{"id":87,"date":"2022-06-20T22:53:48","date_gmt":"2022-06-20T22:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gradstudies.mi.msu.edu\/ux\/?page_id=87"},"modified":"2026-01-20T16:27:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T16:27:46","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gradstudies.mi.msu.edu\/ux\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https:\/\/gradstudies.mi.msu.edu\/ux\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/kelly-sikkema-gcHFXsdcmJE-unsplash1-scaled.jpg” alt=”Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash” title_text=”Writing on a paper prototype” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”6px||12px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”ABOUT THE PROGRAM” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”15px” text_font_size_phone=”13px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.7em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”55px” header_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

About the Director<\/h2>\n

Jeff Siarto has spent his career making complex systems understandable, from teaching accessible design fundamentals to helping NASA scientists improve access to Earth observation data. His career includes authoring two well-regarded O’Reilly books in the Head First series\u2014Web Design and WordPress\u2014and co-founding Loudpixel, an early social media analytics company that helped major brands like New Balance, Radio Flyer, Wrigley, and MillerCoors navigate the emerging social media landscape.
Jeff’s most impactful work has been making complex scientific data accessible and actionable. Since 2013, he’s collaborated with NASA, NOAA, and the USGS to improve their remote sensing data systems, focusing on reducing “time-to-science”\u2014the gap between raw data and scientific insights. As a design lead for NASA’s Earth Observing systems, including projects like Earthdata Search and FilmDrop, he’s helped scientists and researchers worldwide access critical environmental data more efficiently. Jeff is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Media & Information and has been teaching in different capacities across MSU since 2012.<\/p>\n

LinkedIn profile<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Jeff Siarto<\/strong>
Interim Director, UXMS
siartoje@msu.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

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Required Admissions Materials<\/h2>\n

The UXMS program runs two admissions cycles per year: one for the Fall with application deadlines around mid July, and one for the Spring with deadlines in November. Both application cycles require the following materials:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. An official transcript from a 4-year college or university.<\/li>\n
  2. At least one (1) letter of recommendation.<\/li>\n
  3. A resume or CV (portfolios are optional, but highly recommended<\/strong>)<\/li>\n
  4. A personal statement that discusses your career goals and motivation to join the UXMS program.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Tuition & Fees<\/h2>\n

    Program tuition for the upcoming academic year is available at the MSU tuition calculator<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n