About

Richard has worked as an educator from the high school level through to post-graduate programs; a designer and illustrator for projects ranging from children’s early reading materials to album covers; and most recently as a technical specialist working on international democracy, rights, and governance programs to support data-driven assessment and decision making.

He now does UX Design and Research.

Richard believes that:

  • Communities and the people in them are the core motivation for the work we do

  • Play is fundamental to learning

  • Everyone can draw

His favorite projects have included researching Ainu and Inca folklore, constructing puppets for theater productions, and assembling a pirate map and buried treasure for his son to discover.

CAREER EXPERIENCE

Lead Game Designer. January 2017 – Present

Melampo Games. Washington, DC

Conceptualize, design, and develop board and tabletop games that emphasize innovative mechanics and narrative-driven  experiences. Oversee the full product lifecycle from ideation to localization. Focus on creating engaging, user-centered experiences for diverse audiences.

  • Develop and iterate prototypes through playtesting cycles, ensuring balance, engagement, and thematic coherence.

  • Create system-agnostic tabletop RPG resources, including puzzles, game artifacts, and quick-build guides for character and world development.

Regional Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Lead. July 2022 – April 2025

National Democratic Institute. Washington, DC

Managed the design and continuous improvement of democracy and governance programs in the Latin America region. Led collaborative evaluation sessions, developed monitoring and evaluation systems, and ensured data-driven decision-making across multiple teams. Emphasis on human-centered design, adaptive management, and knowledge sharing.

  • Developed and maintained M&E systems and logic models for 10+ country and regional portfolios, improving program accountability and learning.

  • Supported 40+ proposals and program extensions for United States Government-funded programs to sustain a $22.9 million portfolio.

  • Facilitated learning for 100+ staff and partners via communities of practice at the regional, specialist, and organization-wide levels, and regular check-ins with individuals and country teams.

Research and Evaluation Manager. January 2022 – May 2022

Visible Network Labs. Denver, CO (Remote)

Managed social network analysis research to support client needs for a range of projects related to health, education, and development.

  • Managed 3+ simultaneous social network analysis research projects, interfacing with clients to understand business parameters and then designing & implementing surveys to analyze network health.

  • Provided UX design feedback and troubleshooting support for proprietary research platforms.

  • Delivered client presentations and findings reports, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and actionable insights.

Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist. August 2019 – December 2021

Freedom House. Washington, DC

Led the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems for international democracy and human rights programs in the Latin America region. Supported proposal development and facilitated training workshops for global teams, ensuring a user-centered approach to data collection and analysis.

  • Developed and maintained M&E systems and logic models for 5+ country and regional portfolios, improving program accountability and learning.

  • Supported 10+ proposals and program extensions for United States Government-funded programs to bring in $5.5 million in funding.

  • Facilitated learning for 20+ staff and partners, increasing capacity for data-driven decision-making.

Ecosystems Analyst. July 2013 – January 2017

Root Change. Washington, DC

Facilitated capacity-building and network analysis for NGOs in global contexts. Developed signature approaches to social network analysis. Designed participatory workshops and simulations to enhance collaboration. Provided technical support for remote teams.

  • Worked remotely and in-country in East and Southeast Asia, East and West Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe.

  • Led network analysis workshops and initiatives for groups of 80+ NGOs, improving collaboration and sustainability.

  • Created simulations that increased systems understanding and tested product prototypes in developing contexts.

EDUCATION

M.A., International Policy and Conflict Resolution. Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Monterey, CA. 2013

B.A., Asian Languages and Civilizations. Amherst College. Amherst, MA. 2006

TECHNICAL and LANGUAGE SKILLS

Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Suite, Office Suite, NodeXL, ORA

English (native, professional), Spanish (native, professional), Japanese (conversational)

CERTIFICATES

Google UX Design Professional Certificate (Coursera 2025)

Dynamic Network Analysis and Computational Organization Theory (Carnegie Mellon 2016)

Facilitator Training Program (TRG 2016)

Development Project Management Institute (Middlebury Institute of International Studies 2013)

CONTRIBUTOR

Methods. Community network analysis research consulting (Virginia Commonwealth University, 2025)

Researcher. Civic Network Analysis (CNA): A Guide for Strategy and Action in Restrictive Contexts (Pact 2023)

Panelist. Introducing Petronia: A Launch and Discussion on Gaming for Good Governance (NRGI / Open Gov Hub 2018)

Writer. Becoming a Knowledge-Sharing Organization (The World Bank, 2016)

Researcher. New Directions in Local Capacity Development (USAID, 2013)

Let’s Work Together