Building Accessible Products Through Research & Code

I'm a frontend engineer and UX researcher who builds accessible web applications using React and TypeScript. With three years of research experience and an MS in Human-Centered Computing, I approach engineering through the lens of the people who'll actually use what I build.

In practice, this means I can conduct user interviews to understand needs, perform usability testing to validate designs, and then implement the solution with attention to accessibility and performance. I've applied this approach across projects ranging from medical imaging data pipelines to interactive data visualizations to ADHD productivity tools.

My path here wasn't linear. I started with a BA in English, worked as a special education para-educator, then returned to school for computer science. That interdisciplinary background—literature, education, CS, and human-centered computing—taught me to translate between different stakeholders and see problems from multiple perspectives.

Education & Career Path

My path into software engineering wasn't linear—and it has shaped how I approach building systems.

I have always been a tinkerer, a problem-solver, and a lifelong learner. I dual booted Linux Mint on my first MacBook Pro and rooted my first smartphone, both for fun and so I could customize my experience. Yet, while I have always been curious about and played with technology, I didn't begin my academic or professional journey in technology.

I began with a BA in English and a minor in Chemistry at the University of Iowa, where I developed strong analytical and critical thinking skills across both the arts and the sciences, along with clear written and verbal communication. After graduating, I worked briefly in special education, supporting children with diverse academic, life, and coping needs. Here, I saw firsthand how systems can fail people behind when they are'nt designed with empathy and an understanding of diverse needs.

Looking for a broader and more durable impact, I returned to school to pursue a second bachelor's degree in Computer Science at the University of Utah. There, I was able to combine my ever-present technical curiosity with a growing commitment to buildling systems that genuinely serve the people who use them.

During my undergraduate studies, I worked as a research assistant across multiple labs, contributing to projects examining ethics in computer science education and the boundary and time-management challenges faced by remote workers—the latter culminating in my bachelor's thesis. These roles required a high degree of independence and initiative. Alongside strengthening my engineering skills, I developed experience reading and synthesizing research literature, identifying gaps, applying research methods, and collaborating with researchers across disciplines.

I continued this interdisciplinary path at the University of Utah as a master's student in Human-Centered Computing. As the industry evolved in response to advances in AI, my focus expanded to include artificial intelligence and machine learning—not just to understand how these systems work, but to build with them in ways that are responsible, transparent, and human-centered.

While working on my Master's, I worked as a research assistant in two medical imaging labs. In these roles, I built data-processing pipelines for large-scale medical imaging research projects, often needing to quickly develop new domain knowledge while working with complex technical constraints. I was trusted to take ownership of critical components of the research infrastructure and to help shape technical directions that supported ongoing research efforts.

Beyond Work

When I'm not coding or conducting research, I'm generally trying to deepen my understanding of the world and the people in it. I enjoy learning across a wide range of topics including psychology, literature, phsysics, and history. I find that this breadth of knowledge often inspires and informs my approach to building software in surprising ways. I also have a deep love for the outdoors and spend much of my free time hiking, camping, skiing, and generally exploring nature. This connection to the natural world helps me stay grounded and reminds me of the importance of building technology that serves people without overwhelming them.

I believe the best engineers are lifelong learners who stay connected to the world around them and engage not just in the technical limits of their work, but also strive to understand the human context in which their work lives. I am deeply curious about both technology and the systems integrated with it (human and otherwise). That curiosity both inspires and drives everything I build.