I’m a bilingual (Spanish-English) UX researcher, professor, translator, technical communicator, and interpreter with experience in qualitative UX research (conceptual and evaluative), software localization, participatory design, and collaboration. I have 10 years of experience in research, and have worked in large-scale product development as well as small-scale community-based work. My emphasis across projects is to innovate and expand impact through collaboration and attention to inclusion.
Qualitative UX Researcher at Meta (Facebook)
As part of the Community Participation & Systems Pillar, I led qualitative research to improve the notification experience on a large-scale Meta product, Community Messaging. Developing multi-phase qualitative studies to explore user behavior in Facebook Groups (communities), I influenced product roadmapping by identifying pain points in the creation and sustainability of group chats on Facebook. Methods included diary studies (through dscout), in-depth interviews (through UserZoom), and concept testing of new notification features to improve user experience. Through this work, I highlighted the role that identity and community connections play in building and sustaining online chat communities. I collaborated with cross-functional partners (product managers, content designers, data scientists, and engineers) to develop and implement new features on a product launched to over 15 million users.
Director of Multilingual UX Research Center
In my role at the University of Texas at El Paso, I founded and directed the Sites of Translation User-Experience Research Center, a space where social-justice oriented organizations come to request help in creating and disseminating their bi– or multilingual content (e.g., websites, web applications, informational tools) aiming to meet the needs and highlight the assets of linguistically diverse users. As director and founder, I developed and led research across industries, including health, law, and product development. I led translation and bilingual digital design for a Diabetes Prevention Program for Latino men, conducted surveys and usability studies for a project focused on facilitating end-of-life conversations with bilingual communities, and led participatory design workshops with bilingual youth focused on health and cultural literacy.
Translation and UX Researcher at Language Access Florida
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I founded Language Access Florida, a research-based, localized consulting service for businesses, agencies, and organizations seeking to develop multilingual products. In collaboration with Indigenous language translators and interpreters in Mexico and Guatemala, I lead user-experience research and design projects that shaped the development of over 100 audiovisual information pieces shared globally since 2020. I also facilitate leadership workshops focused on executing user-centered design practices in language justice. Recent collaborators include The Rural Women’s Health Project, Farmworker Justice, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).