before

working in the UX realm...

I studied medicine and science at Washington University St. Louis while working various healthcare related jobs: Laboratory Technician and coordinator, Clinical Research Assistant, Phlebotomist, Patient Care Technician, and Medical Assistant. Working in healthcare with vulnerable people suffering from various distinct illnesses and observing the unique problems healthcare providers faced in treating them, presented many unique opportunities for me to embrace UX design in the real world.

While at San Diego State University, I studied cognitive and neuropsychology, as I’ve always been drawn to the study of how humans think, behave, and learn. As a young adult, I watched as my grandmother with Alzheimer's disease who lived with us deteriorated from the once adventurous and independent woman she was. I used her illness as an inspiration and motivation to learn about the brain and delve into the nuances of what makes this tricky organ work. This experience inevitably became my 1st case study and gave me an opportunity to observe my grandmother's mind and behavior closely in an effort to provide her with the best quality of life while living with her disease. Growing up, my family owned many animals and I loved to study their behavior. This is where I think design first found its way into my life, in the open-minded exploration of people, creatures, and learning the depths of their minds.

I'm always trying to grow, learn something new, or learn about other people's stories. I feel at peace the most when I am one with nature and draw inspiration from many of the lessons I learn and see others learn outdoors. Deeply understanding and valuing others journeys, both physically and digitally, enables me to design intentional and delightful solutions across a diverse array of projects.