About

I’m a senior level UX professional who specializes in user research. I currently work remotely at Optum, a UnitedHealth Group company where I am the researcher leader for a multitude of Optum products. I’m very passionate about user experience design and research and always look forward to transforming a difficult situation into an intuitive experience. 

 
 

Associate Director of UX Researcher | Optum - UnitedHealth Group

March 2025 - Present day | Mesa, AZ (Remote)

  • Manage and mentor a team of four researchers, providing guidance, organizing training, and fostering professional growth.

  • Develop and execute research roadmaps in collaboration with internal stakeholders to align research initiatives with organizational objectives.

  • Lead vendor relations, negotiating contracts and managing partnerships to support research infrastructure and resource needs.

  • Oversee the development and deployment of research programs, working closely with designers and cross-functional teams to ensure effective execution.

Sr. UX Researcher | Optum - UnitedHealth Group

Sept 2023 - March 202 | Mesa, AZ (Remote)

  • Lead researcher for the OptumRx (66 million member platform), which consists of budget management, project management, relationship building and driving product roadmap

  • Mentor and guide researchers in their projects by actively giving feedback, being up-to-date with their current work, and recognizing areas for improvement

  • Develop and update organizational processes to assist the entire research team to have consistent work

  • Plan, design, and conduct comprehensive user research studies, including user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and other qualitative and quantitative methods

  • Analyze research data to uncover actionable insights and present findings to stakeholders in a clear and compelling manner

  • Collaborate with design and product teams to translate research findings into actionable design recommendations and improvements throughout the product development lifecycle

Graduate Dean’s Ambassador | Drexel University

Jan 2022 - Jan 2023 | PARt Time position (Remote)

A Graduate Dean's Ambassador for the College of Informatics and Computing (CCI). Was chosen by my professors because of my leadership, high GPA, public speaking and communication skills. In this position I assist fellow graduate students along with advocating and presenting for CCI campus events.

UX Researcher II | Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG)

Dec 2019 – Sept 2022 | Lowell, MA (Remote)

  • Collaborate with stakeholders including UX team members and Product Managers to identify and prioritize research opportunities in a fast-paced environment 

  • Provide design direction to the UX team via mid-to-high fidelity concepts and prototypes based on user research feedback

  • Conducting user research using a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative research methods, in-person and remote

  • Develop and maintain expertise in leading accessibility research

  • Analyze results and translate into clear and useful strategic and tactical insights to support customers and project teams

UI Designer & Researcher | American National

Apr 2018 – DEc 2019 | Galveston, TX

  • Designer for enterprise-wide projects while incorporating new design methodologies and best practices of user-centered design

  • Collaborate with UX Team and key stakeholders across the United States on project research, goals, design, and implementation

  • Translate concepts into high fidelity wireframes, comprehensive layouts, and prototypes

  • Advocate for the end-user to ensure product and design decisions are aligned with user needs and expectations

  • Team with developers to oversee the execution of designs and provide the necessary assets

Graphic Designer | American National

NOV 2015 – APR 2018 | Springfield, MO

  • Provided art direction, design, and production of print and digital graphic assets (i.e. ad campaigns, posters, landing pages)

  • Conceptualized and developed new and attention-grabbing methods of communications to create materials that effectively positioned and increased product sales

  • Designed, created, and delivered original print and digital artwork to support the Multiple Line Agencies division and field force.

Marketing Intern | American National

May 2015 - NOV 2015 | Springfield, MO

  • Assisted in the development of marketing campaigns and the distribution and delivery of marketing materials

  • Uploaded print and digital material to an online marketing platform

  • Maintained the Marketing Email Inbox and provided marketing solutions for over 1,500 agents

 
 

Education

Drexel University,
Master in Science of Information majoring in Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience, 2021 - June 2023

Missouri State University,
Bachelor of Arts emphasis in Graphic Design, 2012 - May 2017

Skills

  • Competitive Analysis

  • Dairy Studies

  • User Interviews

  • Usability Testing

  • Presenting

  • Project Management

  • Working in Agile Methodologies

  • Mix Methodologies

Programs

  • Qualtrics

  • Discuss.io

  • Figma

  • Miro

  • dScout

  • MUIQ

Certifications

CITI Certified
Social Behavioral Conflict of Interest (COI) 2021 - 2025

CITI Certified
Social Behavioral 2021 - 2024

LinkedIn
Accessibility for Web Design, 2021

General Assembly
UX Design Certification, 2019