Work Experience

Lead UX Researcher | Renaissance Learning | November 2023 – Present

Lead all UX research for Nearpod products, driving insights that shape product strategy and enhance user experiences. Mentor colleagues and evangelize research practices across teams.

  • Lead usability, generative, and foundational research initiatives from planning to delivery.
  • Deliver actionable insights to designers, product managers, and executives.
  • Mentor colleagues on research methods, moderation techniques, and synthesis.
  • Evaluate and implement research tools to improve efficiency and quality.
  • Influence product strategy via research outcomes.

UX Research Manager | Indeed | October 2021 – March 2023

Formed and led the Rapid Research Team, an internal UX research “agency” supporting 25+ teams with high-speed research.

  • Conducted 110+ studies in 17 months, coaching a team of 6 researchers.
  • Guided research planning, moderation, and reporting across multiple teams.
  • Implemented and trained on tools: Reduct, UserTesting.com, Dovetail, Miro, and statistical analysis.
  • Created mentorship programs across the organization (100+ researchers) and designed technical apprenticeships.
  • Screened 500+ candidates, interviewed 50+, hired 12 associate researchers, achieving DEI & inclusion hiring goals.

Sr. UX Researcher | Indeed | October 2020 – October 2021

Head of research for Revenue Systems; accelerated credit decision system speed 5x.

  • Led end-to-end UX research: planning, moderation, analysis, and activation.
  • Applied generative and evaluative methods to improve internal tools.
  • Collaborated with product managers, designers, developers, and data scientists.
  • Mentored researchers in methodologies and best practices.

UX Research Manager | Macmillan Learning | February 2018 – October 2020

Built and led the research team and operations function, raising UX research quality and organizational user-centricity.

  • Led a 50-participant usability study of the flagship product using qualitative and quantitative methods.
  • Implemented UX quality checks for all major product releases.
  • Established two research labs and an observation space to showcase findings.
  • Partnered with executives to scope and execute high-impact research projects.
  • Managed research tools, budgets, and hiring of a research coordinator.
  • Mentored researchers and designers in rigorous research practices.

Sr. UX Researcher State Farm | February 2014 – January 2018

Led research teams to improve customer experiences for claims, web, mobile, and internal tools.

  • Managed all claims-related research, overseeing a team of 6 researchers.
  • Led high-visibility internal tool research for agents, managing 4 researchers.
  • Conducted moderated and unmoderated studies, interviews, and usability research.
  • Partnered with external vendors for research initiatives.
  • Operated within Agile environments (Scrum and SAFe).

Researcher Philips Research | April 2009 – July 2013

Conducted qualitative and ethnographic research during a Marie Curie fellowship, exploring human-technology interaction.

  • Conducted dozens of organizational interviews and field studies.
  • Applied ethnographic methods to research team workflows.
  • Investigated R&D impact on user experience, both in labs and in-field.

Principal Researcher | The Experience Institute | 2007 – 2018

Founded and led a UX strategy and research consultancy serving clients from solo entrepreneurs to enterprise organizations.

  • Consulted on UX strategy, research, and design to improve product experiences.
  • Evangelized user-centered design across client organizations.
  • Conducted end-to-end and targeted research to generate actionable insights.
  • Partnered with executives and business owners to integrate UX research into decision-making.

Education

Marie Curie Doctoral Research Fellow
2009-2014 | TU Delft

Doctoral research studying research teams to better understand communication in Research & Innovation. Completed but did not defend dissertation.

MS Human-Computer Interaction Design
2008 | IU Bloomington

Research and Design focus including methods and design studio culture.

BA Philosophy | 2003
Brigham Young University

Coursework in philosophy of language and communication as well as Linguistics/Cultural Anthropology.