Hello, I'm Abby, an interdisciplinary misfit and Curious Collaborator!
I'm proudly rooted in the performing arts (aka: a "theater kid") and am also a Co-Active Coach in training; blending my research and experience in personality psychology and ensemble building to help artists, students, and "misfits" of all disciplines develop creative confidence.
As an alumnus of Iowa State's Industrial Design Masters Program (MID) and an interdisciplinary designer (BA) with experience in digital communications and project management, I am also driven to use a variety of design methodologies to create streamlined, user-centric experiences. Whether it be creating the first website for a small business, having difficult discussions with a project team that ultimately strengthen collaboration, to leading a workshop in personality preferences to build social capital on project teams, I strive to make the world a little more groovy.
A full Curriculum Vitae is available on request.
Created and published weekly assignments, discussions, and course materials in the LMS.
Co-led 100-level (Design Contexts) and 500-level (Design Thinking) courses virtually.
Provided feedback on weekly assignments, discussions, and cumulative Design Sprint projects.
Establishing new project processes to improve client and internal communication between designers, developers, and business stakeholders for 50+ active company accounts through Asana.
Analyzing and translating client needs and business requirements to the design and development teams.
Writing material for and facilitating client onboarding trainings, project kick-offs, and design critiques.
Quoting, formatting, and negotiating project proposals through DocuSign.
Troubleshooting/researching client and technology issues as they arise providing direction to project teams.
Partnering with senior leaders to develop and execute company-wide strategies including testimonial/social media campaigns, monthly newsletters, internship mentoring programs, and new service offerings.
Planned and lead statewide workshops, events, and summer camps with the Program Specialist.
Organized program data and streamlined the process of monthly submissions, critiques, and presentations.
Designed the first App for the statewide Camera Corps program from requirement definition to high-fidelity prototype phases to be developed in Spring of 2021 and adapted across multiple state programs.
Managed a team of 7 editorial interns and facilitated a virtual “Writers Circle” orientation and workshop.
Implemented a remote submission and publication process for 80 curated weekly articles.
See the publication here
Composed weekly blog posts to assist and engage prospective students.
Assisted with the planning and execution of social media engagement strategies for Iowa State University Admissions.
Engaged with gallery visitors and provided supplemental information on the rotating exhibits
Maintained the gallery’s exhibitions assisting artists with set-up, takedown, and hosting their events
Collaborated with the team of four interns to plan and lead a spring community arts event
A full Curriculum Vitae is available on request.
The Dinner Detective, Murder Mystery Dinner Theater (2023 - Present)
Co-MC "Detective" role
Stage Manager at the Forum Theatre (Fall/Winter 2022)
Designing and managing rehearsal schedules, actor information/paperwork, backstage flow charts, etc.
Tracking and relaying all sound, set, props, blocking, and music changes to production team and cast.
Leading actor and technical pre-show checks, delegating backstage duties to crew, ensuring on-time shows.
The Dinner Detective, Murder Mystery Dinner Theater (2019 - 2021)
Co-MC "Detective" role
Iowa State University Department of Music and Theater (2017 - 2021)
Directed “Sun Clouds” in the 2021 On the Horizon: Festival of Student Produced Work.
Assistant Directed two mainstage productions (Orpheus in the Underworld, Oklahoma!).
Assistant Stage Managed the first entirely student produced musical at Iowa State (First Date).
Recorded, formatted, and delivered daily rehearsal notes for the cast and crew.
Led warm-ups, fight calls, and attendance for Tech week and performance weekends.
Arts Leadership Intensive | Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (2019)
One of three students selected for the Aspire Arts Leadership Intensive.
Presented 4-H Performing Arts Passport summer camp proposal/portfolio in the festival Expo.
A full Curriculum Vitae is available on request.
Co-Active Trained Coach (2022)
Completed Fundamentals, Fulfillment, Balance, Process, and Synergy courses (Core Coach Training Series)
Completed 6-month Certification Program
MBTI® Certified Practitioner (2020)