Experience

Beam Benefits

• United States
• Insurance
• 200 - 300 Employee

• UX Research Manager

  • Jan 2022 - Present

  Drive research that informs product and company strategy; build lean and accessible research process that impacts product and marketing decisions; train and mentor junior researchers.

• Principal UX Researcher

  • Jul 2021 - Jan 2022

• Senior UX Researcher

  • Jul 2019 - Jul 2021

  Columbus, Ohio Plan and execute research that keeps Beam's customers at the heart of its products. Embedded within the UX team, I conducted research to support product development and business strategy. Built a collaborative, transparent research culture that engages stakeholders and produces research that impacts key decisions.



Samsung Mobile

• South Korea
• Consumer Electronics
• 700 & Above Employee

• UX Researcher/ UX Writer

  • Dec 2018 - Jul 2019

  Mountain View, CA I do UX research and writing on a team that builds seamless, easy-to-understand, enjoyable experiences for users of Samsung Health apps and wearable devices. My role as a researcher includes both generative and evaluative research, including: usability studies, interviews, and prototype testing. In my role as a writer, I collaborate with design teams to formulate the language that improves usability and increases user engagement.



Freelance Design Researcher & Consultant

• Oil and Gas
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Consultant

  • Nov 2016 - Jul 2019

  I plan and facilitate qualitative research projects that uncover deep insights about users or customers for ecommerce, tech, and non-profit clients. In addition to more traditional methodologies like interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic observation, I have trained with Elizabeth Sanders in the use of co-creative, generative design research that enlists the creativity of users throughout the design process. Recent projects have included: -Planning and supervising the initial stages of a… Show more I plan and facilitate qualitative research projects that uncover deep insights about users or customers for ecommerce, tech, and non-profit clients. In addition to more traditional methodologies like interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic observation, I have trained with Elizabeth Sanders in the use of co-creative, generative design research that enlists the creativity of users throughout the design process. Recent projects have included: -Planning and supervising the initial stages of a needs assessment of the Columbus metropolitan area, which included structured interviews, data collection, and analysis for nearly 100 participants. Deliverables included comprehensive stakeholder map and concise, one-page report of findings that will inform survey design. -Needfinding research (interviews and ethnographic observation) to support new product development for tech startup building a global freelancing exchange. -UX research to support website redesign for ecommerce client. Deliverables included user personas, experience map, and competitive analysis. Show less



The Ohio State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Program Manager, Honors Collegium and ePortfolio Initiative

  • Jul 2015 - Jul 2019

  Columbus, Ohio Area The mandate of my current role is to design courses, online platforms, support services, and enrichment experiences that foster skills in writing, speaking, and technology usage. I have pioneered the use of design research for higher education assessment and program design, and I conduct UX research using multiple methodologies to support improvement of online resources. My duties are split between two programs: the Honors Collegium, for which I developed a course in personal… Show more The mandate of my current role is to design courses, online platforms, support services, and enrichment experiences that foster skills in writing, speaking, and technology usage. I have pioneered the use of design research for higher education assessment and program design, and I conduct UX research using multiple methodologies to support improvement of online resources. My duties are split between two programs: the Honors Collegium, for which I developed a course in personal storytelling; and I design and implement support resources for the thousands of student users of the ePortfolio, an online reflective writing tool.

• Program Manager, The Eminence Fellows Program

  • Sep 2012 - Jul 2015

  The Eminence Fellows is a co-curricular enrichment program for a select group of Honors students. I designed the program as a social entrepreneurship incubator in order to teach students from across the disciplines how to collaboratively create sustainable solutions to social problems. The program offers a model of service-learning that prioritizes sustainable community impact and long-term student investment in community outcomes, moving away from the practice of logging service… Show more The Eminence Fellows is a co-curricular enrichment program for a select group of Honors students. I designed the program as a social entrepreneurship incubator in order to teach students from across the disciplines how to collaboratively create sustainable solutions to social problems. The program offers a model of service-learning that prioritizes sustainable community impact and long-term student investment in community outcomes, moving away from the practice of logging service hours. Self-sustaining initiatives created by the Eminence Fellows include ENCompass, the OSU Theater Arts Group, PassGo, and more.


UC Irvine
• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee
• Instructor

  • Sep 2006 - Jul 2012


College of Mount Saint Vincent

• United States
• Higher Education
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Associate Director, Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations

  • Sep 2004 - Sep 2006

  I secured and sustained federal grants and foundation funding for academic support services and high-impact programs that promoted retention and completion for students from underserved communities. My responsibilities included the data gathering and reporting that maintained the College's eligibility to receive federal aid, and maintained its status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Working closely with stakeholders including our Board of Trustees and Members of Congress, I advocated for the… Show more I secured and sustained federal grants and foundation funding for academic support services and high-impact programs that promoted retention and completion for students from underserved communities. My responsibilities included the data gathering and reporting that maintained the College's eligibility to receive federal aid, and maintained its status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Working closely with stakeholders including our Board of Trustees and Members of Congress, I advocated for the College's funding priorities, and managed a portfolio of over $4 million. Show less