UX research

centered on human cognition

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For as long as I can remember, I have wondered about how the human mind works. How do humans think? How do they interact with their surroundings? These questions are all about human cognition, and they led me directly into a career in cognitive science. Answering questions like these are central to user-centered design. I've been pursing answers to such questions throughout my professional career.

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As a UX researcher, I bring 15+ years of professional research in cognitive science and linguistics, including usability testing. My publications and presentations span disciplines of psycholinguistics, electrical engineering, cognitive modeling, and theoretical linguistics. Each of my research projects presents a unique research problem, requiring a unique and innovative solution. 

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No matter what my role in the research team is, no matter how short or long the project lasts, no matter how profound or mundane the findings are…I remain passionate about the quest for understanding human cognition and how that affects a person’s experience in the world. The research process is invigorating for me.

EXPERIENCE

Lecturer

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

COURSES TAUGHT

language and human mind

generative syntax

Professional Consultant in linguistics

Michigan State University

HUMAN AUGMENTATION TECHNOLOGIES (HAT) LAB*

Consultation on implicit and explicit learning, lexical and structural storage and retrieval in the human mind, and experimental design 

* formerly Advanced MicroSystems and Circuits (AMSaC) lab

Assistant Professor

Michigan State University

COURSES TAUGHT*

cognitive science

psycholinguistics

child language acquisition

language and brain

syntactic theory and syntactic analysis

general linguistics

* some of these courses have also been taught at University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and University of Maryland 

Research Affiliate

Michigan State University

NEUROLINGUISTICS LAB

Faculty member, actively participating in ongoing experimentation and consultation

Listserv editor, technical project manager

Eastern Michigan University

Fulltime responsibility for listserv publishing, usability testing for new website (dynamic site pulling from Oracle database). Additional work managing grant funds (NSF, NIH) for daily operations and conference organizing.  

Early intervention specialist

Heart of Texas regional public health center

Coordinated care for infants/toddlers with developmental disabilities. Created and managed extensive documentation for longitudinal progress and for continuity of care through other organizations (i.e., public school districts).  

EDUCATION

2013

PhD

LINGUISTICS

University of Maryland, College Park
 

MA

LINGUISTICS

Eastern Michigan University

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BA

PSYCHOLOGY and NEUROSCIENCE

Baylor University

EXPERTISE

RESEARCH

My 15+ years of professional research experience span a broad variety of projects in cognitive science and linguistics. I know how to think outside of the box and innovate to get valid results bearing on the present inquiry. My research has included designing and conducting psycho-and neuro- studies, as well as extensive interviewing. As a collaborator, I have had many roles: lead investigator, equal cohort, mentor, group collaborator, subordinate, and project manager. My level of expertise in research interviewing, both in scripted and unscripted environments, is of the highest caliber. 

ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVENESS

A central focus of how I have designed user-centered materials and delivery is accessibility. I know the importance of WCAG 2.1 (2018), and I appreciate its vital role in design and development. Good design is inclusive and accessible to everyone. Two years of my early career was spent in special education as an early intervention specialist. I was on the front lines of seeing every way that the lack of accessibility interfered with my infant clients’ everyday activities. I was responsible for helping their families work through each obstacle such that the infant/toddler would have as typical a childhood as possible. 

TEACHING

When I am the person behind the podium in the Ivory Tower, I am teaching a course that has been designed by me with the user (the student) in mind. The topics I teach stay within the disciplines in my wheelhouse: cognitive science and linguistics. Courses I have developed and taught include: Intro to Cognitive Science, Intro to Psycholinguistics, Generative Syntax, Child Language Acquisition, Language and Human Mind/Brain, and Intro to Linguistics. I have supervised graduate students as my teaching assistants, as well as mentored them in the development of their own teaching abilities.