I earned my Master’s degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Agroecology from Florida International University, where my research focused on how weed communities influence insect diversity, pollination, and crop production in a South Florida mango farm, Lyons Farms. My thesis examined how weedy vegetation affects pollinator abundance, parasitoids, and overall insect community structure, as well as how these changes translate to differences in fruit yield. This work provided early training in field ecology, insect sampling, and agricultural research, and it shaped my long-term interest in beneficial insects, pollination, and applied agroecology. This project was led by Dr. Suzanne Koptur, Dr. Cara Rockwell, and Dr. Krish Jayachandran and culminated in 4 publications, over $20,000 in research funding, and local news interview with Meteorologist Vivian Gonzalez.