LIZ DEAN

RESUME

EDUCATION

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI; MicroMasters, User Experience (UX) Research and Design; October 2018

University of Maryland – Baltimore, MD; Master of Science, Human-Centered Computing; May 2014

Muhlenberg College – Allentown,PA; Bachelor of Arts, Media & Communication and Religion Studies; Jan. 2010

• Muhlenberg College Varsity Women’s Volleyball: Offensive Leader and Student Coach; 2006–2009

• Phi Mu: National Sorority Member

• Alpha Phi Omega: National Community Service Fraternity Member

WORK EXPERIENCE

MetroStar Systems – Reston, VA
Senior UX Strategist; June 2019–Present​

• Provides content leadership on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC) public-facing website, https://nitaac.nih.gov, and the authenticated site, https://cio.egos.nih.gov. 

• Plans, conducts, and evaluates qualitative and quantitative user research to understand needs, goals, and challenges to make recommendations for maximum project benefit using Lean UX and Agile methodology.

• Acts as a functional liaison between digital team and development team, producing and translating requirements to meet client needs.

• Coordinates with internal teams to produce and prioritize requirements, ensuring delivery assets are in alignment with UX research findings and stakeholder input.

• Defines information architecture strategy to ensure marketing strategy and user ease.

• Strategizes usability and 508-compliance solutions to ensure an equitable website design.

• Creates style guide documentation and applies best practices to ensure successful website management.

• Coaches and mentors junior team members by providing accurate, specific, and timely feedback as well as provides a clear understanding of job roles, expectations, and successful job performance.

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University of Michigan, School of Education (U-M SOE) – Ann Arbor, MI
Web Strategist; Jan. 2019–June 2019​

• Maintained responsibilities held under Web Administrator title. 

• Acted as a functional liaison between communications team and vendor technical team, developing and translating requirements to meet institutional needs.

• Oversaw vendor efforts and interfaces with users and stakeholders to strategize usability solutions to ensure a successful school-wide website redesign.

• Managed the expectations of teams and stakeholders throughout the lifecycle of the website redesign project via presentations and weekly meetings. 

• Project manages all change management needs, including researching for best practices, creating documentation, and leading trainings on new processes.

• Produced web governance documentation and applies best practices to ensure consistent strategies and quality content across the SOE’s entire website.

• Served in Dean-appointed position on the Education Diversity Advisory Committee, which advised university leadership on policies and practices related to diversity, inclusion, justice, and equity.

• Served on hiring committees and interviews potential faculty and staff members while implementing protocol and policies established to ensure a diverse and equitable hiring process.

• Chairs the SOE’s Community Engagement Committee, which organized staff, student, and faculty development activities and volunteer opportunities.

University of Michigan, School of Education (U-M SOE) – Ann Arbor, MI
Web Administrator; Nov. 2016–Dec. 2018

• Managed the SOE’s website, which has an average of 140,000 monthly pageviews, ensuring consistent usability and 508-compliance across
  the site.

• Designed, built, and deployed significant portions of the SOE’s website.

• Used HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, and JavaScript to create pages outside content management system limitations. 

• Managed the SOE’s FootPrints ticketing system and responded to daily requests and inquiries from faculty, students, and staff pertaining to the website and email marketing inquiries. 

• Used MailChimp to write and design weekly, monthly, and yearly newsletters sent to U-M SOE staff, faculty, students, alumni, and community members.

• Trained staff, faculty, and students on email and web marketing best practices using ExpressionEngine Content Management System and MailChimp.

• Conducted stakeholder interviews and analyzed responses to determine business goals of website redesign project.

• Created personas to determine primary website audience and evaluated potential future requirements.

ICF International – Fairfax, VA
Web Specialist; October 2014–September 2016

• Served as a functional liaison between clients and technical team, developing and translating requirements to meet business needs.

• Consulted on user interface best practices and provide recommendations for optimal user navigation and interaction.

• Produced and developed content on all client-facing websites, including www.childwelfare.gov, www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb, and https://capacity.childwelfare.gov.

• Managed all client-facing websites using both Drupal and Mura Content Management Systems, ensuring 508-compliancy across the board.

• Coordinated with clients, consultants, and team members to guarantee consistency across all client-facing websites.

• Wrote and edited content featured on client-facing websites as well as technical documentation on process that is both used internally and shared externally to clients and stakeholders.

