Role

Kelsey serves as the lead user experience researcher at the Accessibility User Research Collective (AURC), where she manages research projects from inception to delivery, emphasizing participant engagement and storytelling. With a strong communication background, she enjoys amplifying participant experiences to drive change. In addition to her research role, Kelsey serves as the AURC's Education Initiative Manager, which includes guiding doctoral capstone students and promoting accessible technology through various platforms. She also leads efforts as the Strategic Growth Coordinator, spearheading outreach projects and forging partnerships within communities.

Background

Kelsey's professional journey exemplifies a steadfast commitment to inclusion and advocacy, driven by her passion for fostering accessible and unified communities. Equipped with a background in intrapersonal disability studies and a Master's degree in speech-language pathology, she possesses a profound understanding of communication barriers and the transformative role of technology in overcoming them. Drawing from her lived experience with ADHD, Kelsey brings a unique perspective to her work, informed by firsthand knowledge of some of the challenges individuals with disabilities face. Beginning her career, Kelsey managed projects and programs at Special Olympics International, concentrating on inclusive and unified programming for individuals with and without intellectual disabilities at the university level. Throughout her tenure as a speech-language pathologist in educational and clinical settings, she consistently leveraged her technological expertise to enhance communication for her patients and their communities. This trajectory culminated in her transition to UX research, where she uses her background in communication, disability education, and project management to conduct person-centric studies and advance technology accessibility for individuals with disabilities. She continues attending and speaking at technology conferences, panels and lectures as well as serving on Shepherd Center’s DEIA Accessibility Council, reflecting her unwavering dedication to driving positive change and empowerment.

Interests

Kelsey loves to find new hobbies and dive headfirst into them. She's gearing up to coach a Special Olympics softball team, looking forward to getting back into inclusive sports. Recently, she started learning American Sign Language (ASL), showing her ongoing dedication to communication accessibility. When she's not busy with these pursuits, you'll find Kelsey experimenting with homemade pasta recipes, forgetting to water her persnickety houseplants, or getting lost in a captivating book. And of course, she enjoys nothing more than playing fetch with her goldendoodle, Tucker.