✨ Project Sparkle ✨
🍔

Lila James ✨👩‍💻🌙

Hey there! I'm a technologist, educator, and artist with over 15 years of international experience. I’ve taught on six continents, and my work bridges the worlds of science and art.

✨ Portfolio ✨

Teaching & Design Highlights

I've had the honor of designing and teaching programs at a diverse range of institutions:

  • The Adler Planetarium
  • Riverdale Country School – voted best private school in America
  • Mastercard
  • Berkeley Carroll School
  • Chase Bank
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • IBM
  • The Dwight School
  • KPMG
  • P5.js Creative Coding
  • Santander
  • The Flag House Museum
  • My Dog 🐶
Estelle the dog, possibly the best co-teacher ever

🎓 Education

Georgia Institute of Technology 🎓

M.Sc. in Computer Science (2024)

Goucher College 🎓

MA in Cultural Sustainability (2013)

Towson University 📚

B.S. in Sociology (2010)

Currently obtaining **Linux System Administrator Certificate** from the linux foundation

💻 Professional Experience

Unqork 🖥️🌙

Software Engineer | Apr 2020 – 2023

  • Developed and launched fintech applications contributing to over $10M in secured contracts 💰.
  • Engineered proprietary data frameworks to optimize API performance and scalability 📈.
  • Built custom tooling for JavaScript and database interoperability, increasing operational efficiency by 25% 🔧.
  • 🩸 Left to battle blood cancer 🩸

🔬 Graduate Research Experience

Design & Intelligence Lab, Georgia Institute of Technology 🧑‍💻✨

Graduate Researcher | Dec 2023 – Jun 2024

  • Deployed custom LLM-based chat agents using NLP models across three MOOCs, enhancing user engagement 💬.
  • Optimized data pipelines, improving model performance and user experience 🚀.
  • Collaborated in agile development cycles, contributing to code reviews and Git workflows 🔄.
  • Left after graduation

🔮💻 Decoded

Product Manager & Technology Consultant | Aug 2018 – Mar 2020

  • Streamlined client onboarding processes, reducing setup time by 30% ⏱️.
  • Maintained a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of over 80% ⭐.
  • Terminated due to COVID-19

Teaching Experience 📚

🌸📚 Teach For America

Secondary English Teacher | Jun 2013 – Jun 2016

  • Implemented data-driven instruction to address and close learning gaps 📊.
  • Created engaging lesson plans to enhance critical thinking and communication skills 📝.
  • Completed AmeriCorps service term

Dwight School 💻✨

IB Computer Science Teacher | Aug 2016 – Jul 2018

  • Developed Python and Java curricula, increasing enrollment by 300% 📈.
  • Used project-based learning to build algorithm design and problem-solving skills 💡.

💻 Riverdale Country School

Computer Science Teacher | Aug 2023 – Jul 2024

  • Designed and taught advanced courses in Creative CS, Statistics with R, and Creative Tech Projects 🎨💻.
  • Integrated generative art and procedural storytelling into game design classes 🎮✨.
  • Enhanced curriculum with real-world, project-based learning to boost engagement and critical thinking 🔍💡.