COID - 2021 Annual Report - Digital Final - 210704 - Flipbook - Page 13
COLLEGE OF INNOVATION + DESIGN — Dean’s Report
KATE CARTER-CRAM
User Experience Research (UXR) Certificate
In the Spring of 2021, Kate Carter-Cram
earned a User Experience Research (UXR)
Certificate and graduated as a Top Ten
Scholar with a Bachelor of Arts in Global
Studies and minors in Economics and
French. Kate's UXR Capstone project was
nominated by Dr. John Ziker for the
Undergraduate Research Showcase where
she was selected as one of the 16
distinguished “Lightning Talk” speakers.
Her research project was titled Diversity in
the Writing Center: The Impact of
Reflection on Inclusive Practices. Kate
shared that several independent research
projects and a group poster from an
Economics course at Boise State created a
strong foundation for her capstone
research. Kate's capstone was mentored by
Dr. Kendall House and assisted by Erica
Brick, whom Dr. House states is, “one of our
great affiliate UX Research faculty.”
When asked about the value of the UX
Research Certificate, and why she’d
recommend it to other students, Kate
shared the following: “I’d recommend the
UX certificate because of its relevance to
every field of study. User research methods
are able to be applied to numerous
situations across different disciplines and
ameliorate the products, services, or
policies that are created.”
“By gaining an
understanding of user
research, students can
strengthen their own
knowledge of their field to
become more well-versed
in serving diverse
communities and solving
distinct problems.”
In the 2020-2021 school year, Kate
Carter-Cram was also nominated as a Top
Ten Scholar at Boise State University, which
is one of the highest honors granted to
Boise State undergraduate students. When
asked about her success as a student she
said: “I’d attribute my success to my family,
friends, and professors...I was raised to
value education; I would easily call it one of
my family’s core values. During my entire
educational career, even in high school, I
was fortunate to have teachers who were
willing to go above and beyond to engage
with me, my interests, and my needs. I was
privileged to never have a shortage of
supportive individuals in my life: teachers
and mentors have guided me at every step,
and my family has supported me in every
way possible since day one.”
Kate’s future plans include attending
graduate school at Cornell University to
pursue a Master’s degree in Applied
Economics and Management with an
emphasis in International Development
Economics. Long term, Kate plans to
pursue a PhD in Economics and Public
Policy and have a career writing economic
development policies for an international
organization.
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