about

Background

I am a social scientist research leader focused on change at the intersections of strategy, technology, innovation, and the digital space. I conduct mixed-methods research to create user experiences that align product and business goals. My research informs product experiences that reflect a deep understanding of user needs, behaviors, and motivations.

Since 2023, I have worked as a Senior User Experience Researcher at Snowflake. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my family.

Before Snowflake, I was the Principal UX Researcher and Head of Research at Reddit, building the User Research organization, including Rapid Research and Research Operations, which delivered insights across product areas such as advertising, community, content, growth, and internationalization. I previously led PayPal’s large enterprise and mid-market merchant research strategy across more than 200 countries and regions.

I hold degrees in communication, including a doctorate from the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, two master’s degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University.

When not researching or writing, I enjoy hiking, art festivals, and long drives up and down the Pacific Coast Highway. To hire me for speaking or consulting, contact me through LinkedIn.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Community thrives through discussion, and I engage in thought leadership to help further research about people and technology. Most recently, I participated in dScout’s People Nerds Research Leaders Forum on research democratization (read article). I served as a Virtually Human Working Group member at the Aspen Institute. I advised on the Board of the Big Data certificate program at California State East Bay. I attended the Oxford Internet Institute Summer Doctoral Programme and published as a Berktern at the Youth & Media Lab of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University.

Mentoring

I have guided, motivated, and supported others in the research community via mentoring. I mentor through ADP List and, in the past, with students on their business plans with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).

CONSULTING

Businesses, governments, and non-profits have sought my consultation to help them thrive. I advised business owners for SCORE in association with Small Business Administration. I acted as a startup business bootcamp mentor for the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship (VACE) at the University of Kentucky. I led workshops as a trainer for the Experiential Learning Center in the USC Marshall School of Business.