Becky received a BA in Biology from Hollins College and gained avian field and research experience working for Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, and various universities. She earned a M.S. from the University of Florida, focusing on the health, habitat use, and movement patterns of the Wood Stork. Becky completed her PhD at North Carolina State University studying the effects of atmospheric pollution on high-elevation birds and snails in the Southern Appalachians.