Olivia Fawkes

My name is Olivia! I was named after my grandmother who I never had the chance to meet because she passed before I was born, but I hear she was vivacious and spunky. I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, then moved to Nashville to study at Belmont University. I fell in love with the city and have lived here since. 

Since my mom is a preschool teacher, I would spend summers helping her prepare for her upcoming school year. I often spent my free afternoons helping with lessons and visiting her classroom to surprise her students. 

I discovered my passion for teaching after student-teaching a third-grade class my senior year of high school. I decided to pursue this through informal education settings while getting my degree in Environmental Science. Since then, I have been a Garden Educator with Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, an Animal Interpreter at Nashville Zoo, and a Bug Camp Counselor with Belmont University. 

I am a Naturalist Guide for the Preschool Naturalist Program. I facilitate student-focused lessons, exploration, and projects that integrate nature and relationship building.  

My mom has been a huge role model for me and helped me discover my love for teaching and the environment. My zoology professor, Dr. Steve Murphree, inspires me in all he does to spread his love of the natural world, especially bugs, to the Nashville community. He led a Bug Camp for elementary students, and teaching at this camp was a catalyst in my pursuit of environmental education.   

One of the largest indicators of growth I have seen in myself is how I am able to identify and communicate my dreams, beliefs, and what I want to do with my life. 

I play ultimate frisbee and enjoy being active. I also love to garden, cook new recipes, embroider, play board games with my roommates, and watercolor.

Something I loved about my degree in Environmental Science was that I was able to investigate the languages of chemistry, biology, and ecology in connection with sociology, psychology, and human geography. I have always had a love for the arts. I studied graphic design for a semester in college and developed my knowledge and skills in sculpture and fine arts.

Just about anything! I love trying new foods and a good home-cooked meal!

My favorite color is dark brown; it reminds me of soil and trees!

I would love to live abroad to fully experience another culture!

My love for nature and how it has shaped who I am is due to so many wonderful people who invested in my education and allowed me to explore my interests throughout my childhood. As I take on this role, I am constantly inspired by my past educators in hopes that I can be an encouraging and intentional mentor who has a lasting impact on my students' lives.