Design Science MS

As a Digital Transformation consultant, I spend much of my time relating product management and human-centered design principles in my client work. One of my strongest methods is applying techniques commonly thought to only help with physical product design and practice it to solve business challenges. I routinely reference the methods like QFD, persona development, ideation, and prioritization techniques that we all learn in our X50 and design courses at U-M!

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

Advanced degrees are a great way to credentialize yourself in new and prospective client discussions. It is a great element of a personal brand.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

Favorite Student Orgs: Central Student Government Favorite Classes: ME250, ENGIN 100, and ME 211. Advice to students: Stay close to your classmates after graduation – not just your closest friends. The alumni network is an asset I never fully understood until I left – but it is one of the greatest parts of Michigan and helps to make sure that your college experience doesn’t end just because you graduated.

I have always aspired to educate the next generation of students. My Ph.D. from the University of Michigan is an interdisciplinary degree, crossing the boundaries of many disciplines. This gave me the edge to be able to connect concepts, theories, and applications, and to communicate with people with deep disciplinary knowledge using their terminology. Today’s problems are complex, unexpected, and need an immediate response. The degree I earned at U-M gives me the agility in looking at these problems from diverse perspectives and pose solutions that cannot come from one single disciplinary background. 

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

My Ph.D. degree is unique and makes people question: Design and Science — how can that be combined? This itself makes us stand out. There aren’t that many people who are able to make unexpected connections among domains. 

Advice to Students

I’d recommend many extracurricular activities to give you yet another strength, undergraduate research assistantship positions to build your inquiry skills and connect with faculty members, and definitely any project-based learning opportunities. 

How does your Master’s degree differentiate you from others?

My MS and PhD in Design Science set me apart as someone capable of and competent in rigorous interdisciplinary methods.

The Division of Integrative Systems + Design, and especially the Design Science Program, gave me the opportunity to develop expertise that places my work at the forefront of systems research and practice. I learned theories and methods from disciplines throughout the university, culminating in diverse projects across industry and academia alike. Together, these backgrounds prepared me to contribute valuable perspectives and skills to one of the leading complex systems research centers in the world.

Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

I took part in so many activities during my time at U-M, from singing with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the University Musical Society’s Choral Union to playing intramural sand volleyball with friends! Definitely spend time finding and contributing to communities that you share interests with. They helped me feel like part of something greater than myself, and gave me a much-needed break from the academics! You’ll find you get back even more than you give.