Sonja’s passion for volcanoes has set the focus of her career. She earned an M.S. in Geological Sciences from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a volcanology focus. Sonja’s worked in several amazing environments, including Montserrat Volcano Observatory and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. She joined the Mount St. Helens Institute in 2014 and has served as the Science Education Manager since 2019. Sonja’s many gifts benefit her coworkers at the Institute, most notably, Sonja’s love of teaching science, her extensive knowledge of geology, and an altruistic desire to improve processes for everyone in the workplace. 

In her free time, you’ll often find Sonja meandering through the woods, walking on the soft moss, and pondering the mysteries of the universe. When she’s not exploring she’s crafting elaborate and whimsical art projects for her friends and family.