Allyson grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania and attended Miami University (Ohio), where she earned a B.A. in zoology and environmental science. While in college, she was a member of many conservation and wildlife focused clubs, which granted her her first experiences in the conservation field, including going out to streams to look for salamanders and volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary where she helped take care of wolves, bears, and birds of prey. Allyson found her passion for teaching after graduation, when she took on an instructor position at a ballroom dance studio. About a year and a half later, she decided she missed the outdoors and transitioned to environmental education, taking a position at Chincoteague Bay Field Station in Wallops Island, VA and later an AmeriCorps position at the Huron-Manistee National Forests in northern Michigan. In her free time she enjoys dancing, kayaking, crafting, and reading.
