I am a professional cultural anthropologist working at the intersection of research, business, and design.

I am a connector-of-dots and behind-the-scenes supporter. I enjoy diving deep into unwieldy problems. I’m results-driven, and always seeking solutions that improve lives. A common thread across my favorite projects are institutions of everyday life—from mobility patterns and grocery stores, to product usability challenges and the emotional challenges of busy families. These daily social habits shape us in profound and yet easily taken-for-granted ways.

After earning a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Rice University in 2006, I have been working as a professional anthropologist consultant, including UX research, design research, strategic consulting, and branding. Selected clients include: Waymo, BD, Harley-Davidson, Freson Bros., and The JM Smucker Company.

Current & Past Roles

Right now, you can find me working as a Cultural Anthropologist and Consultant both independently and in partnership with other research and strategic partners, mainly including The Practica Group.

I have also worked and partnered with researchers at: HKS Architects, Lextant, RedSquared Consulting, Culture Concepts, Shook Kelley, Wolcott Architecture, Water Cooler Logic, and Pacific Ethnography.

UX & Design Research

In recent years, I have worked almost exclusively on User Experience and Design Research projects. That includes projects on mobility technology, health care/medication management, and automotive retail.

Experience Design, Architecture & Branding:

I have collaborated on experience design, architectural spaces, and the built environment. This includes brand experiences, retail spaces, workplace projects, and urban district placemaking.

Closely related to this, I have also worked on branding, brand strategy, and semiotics projects.

My role is to observe behaviors in existing environments, understand social dynamics of a space, interview users, learn about organizational cultures, and/or study relevant cultural trends. I then synthesize a broad range of research inputs to inform design strategies.

Teaching & Education

Most recently, I have been teaching ethnographic and qualitative methods for communities of professional anthropologists.

During my academic years, I was an Adjunct Professor and Instructor, teaching Economic Anthropology and Cultural Analysis courses at both Rice University and the University of Houston at Clear Lake.

Food Projects

Food has been a common thread in much of my past work. I have helped design grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants, as well as providing design solutions for CPG companies, working with startups, and creating innovations for food justice.

I have passionately worked on non-profit food projects that seek to better serve low-income communities and so-called “food deserts” in Los Angeles and Houston. I can offer consulting, design & brand strategy leadership, and workshop trainings. You can read about one of those projects in this co-authored article with Dr. Hanna Garth, Professor of Anthropology, now at Princeton University: “Rebranding a South Los Angeles Corner Store: The Unique Logic of Retail Brands” published in the Journal of Business Anthropology.