Lafayette, Colorado, United States
I am an innovative user experience (UX) researcher who loves to solve messy, indeterminate user experience problems by conducting qualitative, mixed methods inquiries; and then employing design thinking methods to develop effective solutions. I specialize in contextual inquiries, heuristic reviews, usability studies, competitive analyses, surveys, and focus groups. I have developed and published two research processes: one to rapidly evaluate new technologies, and another to evaluate learning spaces. I am an exceptional communicator with a strong desire for solving problems creatively and collaboratively. I am an empathic decision-maker with a keen eye for connecting insights from research to product designs and strategies; and for sharing research results simply and elegantly so that they are easy to understand. I learn and employ technologies quickly. Some technologies I use regularly are: Qualtrics, Trello and Asana, Evernote, Canvas, Service-Now, Lucidchart, Affinity Photo, iMovie, Google Drive and Microsoft Office 365. Strengths: strategic, empathic, relator, intellection, individualization. Keywords #userexperience, #userresearch, #qualitativeresearch, #learningexperiencedesign, #educationaltechnology.
• Investigate data needs across the supply chain to inform domain-specific data warehouses and products used by supply chain professionals. Interview supply chain experts in manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, planning, and ordering. Catalog findings and visualize process flows, sharing findings widely to stakeholders in the technology and supply chain divisions. • Conduct discovery and usability studies into products that assist analysts in tracking and monitoring critical loads through the supply chain. Identify, contextualize, and visualize data needs across the supply chain. • Develop personas for key supply chain analyst roles. • Developed a method to identify potential points of increased cognitive load within these processes.
Led a team of volunteers conducting user research into Boulder Food Rescue's (BFR's) web site. Led a team of two other user experience researchers and one user experience designer in conducting usability tests and heuristic review of the site. Based on an initial review, we developed a prototype site, and then conducted usability tests on that prototype site. We suggested 17 design changes in the areas of web site content, functionality, and appeals to the end users.
Conducted 7 qualitative user research studies into customers using a mobile application to order pharmaceuticals. Conducted usability studies, user interviews, a competitive analysis, and a participatory design study. Created two summaries of customer feedback datasets. Generated 70 insights into the ordering experience.
Collaborated with 6 UX researchers and 1 UX designer on a volunteer project serving Community Food Share (CFS) of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, Colorado. Conducted a heuristic review of the site, and a competitive analysis of other sites on mobile and desktop experiences. Suggested 4 design changes, which CFS implemented.
• Conducted heuristic usability evaluations of a student portal, and suggested design changes. Students' ratings of the portal's usability improved. • Piloted a service to provide instructors with "technology co-pilots" who operated Zoom and A/V systems during classes so they could focus more on their students. Faculty members reported less difficulty teaching, and it became a regular service. • Launched, funded, and guided an innovation incubator to support 22 faculty members in developing innovative solutions to teaching problems. Early results produced over $300,000 in additional funding for a new cross-disciplinary data science course, and for implementing gamification strategies in courses. • Directed a team of 22 user experience researchers and learning experience designers. $1.3 million annual budget.
• Awarded an innovation grant to pilot Kubis (remote-controlled rotating stands holding iPads running Zoom) as a service. This enabled sick and injured students to continue taking classes, and to graduate. • Initiated and grew a service to collect and visualize observational data on classroom activities, and share it with faculty members who use it for formative assessment. • Directed a team of 11 learning experience and media designers who supported the faculty in teaching with technologies. $800,000 annual budget.
• Conducted usability tests of YouTube videos that teach chemistry concepts. Made recommendations, which led to shorter, more engaging, and clearer instructional videos. • Co-developed and published a process for rapidly assessing educational technologies, which has been downloaded over 3,200 times. It has been assigned as required reading for participants in the Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning. • Enhanced and published a participatory design research method for learning spaces in libraries. Report has been downloaded over 1,000 times. • Piloted and assessed potential educational uses of social networks, electronic texts, and learning spaces. Recommendations saved over $100,000 annually for several years. • Provided learning data analytics reports to administrators and faculty members. Results allowed language instructors to intervene early with students who may be at risk of failing. • Managed 2 employees.