“If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud.” – Emile Zola

I've been a design and content strategist for over 17 years. I’m also an instructional designer, entrepreneur, singer, artist, and actor. I love what I do because I'm able to combine my geeky-tech and artsy-creative sides to solve problems and help people.

I'm currently pursuing my masters through Harvard Extension in Digital Media Design with a focus on Learning Design & Technology—and I'm loving every second of it.

I strongly believe that, while professional skills and goals are important, it's equally vital to work toward building a life that gives you satisfaction and makes the world a better place.

Latest Blog Posts
Permission to Wonder
Permission to Wonder

"Permission to be puzzled and to think. Consent to use their powerful eyes and intelligent minds. Time to noodle and figure things out. The go-ahead to use what they already know to reflect on what they don’t: the first steps in learning. Again, not answers but ways to figure out things on their own."—Philip Yenawine

Book Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Book Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

"We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity." —Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Notable Quote: Smoke and Mirrors
Notable Quote: Smoke and Mirrors

“Bad design is smoke, while good design is a mirror.” — Juan-Carlos Fernandez, Designer

Notable Quote: A Secret From Socrates
Notable Quote: A Secret From Socrates

"The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." — Socrates

Notable Quote: Reaching Your Limits To Find Joy
Notable Quote: Reaching Your Limits To Find Joy

"You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy." — Arthur Ashe

How to be a better writer... even if you aren't a "writer"
How to be a better writer... even if you aren't a "writer"

You may not have the word "writer" in your job title, and you may not consider yourself a writer, but chances are, you write quite a bit... and here are some tips to help you do it better.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Yep, this is about Thanksgiving. It isn't about the web (though it is about connection) and it isn't about design (though that poster is pretty, huh?) and it isn't about food (thought I am daydreaming about mashed potatoes as I type).

Keeping Up With an Ever-Evolving Internet
Keeping Up With an Ever-Evolving Internet

Welcome to the future of the web where innovations are moving us from the semantic web of today into the Internet of Things (IoT). With these innovations come questions—how have previous technology shifts affected us, and how will future technology impact us?

Web 2.0, Web 3.0, and the Internet of Things
Web 2.0, Web 3.0, and the Internet of Things

The internet has become an integrated, seamless, and often invisible part of our everyday lives. Some see this connection as a way to a brighter future, while others have trepidations. The only thing that seems certain is that the Internet is changing rapidly, the laws surrounding the Internet are changing even faster, and it’s all we can do to try and keep up.

Facebook, Sentiment Analysis, and Emotional Contagion
Facebook, Sentiment Analysis, and Emotional Contagion

Sentiment analysis and emotional contagion are nothing new, but Facebook’s recent research study, dubbed by the media the “emotion manipulation” study has launched heated debates regarding the accuracy of the research and the ethics of performing experiments on people without their knowledge or consent.