academic leadership

Chair, Department of Art + Architecture 2017-2020

Serving as chair of the Department of Art + Architecture I helped lead four majors, six minors and one graduate program in the 4th largest department in the College of Arts & Sciences.  My leadership included strengthening internal communications and processes and the external presence on campus and in the community while increasing fundraising and visibility with alums.  I strengthened the student experience by implementing a newly designed student orientation, regular e-newsletters, new promotions of the student gallery and other exhibitions of student work on campus to increase overall visibility and community.  Using my design strengths and visual skills I designed and created new departmental materials and communications, and lead a building makeover that gave the department a new identity and improved the moral of students, faculty and staff.  In all of these accomplishments I used my skills as a leader to envision a bigger picture, identify intermediate steps, include stakeholders, and work collaboratively. 

Program Director, Design, 2011-2020

Under my leadership as Director, the Design Program at USF grew in size doubling our number of majors and minors. Through formal academic assessment and accreditation reviews, as well as first hand knowledge of changes in the industry and the cultural landscape, I lead multiple curriculum reviews - adding and revising courses to give students professional skills while asking critical questions and working in alignment to USF’s social justice mission. Other accomplishments in my program leadership included the creation of an annual off-campus senior thesis exhibitions, the formation of a student chapter of AIGA, social media outreach, micro-grants for student projects, streamlined student advising processes, additional lab spaces and more.

Other Leadership at USF

USF Academic Advisory Boards
MS in Energy Systems Management | 2019 - present
Advertising Program | 2016 - 2022
Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) | 2016-2019

USF Committee Leadership & Service
Elected Representative to USF Policy Board | 2020 - 2022
Co-Chair, Communications Committee for USFFA | 2019 - 2022
Chair, Arts @ USF | 2017-2020
University Core Advisory Committee 2017-2020
College of Arts & Sciences Sustainability Task Force | 2010-2017
College of Arts & Sciences Strategic Academic Planning Team | 2019 - 2022

climate leadership

I have used my stills in as a designer and organizer to advocate for climate justice locally and internationally. I have participated in a number of leadership programs including the following:

Regenisis Institute | Regenerative Practitioner Series | 2024

Climate Way Finding | All We Can Save Project | 2024

Regenerative Change Lab | cohort participant | 2024

Transition Leadership Lab | completion of foundation program | 2020-2021

Climate Reality Leader | The Climate Reality Project | 2020-present

leadership training

As a leader I know it is important to never stop learning, about myself and others. I have attended workshops and trainings in emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and strengths-based leadership.

Clifton Strengths:

• Strategic - quickly spotting the relevant patterns and issues, and creating alternative ways to proceed.

• Individualization - intrigued with the unique qualities of each person and figuring out how different people can work together productively.

• Significance - prioritize ideas and projects based on how much influence and impact they will have on the organization or people around them.

• Discipline - routine and structure, creating order.

• Futuristic - inspired by the future and what could be, while energizing others with visions of the future.

Find out more about the Clifton Strengths

design leadership

Compostmodern

In 2018, I took over organizing and moderating Compostmodern, an initiative of AIGA SF devoted to establishing sustainable design solutions. Events have been held in partnership with The Global Climate Action Summit, SF Design Week, and AIGA SF. Under my leadership the event series has shifted towards approaching sustainability from a systems thinking lens while also increasing diversity and inclusion in the conversations around the future of design.

Academic Reviewer

My strategic, critical and creative thinking roles have given me the opportunity to serve as a reviewer for publications, academic programs, conferences, promotion cases and other strategic initiatives.

Publication Reviewer
Routledge Press | 2017-2023
Thames & Hudson | 2018

External Reviewer 
Academic Program Review, UC Davis MFA in Design | 2022
University of Nebraska Grand Challenges Grant Reviewer | 2022, 2023
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada  |  2019   

External reviewer for Tenure & Promotion cases
R1 Universities (name with held for privacy) | 2017, 2018, 2023
Private Research University (name with held for privacy) | 2020
Liberal Arts University (name with held for privacy) | 2018

Conference Reviewer 
AIGA Design Educators Conference   |  2018

community leadership

My strategic, critical and creative thinking roles have given me the opportunity to serve as a reviewer for publications, academic programs, conferences, promotion cases and other strategic initiatives.

Co-Chair, Diversity Justice Alliance | Park Day School | 2022-23

Social Justice Initiative & Community Growth | Park Day School | 2019-20

Co-Chair, Vision Into Action Environmental Justice Symposium | 2019

Diversity Justice Alliance Group Member | Park Day School | 2018-20

board membership

MICA Alumni Association | Vice Chair | 2013-2015

MICA Alumni Association | Board Member | 2011-2013

The Lab | Member, Board of Directors | 2009-2012