“Courtney is incredibly gifted, and her contributions to accessibility remediation have exponentially elevated the university’s web presence on a large scale. Her diligence and expertise continue to propel the Illinois Web Theme to a better user experience. At the College of Education, she has carried numerous technically and organizationally challenging projects to fruition with eager curiosity, thoughtful analysis, and determined initiative.

Courtney is also an outstanding collaborator. She is easy to approach and exchange ideas with and is supportive and patient with her teammates. I admire her thoughtfulness in considering all viewpoints, skill sets, and experience levels.

Courtney is confident in her abilities and has every right to be. Yet, I am always impressed by her openness to tackle a new skill set or take on a new project.”

—Liz Shallenberger • UX Designer, University of Illinois

“Courtney is an exceptional professional whose collaboration, leadership, design, and information architecture skills have significantly improved the usability and digital accessibility of websites across the University of Illinois campus and within the College of Education.

Courtney has strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills, but her passion and dedication to improving user experiences are among her strongest attributes. Every website and web application Courtney has designed and implemented is digitally accessible and inclusive.”

—Leslie Sherman • Assistant Director of Application Development, University of Illinois

“Managing designers can be very difficult and Courtney does it well. She provides helpful and constructive feedback in a respectful manner.

Since Courtney assumed this role with her Co-Chair, we have seen a marked increase in productivity and product quality. The team has gained so much respect that Strategic Communications and Marketing has turned over all of the theme components to our team for design and development.”

—Cordelia Geiken • Program Director of the Website Management Center of Expertise (WebCoE), University of Illinois

“I enthusiastically recommend Courtney for any web design or digital accessibility role. As a pivotal member of our WIGG team, Courtney has demonstrated exceptional skills in graphic and web design, complemented by a deep commitment to digital accessibility.

In her role, Courtney has excelled as a second-in-command, skillfully balancing leadership responsibilities with her role as a mentor to junior designers. Her innovative contributions in areas like component structure, color contrast, and overall design consistency have greatly enhanced our projects and sparked creative solutions within our team.

Courtney’s mentoring abilities are particularly noteworthy. She has earned the respect and trust of our junior designers, guiding them with insights that reflect her expertise and experience. Additionally, her understanding of cultural awareness and user research has enabled her to create designs that are not only visually appealing but also highly functional and inclusive.

During my absence, Courtney’s leadership abilities shone as she capably managed team responsibilities, earning positive feedback for her professionalism and dedication.

In conclusion, Courtney is an invaluable asset to any team, offering a unique blend of technical proficiency, creative flair, and a collaborative spirit. Her expertise in web design and digital accessibility makes her an ideal candidate for any relevant role. I wholeheartedly endorse Courtney for her next professional endeavor.”

—Melissa Waller • Staff UX Designer, Walmart Global Tech

“Courtney is an extraordinary individual who possesses a unique combination of talent and drive. Not only is Courtney a highly-competent designer, she is a self-starter who consistently exceeds expectations, takes smart risks, and cares intensely about her work and colleagues. She is also a rapid learner who pushes herself to learn skills, master concepts, and perform at her best. It has been a pleasure to watch Courtney grow over the past few years, and she has always embraced and overcome any challenges placed before her.”

—Tim McIlvain • Executive Director, Learning Technology Center

“I worked directly with Courtney on the campus Website Implementation Guidelines Group where she began as a volunteer designer and eventually became co-lead. Not only did Courtney play a huge role in creating, improving, and organizing the university’s design system, but she consistently demonstrated strong leadership skills that eventually lead to her role as the group’s co-lead.

Courtney is positive, punctual, empathetic, and open-minded. In addition to these soft skills, Courtney’s ability to quickly pick up new technical skills is remarkable. I could always rely on her to brainstorm new ideas with me, as well as thoroughly communicate these concepts to developers. She is a wonderful designer and would be an impactful addition to anyone’s team.”

—Michelle Nguyen • Graphic Designer, University of Illinois

“Here is what I know from working with Courtney: she is open, curious, sensitive, fearless, driven, thoughtful, and likes a challenge. She is dedicated to learning new things and pushing her skills and understanding of life. She’s open to new experiences, flexible in her thinking, and accepts feedback without ego. I recommend her without reservation.”

—Gina Manola • Assistant Dean of Marketing and Communications, University of Illinois