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Christina has been interested in the natural world ever since she discovered the bull frogs in her grandparents' pond. She took every opportunity she could to interact with wildlife and immediately fell in love with Nantucket's natural beauty!

Christina grew up in Wauseon, Ohio, where she raised cattle, pigs, chickens, ducks, and the occasional frog. She attended Bowling Green State University with a major in biology and specializations in Marine & Aquatic Biology and Ecology & Conservation Biology. In college, she worked at her university's marine lab, getting experience running fish tanks and caring for marine and aquatic plants and animals. She was also a wetlands plant research assistant for the H2Ohio initiative, mapping plant coverage and gathering root samples in wetlands throughout northwest Ohio.

As an Aquarium Intern in 2022, Christina got to learn about the wonders of Nantucket. The first time she saw horseshoe crabs spawning at Monomoy Beach, she knew she'd made the perfect choice of internships. After finishing her internship, Christina did a six-month AmeriCorps term in Holderness, New Hampshire, working with the Lakes Region Conservation corps and Squam Lakes Association to monitor water quality, manage trails, remove invasive aquatic plants, and inspect boats for hitchhiking invasives. After her AmeriCorps term, Christina rejoined the Maria Mitchell Association in 2024.

Swimming, reading on the beach, biking, and snorkeling are some of Christina's favorite Nantucket pastimes.

Favorite animal at the MMA:

My favorite animal at the MMA (and overall) is the Atlantic horseshoe crab! I could talk about them for hours (and will, if given the chance). They're incredibly resilient, having been on Earth relatively unchanged for 450 million years. They have amazing biology, such as their unique eyes, and I love getting to see them come up onto beaches to lay their eggs. They're also incredibly important to the medical industry, so if you've ever visited the doctor, thank a horseshoe crab!