Highlights

Summary

Elizabeth has over 33 years of experience in information systems, focusing on human-computer interaction (HCI) and user experience in Web sites, Web applications, desktop applications, and complex systems. She also has several years in system engineering, defining and analyzing system requirements and integrating the HCI process into the system life cycle. Elizabeth has master's degrees in mathematics and human development and is fluent in Italian. She served on the editorial board of ACM's <interactions> magazine for six years, and currently serves on the editorial board of the UPA's online Journal of Usability Studies.

Key Achievements

Qualifications Summary

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Professional Experience

Luminanze Consulting, LLC

2007 -
present

Principal Consultant (Silver Spring MD)

Independent consultant in the area of user experience, user-centered interaction design, human factors, and usability.

Key Projects at Luminanze
  • Interaction/interface design for the USPTO's PFW. Prime contractor: Info|Reliance.
  • Web site redesign for the American Library Association (ALA). Prime Contractor: UserWorks. (Continued work begun as a UserWorks employee.)
  • Usability evaluation of various enterprise applications for Plateau Systems, Inc.
  • Human factors study of USCIS's E-Verify system. Client: eNTEGRITÍ; prime contractor, Computer Sciences Corporation.
Key Past Achievements
  • Conducted usability evaluation of the training workshop "Fundamentals of Title IV Administration" for the Office of Federal Student Aid, of the US Department of Education. Client: UserWorks; prime contractor: Low+Associates. (Continued work begun as a UserWorks employee.)
  • Provided human factors expertise to the study of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services' E-Verify system, which enables employers to verify their new employees' eligibility to work in the United States Client: eNTEGRITÍ; prime contractor: Computer Sciences Corporation.
  • Led the redesign of the ALA web site. Coordinated the development and evaluation of the IA and the graphic design; wrote a style guide. Created visual and interaction designs for ALAConnect, ALA’s online communities. Prime contractor: UserWorks.

UserWorks, Inc.

2005 –
2007

Principal Usability Specialist and Director of Interaction Design (Silver Spring MD)

Project management and technical leadership of a variety of projects in human factors research, usability assessment, and interaction design. Mentoring of colleagues in human factors principles and practices, interaction and interface design, and statistical issues affecting research projects. Writing of proposals for new business. Staff photography.

Key Projects at UserWorks
  • Led usability assessment of the American Library Association's web site. Was asked to design and facilitate ALA's web planning retreat on redesign goals, process, next steps. Obtained a follow-up contract to redesign ALA's site, and led the development of the information architecture and wireframes for that site.
  • Directed and conducted usability assessment (testing and expert review) of FedTraveler.gov, part of a project to assess the U.S. Government's three e-Travel services independently. Worked with other teams to define common assessment methods and report structure/format without comparing the services or allowing the evaluations to bias one another.
  • Conducted usability assessment of U.S. Department of Education's "Fundamentals of Title IV Administration" workshop. Reviewed materials, facilitated discussions, created/analyzed online surveys.
  • Directed the conduct of a research project designed by the National Library of Medicine, to investigate the readability of health information by consumers with low literacy.

Computer Sciences Corporation

1977 -
2005

Senior Principal Engineer (Rockville and other locations in suburban Maryland)

System engineering and interaction/interface design on dozens of projects. Analysis, specification, design, development, and evaluation of web sites, web applications, desktop applications, and complex command-and-control systems. Specification and analysis of system and software requirements; definition of HCI engineering role in system life cycle. Founder and cochair of CSC's User Experience Community.

Key Projects at CSC
  • Interaction/interface design of ERIDS for FAA. Designed new color scheme and layout; designed and produced on-screen buttons. Wrote style guide. Analyzed, designed, and prototyped new and revised screens; participated in software design reviews and build/release testing.
  • Helped redesign U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's web site. Conducted user interviews, focus groups, usability testing, expert review for analysis of the existing design. Contributed substantiallyl to redesign of information architecture, navigation, and look. Analyzed user feedback on prototype and supported development of Phase I site.
  • Technical lead, system engineering support for the Flight Operations Segment (FOS) of the Earth Observing System (EOS). Worked with NASA to review, guide, and assist the work of FOS development and testing contractors. Contributed to development of operations concept, provided expert review of HCI, and designed/conducted usability testing.
  • Supported NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center on numerous projects, primarily involving spacecraft control centers.
  • Supported AERITALIA and Space Software Italia (Italy) on human factors / HCI for the Crew Work Station of the International Space Station's Columbus (European) laboratory.

Æsthetic Images

1996 -
present

Photographer and Web Designer (Silver Spring MD)

Personal business in photography and Web design

Early professional work

1974 -
1977

Mathematics instruction and business-applications programming:

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Computer programming in COBOL
  • City of Durham, NC: Computer programming in COBOL
  • North Carolina State University: Teaching freshman algebra/trigonometry and calculus

Education, Skills, and Affiliations

Education

Technical Skills

Professional Affiliations

Publications

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