University of California Irvine
I am a teacher in UCI’s Department of Continuing Education International program working in both the Creativity and Product Development and Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship Accelerated Certificate Programs in which a quarter’s worth of educational content is delivered in 10 days or less. I guide postbaccalaureate professionals and entrepreneurs through the entire product development lifecycle, from ideation to launch leveraging my extensive experience in design, product development, and entrepreneurship to deliver engaging lectures, interactive workshops, and personalized mentoring. My passion for teaching and fostering innovation drives me to empower students with the skills and knowledge needed to bring their creative ideas to market. I am dedicated to staying at the forefront of industry trends and technologies to ensure the program remains relevant and impactful.
Introduction to Creativity and Innovation
This intensive course explores the creative process, from ideation to the development of innovative products and services. Students learn how to differentiate between creativity and innovation, assess organizational creative needs, and utilize various tools and methods to foster a culture of creativity. Emphasis is placed on developing frameworks for innovation, identifying and overcoming barriers, and ultimately implementing practical solutions that drive continuous and successful product/service development.
Entrepreneurship
Graduates of this course are empowered with the knowledge and skills to evaluate and launch successful ventures. Through engaging discussions and real-world case studies, students learn how to identify and analyze business opportunities, develop comprehensive business plans, and navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business. With a focus on both theoretical concepts and practical applications, this course prepares students to confidently enter the world of entrepreneurship, whether as a founder, investor, or corporate innovator.
Leading Innovative Teams
With a focus on the unique challenges and opportunities of managing innovative teams, students learn and challenge a combination of leading management theories and practical strategies. Learning objectives include how to assess, hire, and motivate staff with the potential to innovate, as well as navigate conflicts and supervise the innovation process to achieve desired results. Topics include fostering a culture of creativity, effective communication, and project management tailored for innovation-driven environments.
Strategic Marketing, Pitching, and Networking
Students in this course are equipped with the skills to craft compelling narratives and visuals to captivate stakeholders, investors, and collaborators. During the course, students build a personal brand and value proposition, leverage the monomyth framework for storytelling, and refine their communication skills for impactful presentations. Through extensive daily practice and feedback, students master concise communication, effective use of visual aids, and persuasive body language, enabling them to confidently command any room and build lasting professional networks.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
B/W 2005-2014
Developed the “Painting Tomorrow” program in which Industrial Design students were given a business challenge to solve over a semester that allowed them to explore and demonstrate the Design Thinking process from building consumer empathy to presenting final concepts to company executives. Projects included updated color centers for a mass retailer, value-added packaging, and unique paint applicators.
University of Notre Dame
B/W 2005-2014
Expanded the “Painting Tomorrow” program to include both undergraduate and graduate-level Industrial Designers and Graphic Designers at partner Universities. Projects were completed by project teams to help build a more real world scenario. While this program was run independently of the program at SIUC, students presented their final projects in a combined and competitive environment with company executives judging presentations and awarding winning teams.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
c. 2010
Sponsored and acted as an industry advisor in Industry Projects 1 class in the Designed Objects program. Multiple lectures were developed and delivered to the students to help them align with the stereotypical needs of a large corporation. Students were able to interact directly throughout the course for feedback on concepts, suggestions for delivering their ideas, and a final critique.
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
B/W 2003-2005
Students in the Industrial Design and Graphic Design programs were given real-world projects in which final designs had the opportunity to be commercialized through Shur-Line/EZPantr. This semester-long engagement exposed students to the consumer experience data from the company and provided multiple opportunities for students to present their ideas to both users and to company executives.
Kansas City Art Institute
c. 1994
Developed and led a weekend workshop entitled “A Container for your Dreams” for prospective students of the school. Workshop participants were asked to consider their dreams, sketch those dreams then create a container for them as a 2D or 3D concept. The workshop was based on the ideas underpinning positive psychology and human motivations in that participants were encouraged to only carry the dreams that took them to good places and to design containers that would facilitate that direction. Workshop participants left the workshop not only with the work they created but with a better understanding of how to articulate concepts and ideas as well as their first experience with a college-level critique.