Education
Master of Science in Economic Analytics
University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Expected May 2026
- Developing expertise in economic modeling, econometrics, and machine learning for data-driven decision-making
- Training in advanced statistical methods, causal inference, and computational tools for public and private sector analyses
Master of Science in Biology
University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
December 2023
Committee: Dr. Michelle Evans-White (Chair), Dr. Daniel Magoulick, Dr. Kusum Naithani, Dr. Mary Savin
- Awarded the Distinguished Doctoral Fellowship totaling $88,000 over four years
- Presented original research at SFS 2019 (poster) and JASM 2022 (oral)
- Skilled in applying statistical analysis to biological and environmental datasets
- Conducted independent field research and macroinvertebrate sampling across varied stream environments
Bachelor of Science in Environmental, Soil and Water Science
University of Arkansas – Fayetteville | Minors: Chinese, Statistics
December 2018
GPA: 3.59/4.0 cum laude
Honors Thesis: Soil organic carbon and mineralization rates at the Woolsey Wet Prairie Mitigation site
- Awarded $14,550 in scholarships and grants
- Delivered oral research presentation at 2017 ASA, CSSA, SSSA international conference
- Completed study abroad programs in Ghent, Belgium; Beijing, China; and Tainan, Taiwan
Professional Experience
Graduate Assistant – Division of Academic Affairs
University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
May 2025 – Present
- Lead marketing and outreach initiatives to promote Writing Studio services across campus
- Cultivate partnerships with academic departments and student organizations to expand Studio visibility
- Design and deliver in-person and virtual workshops on writing strategies and available support services
- Plan and execute student-focused events to increase engagement with Writing Studio resources
Teacher Naturalist
Ozark Natural Science Center
May 2023 – May 2025
- Fostered student understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment
- Organized and led immersive wilderness education programs in the Ozarks
- Delivered nature-based instruction through interpretive hikes and classroom sessions for students of all ages
- Maintained a safe, supportive environment by prioritizing the physical and emotional well-being of students
Teaching Assistant – Department of Biological Sciences
University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Jan 2019 – Dec 2023
- Guided the next generation of health professionals in Human Physiology Lab
- Created lab content presentations and was regularly praised by students for explaining difficult material clearly
- Maintained lab environmental and health safety standards for nearly 400 students with zero incidents
- Ranked in the top 10% of departmental instructors based on student evaluations across eight semesters
Service Assistant I – Information Technology Services
University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
2007 – 2019
- Delivered front-line technical support and excellent customer service for hardware and software issues
- Promoted to full-time supervisor in 2014 in recognition of performance and leadership
- Oversaw operations for six computer labs, managing over $250,000 worth of equipment
- Developed lab policies, created schedules, and recruited and trained ~30 employees per semester
Technical Skills & Tools
Data Analysis:
Python, R, Stata, SQL
Visualization:
Excel, ggplot2, Power BI, Tableau
GIS & Spatial:
QGIS, ArcGIS
Other:
Professional Writing, Public Speaking, Research
Publications & Contributions
Tipton, Z. (2023). Patterns in Winter Stonefly Distribution Along a River Continuum and Land-Use Gradient in Northwest Arkansas Streams. Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Master's thesis.
Tipton, Z., Wood, L.S., Savin, M., Runkle, B.R. (2018). Soil organic carbon and mineralization rates at the Woolsey Wet Prairie Mitigation site in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Discovery: The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College, 19(1), 71-80. Undergraduate honors thesis.
Feng, T., Tipton, Z., Xia, L., Chang, Y. (2019). Evaluation of CORDEX regional climate models in simulating extreme dry spells in Southwest China. Frontiers in Earth Science, 7(294). Assisted with manuscript editing and writing revision.
Certifications
Google Project Management Professional Certificate
Coursera
January 2025
Completed comprehensive 7-course program developed by Google, including hands-on, practice-based assessments. Trained to initiate, plan, and manage traditional and Agile projects.
Volunteer Organizations
Arkansas Master Naturalists
Beaver Watershed Alliance
City of Fayetteville Parks & Recreation
Illinois River Watershed Partnership
Society for Freshwater Science
UA International Students & Scholars