Perspective

First, any experience must provide an opportunity to stretch, to change, to re-evaluate, and to learn something new or more advanced. 

As a child of two very scientific parents, I developed an analytical mind, wanting to understand how things worked in order to make them work better.  As the youngest in a turbulent family, I found voice in the creative and expressive arts, particularly music, choosing that as my undergraduate major.  My career journey began, however, by exploring my technical capacity, first by informally assisting colleagues with application usage and simple troubleshooting, then more formally by becoming a certified network administrator.  This led me to realizing that…

What I am engaged in must allow me to investigate and be part of an interesting and essential problem to solve.

Early on, for me the essential problem was “how does one identify and implement the best technical solutions?”  Ever deeper iterations of this question led me to be become the first Technology Services Analyst at the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management, a new organization itself, then the first ePortfolio Coordinator at Carlow University, and, later, the founding Director of the Center for Digital Learning and Innovation (CDLI).  I explored technology adoption models and change management theory and dabbled in organizational cultural theory, and gradually came to the realization that the ‘best’ technical solution didn't have much value if stakeholders couldn’t (or wouldn’t) use it.  Our mutual humanity must be a part of any solution. 

Without empathy for how others might use, perceive or be affected by something, design and development have no point. 

As the leader of the CDLI, this had an additional timbre: that of defining, engaging, supporting and eliciting the best work from my team and those who we served.  I always appreciate being part of collaborative and collegial environments where different perspectives are welcomed and incorporated into decision-making and sought to inculcate this in the environment around me.  But, in order to continue to grow, learn and be part of the ‘next interesting human-centered problem to solve,’ I needed to pursue an advanced degree.  

I finally found the right program at Bentley - the MS in Human Factors in Information Design - and graduated with High Distinction in 2017.  The program provided hands-on project-based learning with a mix of perspectives and industries to build strong foundations in both human behavior and creative innovation.  The people I met are incredibly talented and incredibly empathetic towards the human condition.  The experience also helped me reflect on my own journey.

I am grateful for the transfer skills of my musical discipline – systems thinking and analysis, communication, team work and collaboration, ‘sight-reading’, and the perseverance to consistently produce high-quality work.  I am also grateful that the pursuit of the ephemeral perfection of musical performance is not my main focus – I learn from trial and error, from stumbling and getting back up and trying again, by pulling things apart and putting them back together in new ways.  I like challenges.  I like thinking. I like doing. I like creating. I like helping people.  And I love it when what I do combines all of these.

All site photos/sketches are by me (unless noted), typically taken either with an iPhone or my trusty Canon Rebel XT.

The "Tao of CDLI"