Product Design Leader
EdTech Advocate
Former Educator
Passionate about designing educational technology that empowers educators and improves student outcomes. I thrive in fast-paced, mission-driven environments where scrappy creativity meets rigorous research to create meaningful impact.
As a first/only UX/UI professional at multiple organizations, I've built design strategy, systems, processes, and advocacy from the ground up while serving as the strategic design voice at the executive level. My unique background spans 15 years in high school education, graduate program management, entrepreneurship, and UX leadership—giving me deep insight into both user needs and organizational challenges.
Strategy, ResearchOps & DesignOps
Established comprehensive UX Strategy, ResearchOps and DesignOps frameworks and workflows.
Accelerated Research
30 hr/month
Accelerated Development
14 Weeks
Strategy, ResearchOps & DesignOps
Established comprehensive UX Strategy, ResearchOps and DesignOps frameworks and workflows.
Accelerated Research
30 hr/month
Accelerated Development
14 Weeks
Strategy, ResearchOps & DesignOps
Established comprehensive UX Strategy, ResearchOps and DesignOps frameworks and workflows.
Accelerated Research
30 hr/month
Accelerated Development
14 Weeks
Rebuild & Refresh for Usability & Engagement
Quickly developed an 18-month UX strategy to create the best possible user impact in conjunction with cross-functional priorities, resulting in the largest back to school release in company history and an ISTE "Best in Class" award for "Secondary Education"
Increased Task Completion
33%
Decreased User Clicks
68%
Increased rating of age-appropriateness
0.5
Rebuild & Refresh for Usability
Developed a comprehensive design system and utilized it to design a rebuild of the Admin Center and refresh of the Teacher Center.
Increased Task Completion
33%
Decreased User Clicks
68%
Increased rating of age-appropriateness
0.5
Rebuild & Refresh for Usability & Engagement
Quickly developed an 18-month UX strategy to create the best possible user impact in conjunction with cross-functional priorities, resulting in the largest back to school release in company history and an ISTE "Best in Class" award for "Secondary Education"
Increased Task Completion
33%
Decreased User Clicks
68%
Increased rating of age-appropriateness
0.5
0 to 1 Re-imagine and Rebuild
Re-imaged and rebuilt a bloated product with a focused set of features that solved user needs.
Increase % Students Rostered
18%
Increase % Students Onboarded
41%
0 to 1 Re-imagine and Rebuild
Re-imaged and rebuilt a bloated product with a focused set of features that solved user needs.
Increase % Students Rostered
18%
Increase % Students Onboarded
41%
0 to 1 Re-imagine and Rebuild
Re-imaged and rebuilt a bloated product with a focused set of features that solved user needs.
Increase % Students Rostered
18%
Increase % Students Onboarded
41%
Advocating, Designing & Building
Utilized user research to advocate for the design and rebuild of the state educator evaluation web app using design thinking.
Increased number of districts using
12%
Advocating, Designing & Building
Utilized user research to advocate for the design and rebuild of the state educator evaluation web app using design thinking.
Increased number of districts using
12%
Advocating, Designing & Building
Utilized user research to advocate for the design and rebuild of the state educator evaluation web app using design thinking.
Increased number of districts using
12%
My Product Designer Origin Story
Designed, developed and validated an EdTech application to support students as they designed their own science experiments as PhD dissertation.
Increased Student Scores
18%
My Product Designer Origin Story
Designed, developed and validated an EdTech application to support students as they designed their own science experiments as PhD dissertation.
Increased Student Scores
18%
My Product Designer Origin Story
Designed, developed and validated an EdTech application to support students as they designed their own science experiments as PhD dissertation.
