Stephanie Carnell

My journey started in graduate school, where I was developing educational technology to help medical students communicate better with patients. I'll never forget reading the feedback from students who said these tools were transforming how they connect with people. That's when I realized my work could actually change lives. 

Public service wasn't my original plan. I explored different sectors, but something about citizen-centered design kept pulling me back. Now, as a Digital Services Designer for the City of Orlando, I spend my days making sure residents can easily access the information and services they need. 

Last year, I supported a city-wide survey on fair housing. Every time someone thanks me for listening—for giving voice to their concerns—I know I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. It's not about the data points; it's about the people behind those numbers.

Two years in, and I can confidently say the highlight of my career has been the connections. The community members I serve. My incredible coworkers. The small moments that remind me why I do what I do. As a UX researcher, I feel privileged to serve as a bridge between the community and our organization and to put these principles into action each day.

Sometimes changing the world looks like understanding a website's user experience. Sometimes it looks like simply listening.