The Living Lab

I am a sociotechnical systems researcher and systems architect studying administrative burden, cognitive load, and institutional usability within federally regulated housing systems. As a first‑generation American and nontraditional scholar with nearly 30 years navigating the HUD Housing Choice Voucher program, I bring an insider‑expert perspective to understanding how public-service systems behave for families under real-world constraints. Through The Living Lab, I conduct early-stage applied research focused on documentation workflows, accessibility barriers, and instructional clarity within the RFTA and recertification processes. My work integrates human-centered design, workflow analysis, cognitive load modeling, and accessibility-centered communication to support more usable, equitable public infrastructures. I collaborate with regional partners to align research, prototyping, and grant development for housing-system modernization efforts. My portfolio includes bilingual interface concepts, workflow diagnostics, cognitive load maps, and early-stage prototypes exploring how digital-first tools might reduce administrative friction for voucher participants. My goal is to design sociotechnical systems that reduce unnecessary burden, strengthen procedural clarity, and expand access for households navigating high-stakes public-service environments.