Increased Student Scores
18%
Skills
Skills
Skills
Strategy
Strategy
Strategy
Design Thinking
Design Thinking
UX Strategy
UX Strategy
Cognitive Load Theory
Cognitive Load Theory
User Centered Design
User Centered Design
Systems Thinking
Systems Thinking
Product-Trio Work
Product-Trio Work
Design-Engineering Collaboration Leadership
Design-Engineering Collaboration Leadership
Opportunity Mapping
Opportunity Mapping
Product Design Strategy
Product Design Strategy
Prioritization
Prioritization
Phased Planning
Phased Planning
Design
Design
Design
UX Design
UX Design
UI Design
UI Design
Wireframing & High Fidelity Prototyping
Wireframing & High Fidelity Prototyping
AI Image Generation
AI Image Generation
Design Systems & Libraries
Design Systems & Libraries
Style Guides
Style Guides
Accessible, Inclusive Design (WCAG, UDL)
Accessible, Inclusive Design (WCAG, UDL)
Responsive Design
Responsive Design
AI Interfaces
AI Interfaces
ResearchOps & DesignOps
ResearchOps & DesignOps
ResearchOps & DesignOps
Incorporating Emerging Technologies
Incorporating Emerging Technologies
Identifying Opportunities for Improvement
Identifying Opportunities for Improvement
Developing Workflows
Developing Workflows
Documenting Frameworks & Procedures
Documenting Frameworks & Procedures
Measuring Gains
Measuring Gains
User Research & Testing
User Research & Testing
User Research & Testing
User Research
User Research
User Interviews
User Interviews
Qualitative Research Repositories
Qualitative Research Repositories
Usability Testing
Usability Testing
Data Synthesis & Analysis
Data Synthesis & Analysis
Strategic Product Recommendations
Strategic Product Recommendations
Product Analysis
Product Analysis
Product Analysis
Heuristic Analysis
Heuristic Analysis
Competitor Analysis
Competitor Analysis
User Behavior Analysis Tools
User Behavior Analysis Tools
Development
Development
Development
Git
Git
Styling - CSS/SCSS/SASS
Styling - CSS/SCSS/SASS
Front-end (React, Angular, HTML)
Front-end (React, Angular, HTML)
Low-Code & No-Code
Low-Code & No-Code
VS Code & Storybook
VS Code & Storybook
Soft Skills
Soft Skills
Soft Skills
Empathy
Empathy
Dedication
Dedication
Fast Learning & Processing
Fast Learning & Processing
Big Picture & Details
Big Picture & Details
Self-Directed
Self-Directed
Iterative
Iterative
Growth Mindset
Growth Mindset
Education
Education
Education
PhD
PhD
PhD
Innovative Instructional Technology (cognition, instruction & UX design)
Innovative Instructional Technology (cognition, instruction & UX design)
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Masters
Masters
Masters
Curriculum & Instruction - Science (instructional design)
Curriculum & Instruction - Science (instructional design)
University of Missouri - Kansas City
University of Missouri - Kansas City
University of Missouri - Kansas City
Bachelors
Bachelors
Bachelors
Chemistry, Minor: Education
Chemistry, Minor: Education
The Colorado College
The Colorado College
The Colorado College
Experience
Experience
Experience
Product Designer
Product Designer
Product Designer
Responsive Web Design, Web Applications, Desktop Applications, Mobile Applications
Responsive Web Design, Web Applications, Desktop Applications, Mobile Applications
18 Years
18 Years
18 Years
Author
Author
Author
High school chemistry textbook, Mastery Teaching in Science Classrooms, Memoir about living with autoimmune diseases, Multiple peer-reviewed research articles
High school chemistry textbook, Mastery Teaching in Science Classrooms, Memoir about living with autoimmune diseases, Multiple peer-reviewed research articles
24 Years
24 Years
24 Years
Teacher & Mentor
Teacher & Mentor
Teacher & Mentor
Manage Jr UX/UI Designer, UX/UI Bootcamp instructor, High school science & math instructor, University chemistry & education instructor, Adult education/professional development
Manage Jr UX/UI Designer, UX/UI Bootcamp instructor, High school science & math instructor, University chemistry & education instructor, Adult education/professional development
25 Years
25 Years
25 Years
Teacher & Mentor
Teacher & Mentor
Teacher & Mentor
Manage Jr UX/UI Designer, UX/UI Bootcamp instructor, High school science & math instructor, University chemistry & education instructor, Adult education/professional development
Manage Jr UX/UI Designer, UX/UI Bootcamp instructor, High school science & math instructor, University chemistry & education instructor, Adult education/professional development
25 Years
25 Years
25 Years
Project Management
Project Management
Project Management
Product Manager, Program Manager, Owner, Coordinator
Product Manager, Program Manager, Owner, Coordinator
11 Years
11 Years
11 Years
Entrepeneur
Entrepeneur
Entrepeneur
Founded & sold allergy-friendly bakery
Founded & sold allergy-friendly bakery
4 Years
4 Years
4 Years
Hi, I'm Kelly! 👋
Hi, I'm Kelly! 👋
Hi, I'm Kelly! 👋
I'm a chemist with a PhD in Innovative Instructional Technology that has had rich professional experiences blending UX/UI Design, Instructional Design, Instruction, Program Management and Entrepreneurship.
These experiences allowed me to understand that my passion is for making usable, efficient and effective designs informed by visual and cognitive design principles.
If you can't find me at my computer, I'm reading, spending time with family, watching my kiddos become amazing young adults, playing with my dogs or finding some new project to jump into with both feet! Mountains and beaches are my happy places and I love to be in beautiful places!