• Monitored SEO analytics on all client-facing websites using Google Analytics and WebTrends.

• Provided user experience guidance and translated client needs to developers throughout the development of The National Foster Care & Adoption Directory App available on both ITunes and Google Play Store.

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The Stevie Awards – Fairfax, VA 
Awards and Web Services Manager; August 2013–October 2014

• Served as Webmaster for www.stevieawards.com, an international website that receives 2 million visits annually.

• Coordinated with media, consultants, manufacturers, and clients nationally and internationally.

• Oversaw the development, launch, and maintenance of an international website hosted in seven languages.

• Managed the Stevie Awards online store, http://stevieawards.myshopify.com, including website development and maintenance.

• Supervised the development and upkeep of the Stevie Awards App available on both ITunes and Google Play Store.

• Supervised temporary employees and delegated projects.

The Stevie Awards – Fairfax, VA
Communications Manager;  October 2011–August 2013

• Served as main content writer and editor for an international blog, which receives over 11,000 visits annually.

• Launched social media outreach campaign, which doubled the company’s Facebook following and tripled Twitter followers.

• Wrote press releases that were distributed both nationally and internationally.

• Directed external consultants in the design, preparation, and fulfillment of national and international direct mailing campaigns.

SCORE Association – Herndon, VA
Marketing and Web Consultant; March 2011–October 2011

• Produced website content and monitored all website and online publications for www.score.org.

• Led content migration for website redesign, which received more than 350,000 visits per month.

• Marketed and facilitated weekly webinars on small business topics for 1,500-3,000 registrants.

• Led nationwide initiatives and developed email marketing outreach campaigns that reached nearly 300,000 people.

SCORE Association – Herndon, VA
Marketing and Social Media Consultant; January 2010–March 2011

• Developed social media outreach resulting in substantial growth.

• Acted as Project Manager of national rebranding efforts including both internal and external materials.

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SCORE Association – Herndon, VA
Marketing and Social Media Intern; June 2009–December 2009

• Ensured brand consistency across all social media channels and integrated direct response across online channels.

LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Jim Toy Community Center– Ann Arbor, MI; Board of Directors, General Board Member; Fall 2016–Present

• Serves on planning committee for Ann Arbor Pride, which attracts 5,000 people annually.

• Lead community events promoting LGBTQ outreach in Ann Arbor.

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The DC Center for the LGBT Community – Washington, DC
Board of Directors, Vice Chair; Winter 2015–Fall 2016

• Performed daily business needs of the Center.

• Ran monthly Board meetings in the absence of and/or at request of the Chair.

• Chaired the Programs Committee, which oversees all programs and services offered by the Center.

• Organized Board events to promote camaraderie.

• Oversaw community center interns and volunteers, checking in weekly on project progress.

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The DC Center for the LGBT Community – Washington, DC
Board of Directors, Chief Development Officer; Winter 2014–Winter 2015

• Coordinated fundraising activities to help further The DC Center’s mission of supporting the LGBT Community.

• Developed a 12-month blueprint of outreach including email campaigns and social media campaigns.

• Produced The DC Center’s first ever “Year in Review” to highlight The DC Center’s contributions to the Metropolitan Area.

Capital Pride – Washington, DC
Production Team Member; Summer 2013–Fall 2016

• Produced prototypes for website redesign and worked with design firm on website requirements throughout the website redesign process.

Point Foundation – Washington, DC
Host Committee; Fall 2013–Fall 2016

• Planned, promoted, marketed, and secured sponsors for annual cornerstone event that raised more than $175,000 from 2013-2016.

Women in Their Twenties – Washington, DC 
Organizer and Facilitator; Fall 2011–Fall 2016

• Sent weekly emails to more than 400 members promoting bi-monthly meetings and various events of interest.

• Ran monthly leadership meetings and organized, moderated, and facilitated bi-monthly meetings for members.

SKILLS

Drupal Content Management System, ExpressionEngine Content Management System, Mura Content Management System, WordPress, Dreamweaver, Shopify, Wix, HTML, Bootstrap, project management, Basecamp, event planning, fundraising, 508 compliance, technical writing, donor engagement, Hootsuite, Google Analytics, WebTrends, HubSpot, Constant Contact, MailChimp, Microsoft Suite, Adobe Suite, customer service, and knowledge of CSS and JavaScript.