UX Design Leadership
Strategy + Operations + Systems
An accomplished design leader who has shaped experiences for organizations including IBM, WebMD, The Coca-Cola Company, and Apple. I elevate design quality and consistency through governance, scalable tooling, and strong collaboration with cross-functional partners.
A systems thinker and strategic partner, I align design strategy with business goals, foster inclusive, human-centered practices, and champion accessibility and operational excellence across distributed teams.
Design System Program Manager
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – 2023–Present | Austin, TX
As the first person to hold this newly created role, I was brought on to unify and modernize design practices across USCIS. At the time, design teams worked in silos—each using different tools (Adobe XD, Sketch, or Axure) and operating without shared standards or visibility.
I successfully led the agency’s transition to Figma, supporting 100+ designers through training, adoption, and workflow standardization. I collaborated with Figma Inc., USCIS IT, Software Licensing, and a third-party reseller after soliciting competitive bids for a new UX design tool. I authored the technical and functional procurement requirements, partnered with IT to implement SSO integration, and now serve as Figma administrator, managing licenses and coordinating with Software Licensing. I also oversee the plugin approval process, working closely with IT Security to evaluate and approve tools requested by designers.
To foster connection and shared learning, I launched Figma Fridays and met 1:1 with design leads to identify collaboration opportunities and align practices across teams. These efforts broke down silos, built trust, and established the foundation for a unified design culture.
Following the rollout, I created and launched the USCIS Figma Component Library—a 508-compliant, reusable system of components that serves as the agency’s single source of truth. The library enhances design quality, accessibility, and efficiency while giving teams new visibility into one another’s projects and methodologies.
I also lead the Design System Working Group, a cross-agency forum where designers discuss and learn about the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) and the USCIS component library. I authored comprehensive design guidance for all components and collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to negotiate and align on visual design updates, ensuring consistency and accessibility across the federal ecosystem.
Most recently, I conducted a series of USWDS compliance audits across public-facing websites—the first time these teams had been evaluated at this level of rigor. The audits identified key gaps and provided actionable guidance to drive remediation. I now partner with designers to prioritize, clarify, and implement fixes, helping teams move toward stronger federal design compliance and accessibility maturity.
