About

My professional research experience spans more than a decade across roles in academia and industry.  As a scholar, I specialized in qualitative sociological research methods and published studies on social interaction and inequality.  As a faculty member, I used design research methods to develop curriculum, revive programming, and support student success across multiple channels. In industry, I use these same methods to understand and improve user experiences with digital products.

My work overcomes organizational silos by synthesizing qualitative and quantitative research from multiple sources, including my own primary data collection and analysis. I particularly enjoy qualitative methods like interviews, usability testing, and contextual inquiry, but I also know my way around basic survey methods and descriptive statistics. I gravitate toward multi-method approaches that provide opportunities to collaborate with other researchers and triangulate data. By developing personas, journey maps, and service blueprints, I transform research findings into actionable insights that build empathy and inspire change.

I’m skilled at sharing research in various formats, including professional writing, public speaking, and visual storytelling.  Whether communicating with experts or students, executives or peers, I present complex ideas in an accessible manner so that audiences leave feeling informed and empowered.

My skills as a facilitator were first developed in the classroom, where I used evidence-based teaching practices to guide undergraduates through active learning modules. In industry, I rely heavily on my background in education to facilitate high-impact, collaborative workshops.

I bring together design, product, service, and business professionals to discuss problem spaces and explore possible solutions. My strengths include ideation sessions to support the iterative design of new digital products and empathy-building sessions to advocate for improvements to current-state user journeys.

During workshop activities I serve as a relentless advocate for the user’s best interests. By highlighting pain points and opportunities for improvement, I imbue project teams with empathy for the user’s point of view. Senior leaders have recognized my skill for creating psychological safety and tapped me to facilitate a variety of workshops beyond UX as well.

Inclusivity is a significant focus of my work. I was first drawn to design thinking as a professor because it supported my inclusive pedagogy across in-person and online formats. I designed innovative course curriculum that increased outcomes for low-achieving students and led an academic learning community where faculty explored advanced topics in inclusive course design.

At Ally Financial I was an active member of the UX Inclusive Design Group, where we created tools for meeting the unique needs of users from disadvantaged backgrounds.  I also supported various projects that address the legacy of social and financial inequality in banking, including the elimination of overdraft fees.  Our UX Inclusive Design Director nominated me for a culture award recognizing those who “take initiative and bring about positive change in the Ally workplace and community.”