I happen to be terribly fascinated by many things. This is an important thing to know about me, and explains my less-than linear path to where I am today.

After trying a few different options at two universities, working in retail for several years, and taking a hiatus from academia altogether, I landed on the Design Studies/Design Management program with a minor in art history at the Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. While there, I developed an interest in how design impacts human behavior as well as a fascination with curating to tell stories.

Following graduation, I spent some time reflecting on my next move. I knew I wanted to impact change and also incorporate my design studies background into my work. After an impulsive move to Pittsburgh and a little more time, I chose to enter the Master of Public Health in Behavioral and Community Health Sciences + Master of Social Work in Community Organization and Social Action joint degree program at the University of Pittsburgh. There, I had the opportunity to learn about ways to empower communities, promote health equity, and experience the field firsthand through internships, all which provided me the chance to apply my design theory background to real world problems. This also includes advocating for changes to policy, in healthcare and legislation, to better improve access to services to achieve health goals. I believe taking a multidisciplinary approach at the individual, community, and policy levels to solve inequities. In the same vein, I pursued becoming a Certified Health Education Specialist because I believe public health can see nebulous and overwhelming to most folks, especially in the wake of a still developing and changing pandemic.

My current passions are: instructional design and health education, sustainability, undoing learned over-consumption, and learning to mend and repair.

Outside of work, I enjoy exploring Akron with my husband, seeing live music, listening to records with our cats, sitting with some of my favorite works of art, consuming large quantities of pizza & coffee, and shopping secondhand for interesting pieces.

Say hi!