About Me

I’m Courtney, a geologist turned science writer living in Denver, Colorado.

Growing up, I wanted to be a journalist or an author. I took an Earth science class my senior year in high school because I didn’t want to take physics and ended up falling in love with geology. This was great, because the only college that accepted me didn’t have a journalism program! I earned my bachelor’s degree in geology from Texas A&M University, and went on to earn a master’s degree in geology from the University of North Carolina.

I worked as a geologist in the oil and gas industry for seven years until I was laid off in April 2020 (thanks, COVID-19!). My career involved a lot of writing, from my master’s thesis to scientific papers to project reports. I’m also a member of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG) publications committee and became the editor of RMAG’s monthly newsletter, The Outcrop.

COVID-19 has forced me to find a new career. Last June, I started working as a freelance science writer. I’ve written for a mining geology website, an investment website, a gemology website, a yoga website, and a nonprofit data provider. Once I realized my career change was permanent, I enrolled in the Science Communications certificate from UC San Diego extension. Despite the stress and chaos of the past year, I’m glad to have found a career that combines my love of natural sciences and writing.

When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, yoga, hiking, knitting, sewing, and spending time with my husband and our plants.