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Resume

Education 

Ph.D. in Information

University of Michigan School of Information

Specializations: HCI; Social Computing; Trans Technology

Ph.D. Candidate

Graduation: Fall 2027

 
Master of Science in Information

University of Michigan School of Information
Specialization: UX Design & Research; Human-Computer Interaction

Graduation: May 2020

 

 

Bachelor of Business Administration

Western Michigan University
Major: Advertising & Promotion

Minors: General Business, Communications

Graduation: December 2014 

Publications 

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  • "That Moment of Curiosity: Augmented Reality Face Filters for Transgender Identity Exploration, Gender Affirmation, and Radical Possibility," co-authored with Kat Brewster, Aloe DeGuia, Samuel Mayworm, F. Ria Khan, Mel Monier, and Oliver L. Haimson. In Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '25).
    [open-access-link]
     

  • "Cataloging Augmented, Ambivalent Transgender Futures: Designing Inclusive AR Technologies for Trans Communities Through Speculative, Participatory Zine-Making," co-authored with F. Ria Khan, Kat Brewster, Aloe DeGuia, Malaya Mañacop, Samuel Mayworm, Tawanna R. Dillahunt, and Oliver L. Haimson. In Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '25).
    [open-access-link]
     

  • “Trans Time: Safety, Privacy, and Content Warnings on a Transgender-Specific Social Media Site,” co-authored with Oliver L. Haimson, Justin Buss, Zu Weinger, Dykee Gorrell, and Brar Sweetbriar Baron, In Proceedings of 2020 CSCW Conference. (presented at CSCW 2020)
    [
    link][PDF][video]

     

  • “Designing Trans Technology: Defining Challenges and Envisioning Community-Centered Solutions,” co-authored with Oliver L. Haimson, Dykee Gorrell, and Zu Weinger, In Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference. [acceptance rate: 24%][Best Paper Award]
    [link][PDF][video][images]

     

  • “Designing Technology to Support Safety for Transgender Women & Non-Binary People of Color,” a work-in-progress co-authored with Oliver L. Haimson and Tawanna Dillahunt, In Proceedings of the 2019 Designing Interactive Systems (DIS) Conference.
    [
    link][PDF][poster

Skills 

UX Design

Crazy 8’s Brainstorming

Sketching

Prototyping (low - high fidelity)

User Journey Storyboarding Wireframing

Visual and UI Design

UX Writing

Empathy Maps

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UX Research

Comparative Analysis

Contextual Inquiry

Consulting Techniques

Persona Research & Development Qualitative Interviewing

Quantitative Data Analysis

Survey Design & Evaluation

Heuristic Evaluation

Usability Testing

Participatory Design Sessions

Diary Study

Cultural Probe

Wizard of Oz

User Enactments
 

Technical

Python

HTML

CSS

JavaScript

JQuery

InVision

Sketch

Adobe Creative Cloud

Figma

XD

Leadership Experience & Activities

Member, SIMA, UMSI

Member, Social Innovations, UMSI
KPL Antiracism Transformation Team
Peace Center Collective
SpeakOut Bureau Panel
MKTG Intern, Queer Theater
Member, AdClub, WMU
Member, OUTspoken
PR Chair, Womxn’s Equality
Fall Welcome Ambassador

Fellowships & Grants

Work
Experience 

UX Researcher Intern

Amazon.com

Summer 2024

Collected and analyzed user behavior data through lab studies, field visits, and surveys. Identified optimal combinations of quantitative and qualitative methods aligned with research
priorities, questions, and available resources. Conducted usability tests and analyzed results to identify user pain points and improve product functionality, enhancing user experience and informing design decisions. Communicated research findings effectively through written reports and presentations tailored to diverse audiences.

 

User Experience Researcher

Randstad Technologies @ Walmart Global Tech

June 2022 - August 2022

Headed a high-impact regulatory technology project with millions of dollars in savings opportunities. Partnered with the product team to conduct discovery research for the financial flow of systems and processes over 10+ years old. Initiated and conducted semi-structured and focused groups to learn about participants’ preferences and experiences. Presented research findings to engineering teams and financial management, driving changes in UX strategies. Authored user stories and user requirements.

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UX Researcher

PRO Unlimited @ Facebook

Mar 2021 - January 2022

 

Worked at Facebook as a contractor through PRO Unlimited on the Communities Team. Conducted interviews, concept, usability, and content testing and analyzed data using open and closed coding methods. Orchestrated rolling research over six months for the Communities, Admin Management, and partner teams. Visualized feedback on new designs and content, unblocking key product questions around various features (including placement), naming, and content organization. The input helped unblock critical product decisions and de-risk upcoming product milestones. Worked cross-functionally with design, product management, content strategy, engineering, and marketing, to identify research topics and knowledge sharing.

