about me

I have always been interested in the relationship between individual behavior, designed systems, and societal change. I graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Sociology, where I loved learning about the mechanisms behind inequality and how it shows up in different contexts, from the U.S. healthcare system to the Brazilian education system to the Cuban tourist industry. After working in a series of non-profits and realizing that a systems-only approach was not helping me understand the real root of social change, I returned to the Harvard Graduate School for my Master of Education, specializing in Adolescent Counseling and Prevention Science, and Certificate of Advanced Study for licensure as an adolescent school social worker in Massachusetts. 

Over 15 years, my professional path has included a range of initiatives including coaching local startups in Washington, DC, working alongside youth in the Domincan Republic to redesign service learning programs bringing volunteers to their community, creating and facilitating behavioral intervention programs to promote positive behavior changes in newcomer students to creating and evaluating state, federal, and multinational programs across the Americas, Europe, and Africa. I transitioned to market research, design thinking strategist, and UX research, where I applied my people research and facilitation skills to help a variety of clients from health insurance companies to food finder apps get to know their customers more deeply and test and evaluate ideas before large investments.

I am also the creator of The South Design Research Studio where I lead regional-specific co-design projects in the American South, Latin America, and the Caribbean.