Madison is an honors student pursuing a conservation biology and ecology degree at Arizona State University. She will graduate in December, after defending her thesis on local Joshua Tree populations. Currently, she works as a field ecologist on a remote preserve in the western Mojave Desert, in California. As a military spouse who moves frequently, she aims to have a strong understanding of our many diverse biomes across the globe.
Originally from upstate New York, Madison is an avid hiker and kayaker. She has undertaken several long-distance expeditions, often pursuing science projects along her route. In 2022, she kayaked almost 2,700 kilometres (1,700 miles) solo from Minneapolis to the Hudson Bay. Along the way, she took river water samples testing for PFAS “forever chemicals.” She became a member of The Explorers Club in 2023.
In her free time, Madison writes a conservation and travel blog, Expedition Alpine, to document her journeys and bring science to the public in an easy-to-digest format. At home, she enjoys reading, gardening, and drawing/painting. She loves photography, both digital and film, and hopes to open a fine art gallery in the future.