Welcome

About Me

Accomplished UX/UI designer and leader with 20+ years of web application design and development experience. Started my technical career as a full-stack web developer - spending my spare time reading The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman and other usability classics which advanced my passion for better user experiences in all of my work. Now manage a development team and several projects while remaining a staunch advocate of user-centered design methods. Keen problem-solver, highly organized, excellent communicator with both technical and non-technical collaborators, resilient with a strong work-ethic.

Skills & Hobbies

UX/UI Design
  • User-Centered Design
  • Contextual Inquiries, Interviews, Focus Groups and Card Sorting
  • User Testing
  • Usability Evaluation
  • Wireframes/Prototypes
  • Use Cases
  • User Stories and Requirements
  • Information Architecture
  • Inclusive Design/Accessibility
Tools
  • Sketch
  • Adobe XD
  • Balsamiq
  • Sublime/Atom
  • Optimal Workshop
  • Git
Implementation
  • HTML
  • CSS/SASS/LESS
  • JavaScript/jQuery
  • D3
  • Leaflet
  • Bootstrap
  • Semantic UI
  • Ruby on Rails
  • PHP
  • MySQL
Hobbies
  • Horseback riding
  • Travel
  • Reading
  • Gardening
  • Cycling

Portfolio -- Selected Works

CUGIR screenshot

Cornell University Geospatial Information Repository (CUGIR)

UI Design | User Testing | Implementation (HTML, CSS, JS, GeoBlacklight, Ruby on Rails) | Manage resources | Provide leadership

USDA ESMIS screenshot

USDA Economics, Statistics and Marketing Information System (ESMIS)

User Research | UI Design | User Stories and Requirements | User Testing | Implementation (HTML, CSS, JS, Hyrax, Ruby on Rails) | Manage resources | Provide leadership

Library Catalog screenshot

Library Catalog

Manage resources | Provide leadership

GWAS and other data visualizations tools

GWAS Viewer

UI Design | Implementation (PHP, HTML, CSS, JS, Highcharts)

McCouch, S. R. et al. Open access resources for genome-wide association mapping in rice. Nat. Commun. 7:10532 doi: 10.1038/ncomms10532 (2016).

Mann Library website screenshot

Mann Library

Information Architecture | Implementation (HTML, CSS, JS, Ruby on Rails, Locomotive CMS)

NextGen Cassava website screenshot

NextGen Cassava

UI Design | Information Architecture | Implementation (HTML, CSS, JS, ColdFusion)

BGRI website screenshot

Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI)

UI Design | Information Architecture | Implementation (Drupal, HTML, CSS, JS)

Peace Corps at Cornell website screenshot

Peace Corps and Cornell: A proven partnership

UI Design | User Stories and Requirements | Information Architecture | Implementation (HTML, CSS, JS)

Buffalo Yoga website screenshot

Buffalo Yoga

UI Design | Implementation (HTML, CSS, JS, PayPal integration)

Education

May 2018 Master of Professional Studies in Information Science | User Experience Concentration
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Dec 1992 Bachelor of Science in Accounting
State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York

Certificates

2017 Information Technology Emerging Leaders Program
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
1993 Officer Basic Leadership Course
U.S. Army, Fort Bliss, Texas
1990 Airborne School
U.S. Army, Fort Benning, Georgia

Experience

Jan 2016 - present Manager of Digital User Experience Cornell University Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Oversee the work of six UX/UI designers, web developers and application programmers and the development priorities for the Library’s online catalog, Cornell University Geospatial Information Repository (CUGIR), USDA Economics, Statistics and Marketing Information System (ESMIS), Exhibits, and our main site (currently undergoing a significant redesign) as well as fifteen unit library sites. My responsibilities include planning, setting priorities and goals with key stakeholders, and allocating appropriate resources through the research, design, development, implementation, assessment/testing, and maintenance phases of these projects. Provide leadership in the user-centered design process and developing web applications that support our users' needs. Also serve as accessibility coordinator for the library.

From 2018 - 2021, served as a Product Owner on the Future of Libraries is Open (FOLIO) project and representative of Cornell University Library. FOLIO is a global open-source collaboration between vendors and several academic libraries to develop a library management system. I led discussions with resource access (circulation) subject matter experts to better understand their needs, documented requirements and use cases, wrote user stories, collaborated with UX designers on interaction design, met with developers, engineers and architects to understand technical opportunities and constraints, and finally, met with developers regularly and managed the product development through its full life-cycle. Once Cornell implemented FOLIO in July 2021, I rotated off of this project.

May 2014 - Jan 2016 UX Developer Cornell University Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Conceptualize, prototype, design, develop, test, and iteratively improve web applications based on user feedback and applicable best practices in interaction design and usability, responsive design, and information architecture on several projects, including New York Climate Change Science Clearinghouse, unit library sites, USDA ESMIS and CUGIR.

