Expertise

Creative Strategy

Content + Communication Strategy

Brand Strategy

Research + Insights

Facilitation + Workshop Design

Project Management

Design Direction

Experience

Senior Communications Officer, Content, Campaigns, Digital, and Brand

Gates Foundation, May 2024 - May 2025

  • Managed the strategic vision, content strategy, user experience and roadmap for gatesfoundation.org.
    Defined scope, strategic alignment, and budget for new digital initiatives that support foundation priorities.
    Lead projects that involve multiple departments, are dynamic in nature, and require careful collaboration including major campaigns.

  • Guided data-driven changes to multiple foundation websites through the lens of strategic alignment, brand, SEO and user experience best practices.

  • Lead efforts to identify target digital engagement goals for brand campaigns that will increase awareness and deepen engagement while also aligning with mission objectives.

  • Oversaw agency partnerships that support digital initiatives.

  • Managed multiple strategic initiatives that support the foundation’s two target audience groups including ongoing content optimization, digital engagement strategy, UX design, and research.

Strategy and Creative Consultant

Independent, September 2014 - May 2024

  • Led initiatives for clients across nonprofit, education, and consumer industries.

  • Partnered with leaders to achieve project success by gaining a deeper understanding of their target audiences, redefining and/or aligning their business goals, and leveraging data insights.

  • Created or informed new communication and content strategies, brand definition, product experience, research reports, and organizational design.

  • Designed and facilitated workshops and discussion sessions to help strengthen partnerships and achieve consensus on major decisions.

  • Provided training in collaborative and creative strategy processes.

  • Created and managed project plans, proposals, and contracts.

  • Select clients include: Facing History and Ourselves, Artemis Ward, Message Lab, BlueInGreen Digital (Netflix), Echo&Co., Samsonite, and Design Museum Boston.

Director of Experience Research + Strategy

Echo&Co, December 2022 - January 2024

  • Worked with leaders of educational organizations to facilitate a shared understanding of the connection between their brand, mission, values, programs and engagement goals.

  • Led strategic and creative workshops with company leaders.

  • Supported clients in unpacking and reimagining their brand presence, digital engagement, and audience impact.

  • Created content and marketing strategies supporting each client’s mission and business goals.

  • Expanded the strategy and research practice at Echo by architecting new deliverables and providing clients with brand, research, and experience strategy services.

  • Recruited and managed contractor talent.

  • Directed initiatives that resulted in helping nonprofit clients create a better product or brand experience, support their mission, make informed content decisions, and deepen their impact.

  • Select accounts included: Facing History and Ourselves, Easterseals, and NEA.

Senior Experience Strategist

Velir Studios, January 2018 - May 2021

  • Worked across several industries including nonprofit, healthcare, education, professional associations, and finance.

  • Was the lead strategist on several of Velir’s award-winning projects including Accountable Now, Drexel University, and the Institute of Food Technologists.

  • Created a vision and strategic framework for each client that brought together their organizational goals, audience insights, brand principles, and key messages.

  • Led content strategy informed by qualitative and quantiative research.

  • Lead internal initiatives including Velir’s rebrand strategy and new business pitches.

  • Select clients included: Atrius Health, Harvard Business School, Drexel University, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, CUNA Mutual Group, NAHB, and IFT.

  • Previously held position of Digital Strategist

Design Researcher, Student Innovation

Curriculum Associates, November 2015 - August 2017

  • Designed and executed a range of research studies aimed to deepen understanding of the day to day student and teacher experience in U.S. public schools.

  • Created insight reports and recommendations for designing more effective curriculum and digital learning tools.

  • Coached instruction teams through brainstorming and prototyping processes.

  • Managed an associate-level direct report and interns.

Graduate Researcher

FableVision Learning, February 2015 - May 2015

  • Conducted user research and made recommendations for product design improvements to the FabMaker Studio software designed for grades 3-8.

  • Designed activity tutorials for teachers.

Senior Designer + Product Manager

Gemline, October 2007 - September 2014

  • Designed products ranging from sporting goods to fashion accessories for Gemline catalogue and licensed labels such as Igloo, Brookstone, and Isaac Mizrahi.

  • Conducted trend and user research.

  • Granted 2 patents for new design inventions.

  • Provided design direction to junior designers.

  • Previously held positions of Freelance Designer and Industrial Designer.

Designer

Sayles Design, October 2006 - October 2007

  • As a subcontractor for USAID, supported business owners in Panama with design, brand, marketing and product solutions to help expand market reach and increase economic opportunities.

Education

Ed. M. Technology, Innovation and Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
2014–2015

B.F.A. Industrial Design, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
2001–2006

D.I.S. Furniture Design Program, Danish Design School, Copenhagen, Denmark
2004

Volunteer

Board Member, Washington Area Women’s Foundation

Fundraiser for Children’s National Hospital Foundation

Former Board Secretary, Capitol View Park Citizens Association

Former Board Chair of Glovebox, Inc. (arts nonprofit)

Former Vice-Chair of IDSA Boston