About Me

The Foundation: Understanding How People Think

My journey into UX research didn't start with design tools or user interviews. It began with a fundamental question: How do people actually think, learn, and make decisions?

As a first-generation college student pursuing doctoral studies in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Alabama, I discovered that understanding human cognition wasn't just an academic exercise—it was a lens for seeing how technology could genuinely serve people. While studying information processing models, cognitive load theory, and human-computer interaction psychology, I realized something crucial: the gap between what technology can do and what people actually need is where meaningful innovation happens.

Being first-gen meant navigating systems without a roadmap, which taught me to question assumptions, seek clarity in complexity, and recognize that empowerment comes through understanding, not just access.

The Pivot: From Academic Research to Real-World Impact

The transition from academic research to UX practitioner wasn't a straight path. As shared in the Push Pull Podcast, moving from cognitive psychology research to industry required reframing skills—not abandoning them, but translating rigorous scientific methodology into actionable product decisions.

What I discovered was that my training in cognitive psychology wasn't a limitation—it was a superpower. While others might focus on what technology could do, I was trained to understand what people actually need, especially when they're under stress, facing cognitive overload, or navigating unfamiliar systems.

This perspective became my professional identity: An AI & Human Experience Specialist who helps people solve real-world problems by understanding people and their needs first, then finding the right tools and solutions. It's not about choosing between research rigor and practical application—it's about using evidence-based understanding to help people solve problems, whether that means technology, process changes, knowledge transfer, or a combination of approaches.

The Philosophy: Human-First Problem Solving

My approach always begins with people, not technology. Every engagement starts with three questions: What is your role? What problem are you trying to solve? And why?

I assess where people are in their AI journey, understand their processes, and guide them toward the right tools and solutions. Not everything is a technology problem—sometimes it's a combination of process changes, knowledge transfer, and technology. Most of the time, it's about empowering people with the knowledge they need to be more efficient and effective.

Technology is the final consideration—not the starting point. This philosophy emerged from watching AI technologies promise transformation while often failing to understand real human needs. As I wrote in Igniting Curiosity, Empowering Students with AI Literacy, "AI is kind of like fire. It has incredible potential to improve our lives but also carries risks we must understand."

The key insight? It's about empowering people to understand how AI affects their lives, make informed decisions, and maintain sovereignty over their choices—whether that means adopting new tools, changing processes, or gaining new knowledge.