Courtney grew up playing in the creeks and woods of Martinsville, VA.
Environmental stewardship has been a part of Courtney’s life since she was old enough to catch her first ladybug, frog, toad, and salamander. In elementary school, she remembers winning a Keep Virginia Beautiful poster contest and still believes whole-heartedly in the “Don’t Be a Litterbug “slogan.

While attending Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (now Randolph College) in Lynchburg, she majored in biology. During that time, she was a member of a club that installed the first can crushers in dorms in an effort to get more students involved in recycling.

Roanoke has been Courtney’s work home for 20 years while residing in Smith Mountain Lake with her husband, two daughters, and a menagerie of pets.

For 31 years she has worked in four non-profit museums in research, collections, publications, and education. She has also served on the Roanoke STEAM Day Committee for the past six years.