Bixal is a mission-driven organization determined to leave a positive impact on the lives of people everywhere. Partnering with leading Federal agencies to conceive and deliver powerful data-driven customer experiences through holistic digital and communications solutions, the work Bixal does helps clients and partners unite stakeholders, optimize resources, advance missions, and better serve citizens all over the world.As a Senior Bilingual UX Researcher at Bixal, I play a pivotal role in shaping user experiences that cater to a diverse, international audience. My responsibilities include:- Leading and executing user research initiatives across a wide range of products and services, focusing on understanding the unique needs and preferences of both English and Spanish speakers - Advising on strategies to better connect federal services with and recruit users from underserved communities, with an emphasis on Spanish speakers with limited proficiency in English- Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including designers, content writers, product managers, and developers, to integrate multilingual research findings into the design and development process- Conducting a variety of research methods, including usability testing, user interviews, user personas, and journey/service maps, to gather actionable insights and validate design concepts- Analyzing and synthesizing research data to uncover user pain points, opportunities for improvement, and actionable design recommendations- Creating and delivering compelling research reports and presentations to stakeholders, influencing product strategy and design direction- Mentoring and guiding junior researchers, fostering a culture of research excellence within the organization- Staying at the forefront of industry trends and best practices, continuously seeking opportunities to enhance our research methodologies and tools

- Develop and moderate usability testing of MVP- Collaborate with other UX Researchers, Product Managers, Content Writers, Developers, and Engineers to prioritize research opportunities - Draft research plans aligned with priorities and organizational needs- Advocate research findings to stakeholders and cross-functional teams through written reports and presentations

- Conducted over 20 end-to-end primary research studies to uncover needs and develop language education tools, products, and services in fast-paced, large organization - Collaborated with other Researchers, Product Managers, Designers, and SMEs to set research priorities- Collected end-user data through usability testing, ethnographies, benchmark studies, participatory workshops, contextual inquiries, surveys, diary studies, and over 150 hours of user interviews- Advocated research findings to diverse stakeholders through 60+ written reports and presentations - Awarded 3 research fellowships and grants totaling over $20,000

- Planned and taught 20+ undergraduate and graduate-level college courses in English composition and communication- Developed course websites and adapted information architecture to maximize ease-of-use and student learning- Mentored and supervised over 40 international student teachers through practicum experiences and field experiences

- Conducted 7 end-to-end generative and evaluative research studies to support development of new products and services to train adult literacy tutors- Evangelized importance of understanding user experiences to develop adult literacy products and services- Developed journey maps and user personas to uncover pain points and build stakeholder understanding of tutors’ experiences- Conducted heuristic analyses, contextual inquiries, usability tests, stakeholder interviews, and user interviews- Advocated findings to stakeholders through written reports and presentations- Developed new curricula, training programs, and workflows that increased tutor satisfaction by 85% and student retention by 30%

- Submitted proposals and acquired funding to develop 15-week program offering ESL, Employment Preparation, Digital Literacy, and Financial Literacy classes for over 50 low-income adults in Southern California- Supervised, trained, and supported team of interns to deliver high quality instruction- Located and secured venues in 3 core communities to increase access to services for working families and families with limited transportation - Achieved over 95% attendance rate among over 80% of participants- Developed partnerships with several community organizations to build awareness, increase support, and share resources

Developed syllabi and delivered Academic English instruction for pre-matriculated ESL students. Courses Taught: Reading and Writing (Level 3); Grammar (Level 4)

Managed two high schools in South Central Los AngelesProvided one on one and group academic and career advisement to underrepresented high school studentsAssisted students with college, FAFSA, and scholarship applicationsAssisted Academic Advisor in the implementation of workshops and other activities at school sitesCollaborated with school counselor to effectively execute the program's and school's objectives

• Engaged in one-on-one conversation practice with 14 international students• Led 60 minute sessions • Constructed cross-cultural relationships with students• Tailored pronunciation instruction for individual students

Courses Taught: Advanced Grammar, Advanced Conversation

• Taught two 90 minutes lessons per week• Developed curriculum and lesson plans in low resource environment• Coordinated fellow instructors to carry out mini lessons in class where I served as head teacher

• Supervised staff of 28 undergraduate student desk clerks in a Residence Hall front desk• Promoted to supervisor position after 1 year as student desk clerk• Served as a liaison between student staff and the Office of Residence Life• Facilitated rapport between student and administrative staff through running monthly meetings• Delegated distribution of mail to 700 residents

• Represented the Office of Residence life in a Residence Hall Front desk• Advised residents with facilities and personal concerns• Provided quality customer service to all residents and guests• Carried out residence hall inventory • Assisted Student Desk Manager with clerical tasks as assigned• Monitored residents entering residence hall overnight• Received a nomination for “Outstanding Student Employee on Campus” for 2012 - 2013