Design Thinking: Prototyping and User Testing

Jennifer Englert PhD brings over 20 years of expertise in user experience human factors and interface design currently serving as a User Experience Researcher at Paychex and adjunct professor at Rochester Institute of Technology Her impressive career spans work with industry giants including Microsoft Apple NASA Kodak Xerox PARC and Conduent Labs where she has contributed to diverse projects ranging from space shuttle mission control to digital packaging and the future of work Her academic credentials include a BA in Psychology from Angelo State University and both MS and PhD in Cognitive Engineering from The Ohio State University where she also served as a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer Her research contributions are extensive including co-authorship of 21 patents and over 40 book chapters and peer-reviewed papers At RIT she teaches master's-level capstone classes in Industrial Engineering and has taught Introduction to Qualitative Policy Analysis in the Public Policy department while also contributing to the Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Beyond her professional work she demonstrates her commitment to fostering creativity and innovation through coaching Odyssey of the Mind teams for seven years leading teams to state and world tournaments Her diverse expertise in user experience research business processes healthcare privacy and consumer analytics has established her as a leading voice in human-centered design and technology innovation.

Maria Ace serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at Rochester Institute of Technology's College of Art and Design while maintaining her role as a senior UX designer at a design thinking firm Her dual roles allow her to bring current industry practices and real-world experience directly into the classroom Her expertise in user experience design and design thinking methodologies enriches her teaching approach providing students with practical insights into the professional design world As a senior UX designer she specializes in creating user-centered solutions and implementing design thinking strategies across various projects Her teaching responsibilities at RIT focus on helping students understand the principles of user experience design and practical applications of design thinking Her professional experience in both academic and industry settings enables her to bridge the gap between theoretical design concepts and their practical implementation Her commitment to design education combined with her active industry involvement makes her a valuable resource for students pursuing careers in user experience and design thinking