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UX Researcher & Designer

University of Michigan School of Information

Jun 2020 - Oct 2020

 

Conceptualized and spearheaded the U-Signal project to examine the various types of violence Transgender Black, Indigenous, and Latinx women and non-binary people of color (TBILPOC) experience. Facilitated user interviews and used inductive open coding procedures and affinity diagramming to analyze the data. Designed high-fidelity prototypes for Smartphone and Smartwatch applications in Sketch. Planned
and executed usability testing to discover current state experiences and design strategies for future iterations of the
interactive prototype.

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Public Engagement Fellow

University of Michigan Center for Academic Innovation

Oct 2019 - Jun 2020

 

Constructed sentiment analysis on discussion forums on the learning platform Coursera. Used qualitative coding methods to analyze data obtained from participatory design workshops. • Facilitated user focus groups and stakeholder interviews to investigate students’ engagement with the online Teach-Out series. Collaborated with a cross-functional team to write facilitation guides for Participatory Sessions in a Virtual Environment. Presented a poster, Proposal: Exploring Student Engagement in Online Learning Spaces, at the Student Showcase in April 2020.

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Research Associate

University of Michigan School of Information

Apr 2019 - Oct 2019

 

I worked with my team to plan and facilitate participatory design workshops for various activities to elicit design ideas, both in writing and visual format for the Trans Time Project. I analyzed qualitative data for patterns and connections. We recruited 21 participants through community and support groups. We found that centering trans people in the design process enabled inclusive technology design. The project was accepted for publication and won the Best Paper Award at ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems,
April 2020, 13 pages,
presentation.

 
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UX Designer & Researcher

Independent Study

Fall 2018 - Oct 2019

 

I planned and evaluated semi-structured interviews to understand how TBILPOC experiences different types of violence (e.g., structural, physical, psychological, etc.). Based on these findings, I investigated technologyʼs role/potential in supporting TBIPOC's safety. Presented poster, article accepted for publication in ACM DIS.

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Faculty Bibliography Research Assistant

University of Michigan Law Library 

Sept 2018 - Sept 2019

 

I curated a list of faculty scholarship, activities, and media engagement for the Law School's Collected Works Newsletter. I programmed new faculty publications in the database and maintained faculty pages on the Law School website. I assisted with ongoing enhancements to the Faculty Bibliography database and the Law School Faculty website's Publications to improve consistency, discoverability, and usability.

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Research Associate 1

University of Michigan School of Social Work 

Jun 2019

 

I authored literature reviews and summaries on specific topics related to LGBTQ+ individuals, health, and information seeking to inform manuscript and grant development.
 

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Graduate Student Research Assistant

University of Michigan School of Information

August 2023 - September 2025

 

Worked on a National Science Foundation research-funded project. Supported my team by helping to organize and lead participatory design workshops to extract design concepts through written and visual formats for the Designing Trans Tech Project. Leveraged reflexive thematic analysis methodologies to meticulously code and analyze complex datasets.

 


Research Associate

University of Michigan School of Information

April 2019 - October 2019

 

Contributed, planned, and facilitated participatory design workshops for various activities to elicit design ideas, both in writing and visual format, for the Trans Time Project. Analyzed qualitative data for patterns and connections. We recruited 21 participants through community and support groups. The project was accepted for publication and won the Best Paper Award at the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, April 2020, 13 pages, presentation.

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User Experience Designer & Researcher

Independent Study September

2018 - October 2019

 

Managed and evaluated semi-structured interviews to understand how TBIPOC experience different types of violence (e.g., structural, physical, psychological, etc.). Based on these findings, investigated technology’s role/potential in supporting TBIPOC’s safety and building community with each other. Presented a poster and an article accepted for publication
in ACM DIS.

 


Faculty Bibliography Research Assistant

University of Michigan Law Library

September 2018 - September 2019

 

Curated a list of faculty scholarship, activities, and media engagement for the Law School’s Collected Works Newsletter. Programmed new faculty publications in the database and maintained faculty pages on the Law School’s website. Aided with ongoing enhancements to the Faculty Bibliography database and the Law School Faculty website’s Publications to improve consistency, discoverability, and usability.

 


Research Associate I

University of Michigan School of Social Work

June 2019

 

Authored literature reviews and summaries on specific topics related to LGBTQ+ individuals, health, and information seeking to inform manuscript and grant development.

 

 

 

 

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Research
Experience

Rackham PACE Fellowship, University of Michigan School of Information, August 2024 - December 2024

 

UMSI Merit Scholar Program, University of Michigan School of Information, September 2022 - September 2023

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UMSI Achievement Fellowship, University of Michigan School of Information,

September 2018 – May 2020 

 

#LWTSUMMIT Scholarship, For Debug Summit, October 2020

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UMSI Diversity Travel Grant, University of Michigan School of Information For Debug Summit,
February 2019

Honors & Adwards

2024 UMSI Award for Impact in Gender Diversity in Information Technology, University of
Michigan School of Information

 

2020 Best Paper Award, ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Teaching
Experience 

Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)
University of Michigan, School of Information

Course: SI487 Undergraduate User Experience Capstone I

Fall 2025

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