About

Inspiring creative vision through passion & knowledge.

Values & Principles

Adaptability > Perfection

Navigating through rapidly changing landscapes requires innovation and change. Focusing on adaptability instead of perfection means quickly identifying and implementing new solutions to emerging problems to build more agile teams who function with a long-term perspective.

Empathy

Anticipating the needs and motivations of others is especially critical where the solutions and products we create have a real-world impact on people's lives. Through empathy, solutions are not only technically sound but also user-centered and ethically sound, so strong long-term relationships can be built for a collaborative contribution toward a greater good.

Growth Mindset

Embracing challenges, learning from failures, and continuously seeking opportunities for development enables us to view obstacles as opportunities for growth and learning, rather than as insurmountable barriers. A growth mindset sustains cultures of innovation, creativity, and resilience to drive the success and longevity of any organization.

Designing Systems

I connect brand identities and product strategies thoughtfully to design components for delight, efficiency, clarity, and consistent experiences across interconnected formats of print, digital, and environment. A broad range of design software, coding languages, and AI are not simply novel applications, but tools to translate the visions and missions of organizations into products and services.

Collaborative Cultures

Unifying diverse groups of individuals with unique skill sets and perspectives toward a common mission means fostering a collaborative culture. The collective intelligence and creativity of a team develop more innovative solutions and accelerates problem-solving processes. Over time, collaborative cultures break down silos, promote open communication, and encourage cross-functional understanding, resulting in a more cohesive and aligned organization.

Empower Others

By teaching for 10+ years, I know first-hand how to provide people the support needed to do their best work with the autonomy to make decisions and execute their ideas. Empowering others is one of my favorite things in the world to do.

Teaching Experience

  • College of DuPage
    2022 - Present
    + Wrote and instructed graphic design curricula.
    + Presented student work for accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

  • Downers Grove North
    2017 - Present
    + Designing, teaching, and evaluating curricula.
    + Member of the Technology+Innovation and Architectural Design Committees.
    + Co-sponsor of the National Arts Honor Society.

    Maine Township
    2015 - 2017
    + Designed, taught, and evaluated curricula for painting and photography.

    Noble Street College Prep
    2013 - 2015
    + Led professional development seminars for educators at 16 campuses in the city of Chicago.
    + Developed partnerships with Chicago Public School’s Department of Arts Education.
    + Curated and coordinated citywide art exhibitions.

  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
    2016 - 2020
    + Led lectures & workshops on design, innovation, and leadership.

  • Museum of Contemporary Art
    2013 - 2016
    + Designed & published curricula with the museum's education, curatorial, and design teams.
    + Presented curricula to educators in the Chicagoland area for monthly workshops and events.

Professional Experience

  • ArtConnectEd
    2014 - 2019
    + Designer and analyst of a statewide digital portfolio recruiting system for students & college reps.
    + Connected 1000+ students to over $125+ mil. in scholarships offers.

  • Illinois State Board of Education
    2015 - 2016
    + Advised policymakers and the Illinois State Board of Education during a statewide process to revise the Illinois learning standards to reflect innovative and best practices in education.

  • Center for Postsecondary Research
    2010 - 2012
    + Designed the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project's institutional reports for 154 schools in 2010, 66 schools in 2011, and annual national reports intended for educators, policymakers, and philanthropists to make data-based decisions for improving systems in education.
    + Refined UX for research applications with computer scientists at the Center for Survey Research, instituting a user-centered design (UCD) approach.
    + Assisted with data prep and analysis for 52,000+ data entries using SPSS.
    + Developed strategic marketing plans, supported with graphic designs and web elements.

  • Indiana University
    2010 - 2012
    + Designed a strategic marketing plan for an annual arts festival.
    + Directed content for a custom mobile app, including image, text, and video content.
    + Analyzed and reported marketing data findings using Google Analytics.
    + Designed lesson plans in collaboration with curators at the Indiana University Art Museum.

  • Fort Wayne Museum of Art
    2006 - 2009
    + Assisted with curating, designing, and installing exhibitions.
    + Created and maintained a study collection database on Early American Art.
    + Assisted with the research & repair of a renowned outdoor sculpture by Mark di Suvero.

Education

  • Savannah College of Art & Design
    School of Design
    2023

    Courses included:
    + Data Visualization
    + Business Design
    + User Experience (UX) Design
    + History & Interpretation of Innovation
    + Facilitating Design Thinking
    + Financial Reporting & Analysis
    + Design Research, Analysis, and Discourse
    + Visual Design for Interactive Contexts
    + Typographic Voice & Visual Narrative
    + Integrated Design Media

  • Indiana University
    School of Education
    2013

    Courses included:
    + Technology in Education
    + Psychology of Motivation & Competence
    + Financial Management
    + Nonprofit Marketing
    + Instruction in Context of Curriculum
    + Literacy Education
    + History of Art & Design Education

  • Indiana University
    College of Arts & Sciences
    2008

    Graduated with Distinction
    Minor in Art History
    President of the Arts Students League
    Studio Assistant: Printmaking studio

    Courses included:
    + Study abroad in Italy & England
    + Print Media
    + Graphic Design
    + Physics of Light & Color
    + Philosophy of Aesthetics
    + Ancient & Modern Art History
    + Environment & Society
    + Anthropology
    + Sculpture
    + Drawing & Painting

Associations

  • National Art Education Association (NAEA)

  • American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)

  • The Society of Typographic Arts (STA)

  • Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA)

  • National Education Association (NEA)