The Learning Community for UX Researchers

Leo founded the UXR Institute driven by a core conviction that exceptional research transforms business outcomes and that UX researchers deserve greater strategic influence within organizations.

With nearly a decade in UX research, he has worked at Samsung, as a consultant to numerous start-ups, and as UX Research Manager at Beam Benefits, where he built a research team from the ground up.

His academic background includes 15 years of teaching experience that earned him three teaching awards from the University of California and roles training new instructors, plus specialized training in design research with Prof. Liz Sanders—experience that deeply informs the Institute's hands-on, engagement-focused learning approach. This combination of research practice, educational expertise, and consulting work with startups and non-profits gives Leo a comprehensive understanding of how to develop researchers who can drive meaningful business impact.

PhD, English and Critical Theory, University of California - Irvine

MA, English, University of California - Irvine

MA, English, Fordham University

BA, English and Government, Georgetown University

Cheryl Abellanoza is the Associate Director of User Experience Research at Verizon Connect. Her team uses a mixed methods approach in order to understand user needs, attitudes, environments, and perceptions. She has a particular passion for bringing in quantitative methods that come from areas that involve behavioral research, especially with a cognitive psychology lens. In fact, Cheryl approaches everything in life according to 3 Cs: Cognition, Culture, and Creativity. She is an empathetic and passionate leader who always puts her team first!

PhD, Experimental Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience), University of Texas - Arlington

MS, Experimental Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience), University of Texas - Arlington

Cheryl is teaching a Quantitative UX Research Course on Statistical Methods in Product Development, starting October 13, 2025.

Dr. HarmoniJoie Noel is a Senior Mixed Methods Researcher with 15 years of specialized expertise in survey methodology, healthcare research, and patient experience studies. With a PhD in Sociology and Survey Research Methodology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she has built a distinguished career spanning roles at RTI International, the National Center for Health Statistics at CDC, American Institutes for Research, and Booz Allen Hamilton, where she managed large-scale data collection efforts and conducted groundbreaking research on health insurance literacy, patient experiences with the ACA Health Insurance Marketplaces, and intimate partner violence measurement that has directly informed healthcare policy and improved patient outcomes.

Dr. Noel specializes in survey methodology, CAHPS patient experience surveys, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and leading cross functional teams in developing complex survey instruments for high-profile clients. As the owner of Harmonious Research, LLC, she provides expert methodological consultation to government and commercial organizations.

PhD, Sociology, Survey Research and Methodology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

MS, Sociology, Women's and Gender Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

BA, Sociology, Psychology, Concordia College

Harmoni is teaching a Quantitative UX Research course in Survey Design that launches on October 23, 2025.

Y. Patrick Hsieh is a senior mixed methods researcher with over 12 years of
experience in user-centered design, interdisciplinary research, and cross-functional
team leadership. His work spans UX research, large-scale social survey studies, and
business intelligence, with a focus on developing fit-for-purpose research strategies that
integrate qualitative and quantitative approaches. He specializes in designing and
directing mixed-methods research projects; creating online recruitment strategies (e.g.,
crowdsourcing, social media campaigns, and panel sourcing) to engage general,
specialized, and hard-to-reach populations; crafting and testing survey instruments for
individuals and establishments; and producing actionable data analytics to inform
business decisions.

 Patrick began his career at RTI International as a survey methodologist and digital
sociologist, following his Ph.D. in Media, Technology, and Society from Northwestern
University. Passionate about innovation in survey methodology, Patrick explores how
emerging technologies and design thinking can expand the reach and relevance of
research across disciplines.

 In addition to his applied work, Patrick teaches graduate-level survey methods at the
Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology. His course emphasizes hands-on
learning within the contexts of product design and development cycle, equipping Master
of Design students with the skills to craft effective survey instruments for UX research.
He currently serves as Principal Research Scientist at ReconMR, a full-service market
research firm specializing in multimodal data collection, advanced analytics, and
strategic insights.

PhD, Media, Technology, and Society, Northwestern University

MA, Sociology, University of Illinois - Chicago

MI, Social Informatics, Yuan-Ze University

BA, Mass Communication & Journalism, Fu Jen Catholic University

Patrick is teaching a quantitative UX research workshop on Visualizing and Presenting Survey Data for Impact as part of our Survey Camp series.