I am passionate about understanding individual actions and social relations. My approach to UX pairs empathetic creativity with rigorous analysis to tease out both the rational and the emotional reasons behind human behavior. I earned my PhD in Human Geography at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. My dissertation entitled "American Dreamer: First-time Homeownership and the Affective Geographies of Dwelling" explored the impact of social networks and emotional attachments to place on the home purchase journey for first-time homebuyers. I am experienced in small and large group moderation, workshop facilitation, contextual inquiry, interviewing, and both qualitative and quantitative research and data analysis.