part of a USDA-NIFA grant titled Strengthening US Agriculture with Multidisciplinary International Undergraduate Research and Extension Experiences; her project is titled Tropical soil health and agricultural effects in the Vaca Forest Reserve, Belize. Sarah’s master’s research changes her focus from soil-system to plants and ecosystems: examining the role of nitrogen fixing species facilitation of oak recruitment in Southern Appalachian forests.