Access my résumé (PDF) by clicking above or scanning the QR code:
Access my résumé (PDF) by clicking above or scanning the QR code:
During fall 2025, I completed a UI/UX course that walked me through the entire Design Thinking process. Over the semester, I rigorously worked through all five stages—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test—to create a fully realized app design from concept to completion. You can see my full write-up and design process on that class' page here!
The app I designed was Study Circle, a Bible reader app that takes inspiration from Blue Letter Bible and its clean mobile interfaces. My goal was to combine the scripture-focused interface of existing Bible reader apps with the social communication features of platforms like Discord and Instagram—but in a way that would actually serve my users' spiritual needs. Every interaction in the app is anchored to specific Bible passages within private study circles, creating a controlled community environment where users can share reflections and engage in meaningful conversations with people they trust. This addresses a key pain point from my research: users don't want another loud, noisy social media app, but something more focused and intimate that encourages consistent participation without the distractions of infinite-scroll feeds or off-topic content.
As a software engineering intern with the TechLink Center at MSU, I joined their student intern team (TSEAL) to help develop a unit testing framework for two of the Sustainment Management System (SMS) web applications, BUILDER and ESMS, which were developed by the Construction Engineering Research Labratory (CERL) under the Army Corps of Engineers; one of TechLink's Department of Defense partners at the time.
In this role, I worked closely with our team lead and fellow interns to jump into the development workflow, writing unit tests in C# using the Selenium library, following a standard Git workflow with feature branches and code review. The test suite I helped build automated the testing of BUILDER and ESMS'user interfaces by mimicking how users navigate and interact with the app's interfaces.
This experience gave me a solid understanding of browser DevTools—particularly how to locate web elements using CSS selectors and XPaths—as well as practical experience with Git and version control in a team environment. Near the end of the project, I was granted maintainer rights on our GitLab repository and began reviewing and merging completed issues into our development branch.
At the TechLink Center, I worked with the TSEAL team to develop a unit testing framework for TechLink's official website. I wrote unit tests in JavaScript using the Playwright library, creating automated test drivers to interact with all aspects of the website's UI. Development followed a standard Git workflow with feature branches and code review. As a maintainer on this project, I was responsible for reviewing and merging completed issues into the development branch.
This project gave me deeper hands-on experience with JavaScript than I'd gotten in coursework, and it was especially rewarding to see our work make a real impact—once integrated into the build pipeline, our test suite began catching bugs that had slipped past previous developers, directly improving the reliability of future site development.
At TechLink, I developed a custom Python tool package alongside another TSEAL intern to automate the creation of GraphQL queries for our backend testing project. Together, we created a library that allowed users to build full GraphQL queries inline by successively calling classes from the package, rather than writing them by hand. This significantly reduced code redundancy and improved maintainability across our codebase.
This project was particularly valuable because I experienced both sides of the customer-developer relationship for the first time—I was simultaneously the developer of a toolchain and a consumer of that same toolchain. Each time we released a new version—whether fixing bugs or adding features—I saw firsthand how those changes rippled through the production environment where the package was being used. This dual perspective opened my eyes to critical development nuances: the importance of customer awareness, anticipating how changes will impact users' environments, and the responsibility that comes with building tools others depend on.
My first jobs were in retail, working for both Target and Costco, with the majority of my time spent at Target. Starting as a cashier, I developed the communication and interpersonal skills that have served me well ever since. The role involved engaging with every guest, making sales pitches for Target's RedCard and membership programs like Target Circle, and handling conflicts around pricing disputes or return policies. While we had flexibility with price adjustments, I often had to ensure return policies were properly enforced to protect the company's interests and prevent fraud.
I also worked at Costco, where I performed many of the same duties—helping members check out quickly and efficiently while engaging them with the same friendly approach I'd found so effective at Target. I continued making sales pitches for Costco's credit and membership cards, further developing those customer engagement skills.
Eventually, I began filling in for front-end managers at Target, taking on a supervisory role. This involved managing the daily break schedule, ensuring employees got their breaks on time, and maintaining smooth guest flow at checkout. These retail positions taught me valuable lessons in interpersonal communication, team management, and thinking quickly on my feet—skills that have proven essential in every role since.
Between my retail work and joining TechLink, I worked as a custodian at my local church, Grace Bible Church. I worked alongside the custodial team to maintain the building's facilities and property, cleaning spaces like the main auditorium, bathrooms, and classrooms. We tackled large-scale projects such as carpet cleaning every floor in the building, but one project I particularly enjoyed was assisting the tech staff in running conduit lines and setting up sound, network, and computer equipment for a newly constructed section of the building.
This job was rewarding because I was able to form genuine connections with my coworkers—we shared common ground through our faith and involvement in the church community. It reinforced how important it is to find and maintain that common ground in both personal and working relationships. While custodial work wasn't part of my intended career path, I gained valuable hands-on experience with physical tech infrastructure setup. It reminded me that technical skills are only part of the equation—just like the conduit lines and network cables hidden behind the walls, the foundation of strong working relationships often goes unseen, but you can't have a functioning system without it.
On the personal side, I spent my college years from 2020 to 2024 attending CrossLife, Grace Bible Church's college ministry. This experience was deeply foundational—it shaped who I am today in my faith and helped bring me out of my shell from my teenage years. I attended weekly lessons from our pastor and, more importantly, formed friendships and lifelong connections (one of which led to my referral to TechLink).
Doing life together with this community—studying the Bible, working through struggles, and supporting each other—gave me something I wouldn't trade for anything. The depth of connection, love, and friendships that feel as close as family is something money simply can't buy. This journey of faith and community continues today at Belgrade Alliance Church, where I'm still growing in genuine relationships with people—it's even where I met my now-fiancée, Sara!
I recently acquired a 3D printer and have been creating 3D printed armor from various fandoms, including Star Wars and Helldivers. I obtained a commercial license from "Galatic Armory," a small 3D file designer, which allows me to print and sell my creations. My goal is to turn this hobby into a side business that helps fund the hobby itself, allowing me to continue exploring new projects and designs.
What I love most about this process is taking something that starts as a digital file and transforming it into a physical, wearable product—printing it, assembling and rigging the pieces together, and then carefully painting and weathering each item to bring it to life. There's something incredibly rewarding about that complete journey from screen to finished prop.
While computers and technology hold a special place in my heart, being a Montanan since I was 8 has given me a deep love for the outdoors. I've grown up hiking and fishing, and I've always wanted to learn to hunt—a dream that may soon be realized, as my fiancée and her family are planning to teach me soon!
Balancing my lifestyle with outdoor recreation has become essential for me. I've found that staying active outside doesn't just keep me physically healthy—it sharpens my focus, boosts my productivity, and helps me stay genuinely connected with the people I value most. Whether it's a hike in the mountains or an evening gazing up at the stars, getting outside clears my head and reminds me there's more to life than screens. Living in Montana makes it easy to step away from the desk and into nature, and I wouldn't have it any other way.