In spring 2023, I completed my Master of Science in Information degree with a concentration in user experience research and design from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor School of Information. I'm originally from the Chicago area (love a good deep dish pizza) and served with AmeriCorps for five years in Colorado where my students and teaching inspired me to pursue UX design. 

I have a background in teaching literacy and computer science skills, mentoring colleagues, and exploring growth opportunities in areas of interest. During the years I was teaching literacy skills full-time, I started a Girls Who Code club for middle school students and was invited to teach fundamental programming concepts to elementary students for two summers. I spent a year leading weekly mentorship sessions with colleagues in AmeriCorps to improve teaching strategies and provide support, and led professional development sessions on both literacy interventions and teaching coding to elementary and middle schoolers.

Through preparing to teach CS concepts and experiencing students and teachers struggle with technology, I encountered the field of user experience and my interest was set alight. For a year after teaching and during the start of the pandemic, I did marketing, web development and content management as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at Colorado Youth for a Change. 
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User experience research and design has become my passion as it integrates many of my interests: real-world problem-solving, psychology, and creativity and design. I am committed to designing products with positive impact that are accessible and inclusive, and align with business goals.

When I'm not diving into research or designing, I enjoy photography (check out @emiliaschneiderphoto), bird-watching, all things dogs, and recently designed and knit my first pair of mittens.