Aileen grew up in the small town of Edgewood, New Mexico, just outside of Albuquerque. Her passion for the ocean took her to the Northern California coast, where she earned a Bachelor of Science at Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt), double majoring in Marine Fisheries Biology and Marine Biology, with a minor in Scientific Scuba Diving. She later completed a Master’s in Environmental Science at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, where her thesis focused on the impacts of commercial fishing on marine habitats.

Although she’s always had a deep love for the ocean—especially sharks—Aileen discovered that life in research wasn’t the right fit. She pivoted and moved to North Carolina, where she spent several years working as a veterinary assistant while completing prerequisites for veterinary school. Her hard work paid off when she was accepted to North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. While her initial focus was Small Animal and Exotics, her interests kept expanding. Today, she’s passionate about caring for small animals, small mammals, reptiles, poultry, ruminants (especially goats), and camelids.

Aileen thrives in dynamic environments that keep her thinking on her feet, which makes her especially excited to join the Southern Rockies Animal Emergency and Specialty team as a Mentee. She also has a passion for working with underserved populations and their pets and hopes to incorporate that into her veterinary career.

Outside of work, Aileen loves staying active—whether she’s running or hiking with her two dogs, Kenya and Bogue, lifting weights at the gym, or exploring new places. She’s also an avid reader, board game enthusiast, and brewery-hopper, with a love for travel. Her animal family also includes three lizards: a bearded dragon named Homer, a crested gecko named Ochre, and a distinguished elderly veiled chameleon, Sir Kensington IV, who is enjoying his retirement in North Carolina.