About

I’m an experienced UX leader with deep expertise in user research and experience strategy. As a Director at Optum, a UnitedHealth Group company, I lead research initiatives across a diverse portfolio of products, driving user-centered innovation and design excellence. I’m passionate about transforming complex challenges into intuitive, meaningful experiences that improve lives and deliver measurable impact. My leadership style emphasizes collaboration, empathy, and strategic vision to elevate both product outcomes and team performance.

 
 

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

UX Research Certified
Nielsen Norman Group, 2025 - Expected Completion 2027

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