I came into UX sideways — and it shaped everything about how I work.
That's the short version. The longer one starts with computer science, takes a detour through Disney World and accounting, and ends up in enterprise healthcare — designing for the high-stakes moments.
It started onstage
I started my career at Disney, not in a design studio, but onstage. For all four years of undergrad I was a Disney Store Cast Member, and when I graduated I packed up and ran away to Disney World for the Disney College Program. I loved it enough to extend.
Those programs taught me something I've carried into every project since: the best experiences aren't accidental. They're intentional, inclusive, and built around a genuine understanding of the people you're serving, not the people building it.
To this day, I still believe every experience should feel magical.
How I got here
The path here was unconventional — a CS degree, a master's, 6 years in accounting, and a web design internship where something finally clicked.
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Undergrad 2007-2011
Disney Store Cast Member
Four years onstage at the Disney Store taught me that magic isn't accidental, it's built on intention.
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Bachelor's 2007-2011
BS, Computer Science & IS
Learned how things get built. Started noticing I cared more about how they felt.
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After graduation 2011-2012
Disney College Program x2
Packed up, ran away to Disney World. Loved it enough to extend.
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The in-between 2012-2018
Accounts payable
Processing thousands of invoices monthly, and managing hundreds of vendor relationships. On top of the day job, helped a business analyst re-engineer financial workflows — increasing productivity by 20%.
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First gig Fall 2015
Web design internship
Something clicked. I kept gravitating toward the why-they-struggle questions. Nobody told me that was UX yet.
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Master's 2013-2015
WDOC at University of Florida
Accounting by day, Web Design + Online Communication by night. Where the people-side of the work finally had a name.
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2018-2022
Cerner
Four years in enterprise healthcare — product design, design systems, and building the culture was just as important to me as building the product.
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2022-Now 2022-2026
Oracle Health
Three years of product design, design system, research and advocating for accessibility.
A few things that are non-negotiable
Growth mindset
The work that has taught me the most is the work that didn't go according to plan. Winning feels good, but growth comes from trying things that don't work out.
Culture is part of the craft
The work doesn't end at the deliverable. Mentoring, peer recognition, building inclusive practices — investing in the people and environment around me has always been part of how I work.
Questions before pixels
I'd rather spend an extra week understanding the real problem than a month solving the wrong one.
Going deep, not wide
I'm not a dozen-projects-at-once person. I'm a let-me-really-understand-this person.
Connecting dots across teams
Some of my best contributions have been noticing two groups solving the same problem from opposite ends, and getting them in a room.
Real people, actually heard
Making sure the people most affected by a product show up in the process. Not a methodology, just how I'm wired.
The work that doesn't show up in a job description
Building the culture around me has always been as important as the design work itself. At Cerner I sat on the UXtra Mile Committee, designing 30+ monthly peer-recognition presentations. I volunteered for the DevCon creative team - our internal developer conference, mentored Purdue students for three consecutive semesters, and helped build the UX RevCycle Education Initiative.
More recently I've leaned into accessibility advocacy. In March 2025 I was one of three panelists for Oracle's enterprise-wide Access for All series, presenting accessible presentation practices to 200+ cross-functional attendees. Earlier this year I also facilitated a breakout session on color accessibility through the same program. When Oracle's dedicated accessibility team needed additional support auditing components, I contributed audits for three components and provided recommendations for the backlog.
Fun facts
I'd be lost without post-its.
Not metaphorically. Physically disoriented. Post-its are how I think.
48% through all 50 states.
I have strong opinions about what counts as a qualifying visit. Layovers don't.
Pineapple on pizza, forever.
I will die on this hill.
I designed & vibe coded this WordPress theme.
Which says something about commitment to craft. Or inability to use a template. Probably both.
I believe in intention.
Every great experience has details built with care. There are a few easter eggs sprinkled around this site -- keep an eye out.
I laugh at everything.
Happy. Nervous. Confused. It covers a lot of ground and a lot of meetings.