Courtney is an early-career environmental professional with a strong background in ecology, conservation biology, and scientific research. She studied Environmental Science and Conservation Biology at UCLA. She participated in Dr. Victoria Sork's lab for two years, researching the valley oak population and molecular ecology for conservation purposes. Her valley oak molecular ecology research was published in a scientific journal. She also researched agroforestry and tropical forest reforestation for her UCLA senior project. The project culminated with visiting reforestation sites in Cameroon and consulting Taylor Guitars on their reforestation initiative.

After college, Courtney completed the Duke Master of Environmental Management. She focused on terrestrial ecology, and she completed an extensive master’s project under the guidance of Dr. Stuart Pimm, analyzing the potential biodiversity and carbon sequestration benefits of tree-planting projects within voluntary carbon markets. Additionally, Courtney contributed to cutting-edge research on tropical forest ecosystems, studying the effects of defaunation on carbon storage and plant diversity in a Gabonese rainforest. She conducted extensive literature reviews and statistical analyses involving forest carbon and tree biodiversity estimations.

Courtney also gained Southern California-specific experience from participating in field-based classes at UCLA, including one on macroalgae, conducting fieldwork in the Santa Monica mountains, and interning for the California Coastal Commission. While interning for the California Coastal Commission, she researched the restoration of surfgrass species and the potential for using surfgrasses in for coastal protection.