It all started in a lab...
I once held a real human brain in my very own hands!
This unforgettable moment took place at the University of Washington's neurobehavioral lab, using a donated human brain over 20 years old. You'd think I'd freak out, on the contrary, I realized that I wasn't just holding tissue; I was cradling someone's joy and heartbreak, their eureka moments and quiet contemplations, a lifetime of experiences I could never fully know. I then understood, these are the experiences that science can bring. Long spans of hard work that are rewarded by bursts of discovery that help us understand what life is really about.
I chase that feeling every single day now. I immerse myself in data until those extraordinary insights emerge—the ones that make you catch your breath. When I share these discoveries with my team and watch them unfold into something transformative, I feel that same wonder all over again. This is why I do what I do.
Education
Bachelors of Arts
2015 – 2017
Associate of Arts
2013 – 2015
High School Diploma
University of Washington
Specialized in the neural networks that influence substance use and factor into recovery methods.
Edmonds Community College
Attended core classes as well as foundational psychology courses in preparation for a 4 year college.
Edmonds Woodway Highschool
2008 - 2012
Certifications
Google UX Design
2026
Elements of AI
2026
Intro to R programming
2024
Built fluency in design foundations, lo/hi-fi prototyping, and AI practices— strengthening my ability to collaborate with design teams as a UX Researcher.
Completed a University of Helsinki course on AI fundamentals to strategically leverage AI tools and maximize efficiency in my work
Trained in R programming for statistical modeling and complex data visualization
Research Method Map
Products almost never follow a linear path, but great research meets the product where it is, not where we think it should be. These are the methods I've personally used categorized by when they shine the most:
Discover
Mostly Qualitative
Iterate
Refine
Mixed Methods
Mostly Quantitative
Surveys
Raw Data Collection
Analytics Review
Customer feedback Audit
Time on Task
Intercept Surveys
A/B testing
User Interviews
Card Sorting
Tree Testing
Usability Testing
Heuristic Evaluation
Benchmarking
Wizard of Oz
Journey Mapping
Competitive Analysis
Persona Building
Diary Studies
Deep Internal Audit
Tools
Figma
Condense
Tools
Rally
UserTesting
Dscout
Tools
Qualtrics
Rally
Heap
Presentation Formats
Traditional
Collaborative
Slide Deck
Research Report
Findings Gallery Walkthrough
Solution based Journey Maps
"How might we" Brainstorming Sessions
Workshop: How well do you know the user?
Publications

UNDER REVIEW
Developmental Patterns of Substance Use from Early Adolescence to Young Adulthood Among Latinx Youth from Rural or Small-Town Communities

UNDER REVIEW
Discrimination and health correlates among U.S. Black, Native American, and Latinx young adults (under review)
FAQs
How do you manage multiple research questions? I use all stakeholder questions to design the study—granular questions go directly into the research flow, while thematic ones get consolidated into concise research objectives that guide the overall approach.
How do you modify your findings to accommodate for multidisciplinary stakeholders? I create layered narratives—visually compelling stories that engage everyone at a glance, with embedded access to comprehensive data for deeper exploration.
How do you prioritize competing research requests? When I control prioritization, I focus on requests tied to quarterly or yearly goals. Less urgent needs can be addressed through self-serve programs or quick internal studies completed within a week. When prioritization is out of my hands, I stagger projects to focus data collection on one at a time, minimizing the risk of data loss.
How do you decide which methodology to use? I design the ideal study first—mapping the best methodology for each data point I need—then optimize it based on actual time and resource constraints.
When do you believe UXR should be introduced in a product roadmap? I like to partner with teams during the brainstorming, design, and test phase of a concept, this ensures we establish usefulness and usability of a concept before over investing.
How do you approach vague research questions? I anchor myself in the product phase to surface the questions stakeholders haven't thought to ask, then conduct structured interviews with them to build the context needed to design a clear path forward.