Nov 2011 - May 2014 Web Applications Developer International Programs at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (IP-CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Led the design and/or redesign of several websites, including Borlaug Global Rust Initiative, NextGen Cassava, Rice Diversity, all supporting projects with objectives to eliminate hunger. Developed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) Viewer that allowed rice researchers to view –log p value data as part of a larger initiative to provide open access tools to support rice genome research and recognized as co-author on an associated paper titled, Open access resources for genome-wide association mapping in rice, published in Nature Communications (McCouch, S. R., 2016). Captured user specifications and requirements through user interviews. Created wireframes and interactive prototypes to clearly communicate ideas to stakeholders and clients. Designed and implemented creative and responsive user interfaces and interactions with usability and accessibility a constant priority. Worked closely with faculty and staff to successfully complete projects within scope, resource, and time constraints while meeting established quality standards.

Also traveled to Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Mexico, China and Russia while working for IP-CALS!

Aug 2009 - Nov 2011 Video Production Manager International Programs at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (IP-CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Coordinated video production for a distance learning initiative that delivers video presentations via the web in Silverlight, Mpeg-4, Windows Media, and Flash formats as well as DVD to crop improvement centers in developing countries. Responsibilities included video recording, editing, and publishing content within one week of recording. Also directed and assisted with the conversion of over 900 legacy presentations from Real Media to Silverlight.

Produced video and multimedia instructional programs for various departments and projects at Cornell University, including the Durable Rust Resistance in Wheat Project, Borlaug Global Rust Initiative, Cornell Nutritional Sciences, and the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies. Material produced using Adobe Premiere, Accordent PresenterPlus, and TechSmith Camtasia; and distributed via CornellCast, DVD and YouTube. Selected videos and modules:

Oct 2003 - Sep 2009 Owner and Instructor Buffalo Yoga, Buffalo, NY

Started Buffalo Yoga, LLC in October 2003 and grew it to over 200 active members before selling it in 2009. Taught five classes a week in posture, breath work, meditation, and stress management. Managed the administrative, marketing, accounting, information technology and daily operations of a yoga center. Designed and maintained the website (www.buffaloyoga.com).

Taught an accredited yoga course at Daemen College (2006 - 2008). The curriculum included the practice, history, literature, and philosophy of yoga.

Jun 2000 - Aug 2003 Applications Developer Aurora Consulting Group, East Aurora, NY

Placed at Fisher-Price in East Aurora. Developed, maintained, and managed several data-driven websites in a team environment using ASP, Visual Basic, XML, CSS, SQL, HTML, XHTML, JavaScript, Visual Studio, IIS, SQL Server, and SSL technologies for Fisher-Price and Mattel. Contributed to the development and maintenance of fisher-price.com and their business-to-business website (mattelpartners.com) that provided retailers with timely and on-demand access to product specifications, such as promotional copyright, high-resolution photographs, and pricing. Led the development team on the Fisher-Price Friends™ websites, including Dora the Explorer™ and Disney®, and managed the localization efforts on fisher-price.com for three countries. Assisted in the development of a customized content management system.

Fall 2000 Adjunct Professor Information Sciences & Technologies, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

Taught a website design course, Fundamentals of Web-Based Multimedia, at Rochester Institute of Technology. Curriculum included HTML, JavaScript, CSS, graphic design, Adobe Dreamweaver, and Adobe Photoshop with a focus on usability heuristics.

Jul 1998 - Jun 2000 Web Master Western New York Public Broadcasting Association (WNED), Buffalo, NY

Initiated and developed a 100-page website (www.wned.org) redesign for one television and two radio stations (WNED-TV, AM & FM) using HTML, ASP, VisualBasic 6, SQL, SSL, and JavaScript. Upgrades included the ability to accept membership donations via credit card online, improved interface, architecture and usability, and improved download times. Maintained website while providing network, printer, and desktop support to approximately 80 end-users.

Feb 1997 - Jul 1998 Business Manager Western New York Public Broadcasting Association (WNED), Buffalo, NY

Supervised business office personnel and managed accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll. Assisted in the preparation and tracking of a $10 million annual budget. Prepared all annual and special non-profit reports prior to deadlines including federal and state tax returns. Coordinated annual audit. Managed a successful accounting software system conversion from a mainframe system to a personal computer networked solution resulting in increased staff efficiency, enhanced reporting capabilities, and avoidance of potential year-2000 issues.

Jul 1995 – Feb 1997 Signal Officer 110th Military Intelligence Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, United States Army

Designed, implemented, and administered local area networks consisting of 30 workstations using Windows NT servers and TCP/IP protocols. Managed a $100,000 annual communications budget for a 400 person organization. Composed the battalion's information systems security policy. Engineered the successful operation and maintenance of over 500 tactical radio systems, including AM, FM, UHF, frequency jamming, and frequency hopping equipment, for multiple field exercises.

Aug 1993 – Jul 1995 Platoon Leader | Assistant Adjutant 2-43 Air Defense Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps, United States Army

Supervised the daily activities, training, and certifications of over 30 personnel over two deployments to Southwest Asia. Accountable for the maintenance and operation of 11 vehicles and 8 PATRIOT missile launchers valued in excess of $25 million. Qualified as a tactical control officer of a PATRIOT Battery.

Thank you for your visit!