Bridgette earned her B.S. in Biology and a concentration in Coastal Ecology along with a minor in Environmental Science from the College of Coastal Georgia in 2021. She has always had a passion for herpetology and conservation. She did reptile and conservation-related volunteer work throughout high school. At the end of her freshman year at CCGA, she started volunteering with the University of Georgia’s Coastal Ecology Lab where she learned more about field ecology and conservation work. She has been volunteering with the lab since 2018, then interned with them in 2019, became a Student Researcher with them from 2020 until her graduation. Bridgette now works full time with the Coastal Ecology lab, continuing gopher tortoise research, particularly involving monitoring their success on reclaimed and previously mined lands. She also has a particular passion for educating others on the importance of conservation and loves to be able to help others see the beauty of these animals.