My Background

My path to UX research began with design—but it was the questions behind the designs that captured me.

With an MFA in Electronic Media Arts Design from the University of Denver and a BA in Studio Art and Visual Communications from the University of Arizona, I spent the early part of my career creating digital experiences across diverse environments—from supporting 199,000 military families across Europe to building web presences for higher education institutions. Along the way, I noticed a pattern: the most successful projects weren't just beautifully designed; they were grounded in understanding the people who used them.

This realization led me to formalize my research skills through UX certifications from CalArts and Google, and a Marketing Analytics program at UC Berkeley. At UC San Diego Health, I put this integrated approach into practice, establishing user experience research practices from the ground up in an environment not traditionally structured for them. As Digital Experience Manager, I conduct qualitative and quantitative research, facilitate user journey workshops, run usability tests, and monitor impact through ongoing KPI analysis. My work directly informs digital strategy and measurably improves how patients, families, and staff interact with our web properties.

My background gives me a unique advantage: I understand design deeply enough to know what's feasible, and I'm trained in research rigorously enough to ensure decisions are evidence-based. I continue to design as a Graphic and Web Designer at 1558 Brand Agency, which keeps me grounded in implementation realities. Whether I'm moderating interviews, analyzing data in Optimizely, prototyping in Figma, or presenting findings to stakeholders, I know what it takes to move from insight to execution—and I've developed the collaborative skills to bring teams along in the process.

My focus remains constant: understanding people deeply enough to design experiences that genuinely improve their lives while delivering measurable results for the organizations I serve.

How I Drive Change 

I make research matter. My work doesn't stop at insights—it extends to implementation, measurement, and iteration. By combining research expertise with design capabilities, I ensure findings become features, and hypotheses become validated improvements.

I work within reality. Perfect conditions are rare. I've built research programs with limited resources, conducted studies in hard-to-access populations, and navigated organizational complexity to deliver work that fits the moment and moves the needle.

I measure what matters. Every case study in my portfolio connects user outcomes to business metrics, demonstrating how user-centered decisions create value that stakeholders can understand and support.

I bring people along. Change happens through collaboration. I've worked with cross-functional teams to build shared understanding, align on priorities, and create experiences that serve both user needs and organizational goals.