University of St. Thomas - Managing a Complete Digital Experience
Brand storytelling + user experience for Houston’s Catholic university
Over the last three years as the Senior Digital Design Manager at the University of St. Thomas (UST) in Houston, I’ve had the chance to shape how people experience the University of St. Thomas online and beyond. I’ve worn a lot of hats—from website wrangler and social storyteller to ad designer and brand guardian. My work spanned everything from building out our main website to launching print pieces and digital ads, all with one goal: tell the story of UST in a way that’s clear, compelling, and true to its mission.
Website Management, Design & Development
Toolset: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Slate CRM, Adobe Suite, Figma
A landing page I created to house our application and make the process as easy as possible for incoming students
I led the design and day-to-day management of the university’s website. From streamlining user flows to giving our brand a stronger visual identity online, this was a true blend of design, UX, and storytelling.
What I did:
Revamped major landing pages and built out user paths in Slate
Designed mobile-friendly, accessible templates
Rolled out consistent brand styles across the site
Partnered with teams across campus to align messaging and ensure up to date content
Fun fact: These updates played a key role in a 123% jump in first-time freshman enrollment, and some of these pages won top honors at the Educational Digital Marketing Awards.
Digital Ads
An award winning ad I created to showcase the UST Athletics program. Fun fact - this ad ended up getting printed in the 2024 Texans Yearbook!
Toolset: Adobe Illustrator, Meta Ads Manager, Google Ads
Ads can be annoying—or they can be helpful. I worked to make ours the latter. I created digital ads for everything from undergrad recruitment to specific grad programs, building campaigns that felt as personal as they were polished.
What I did:
Designed ad creative for Meta and Google platforms
Ran A/B tests to fine-tune messaging and visuals
Worked with our analytics team to tweak and improve performance
Social Media Strategy
Toolset: Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Meta Business Suite,
Social media is where the community comes to life. I helped shape UST’s voice online with thoughtful, mission-aligned content that sparked engagement and built connection.
What I did:
Insured the most compelling and timely events were posted to generate excitement
Designed custom graphics, animations, and story content
Helped boost engagement and reach with a smart content schedule that balanced campus updates with culture building features
Print Collateral
Toolset: Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator
An original illustration I created for a St. Thomas Aquinas prayer card
From admissions viewbooks to campus signage and department brochures, I redesigned a ton of UST’s print materials. I focused on keeping the look and feel consistent with our digital brand while making everything feel clean, modern, and readable.
What I did:
Redesigned View books and department-specific brochures, campus signage, annual reports, commencement programs, and worship aids
Created clean, easy-to-use templates for teams across campus
Made sure print and digital design felt like one cohesive system
What I Loved About This Work
Working at UST gave me the chance to create design that does more than look good—it connects people to purpose. Each project was a chance to blend strategy, storytelling, and creativity, all in service of a mission I truly believe in.