About Me

Hey! I'm Becca.

I'm a Software Engineer at CoStar Group in Richmond, VA, and a Virginia Tech graduate with a B.S. in Computer Science and a Minor in Human-Computer Interaction. I got into this field because I wanted to combine art and creativity with engineering, and that's still what drives me. I care just as much about how something feels to use as I do about how it's built.

These days I'm leading the front-end architecture for a rebuild of Advanced Search at CoStar, where I get to design systems that make complex workflows feel intuitive for thousands of users. It's the kind of work where my CS brain and my design brain get to be in the same room, and I love it.

When I'm not coding, I'm usually making something with my hands (pottery, watercolor, crochet) or falling down a Pinterest rabbit hole looking for my next project.

Resume

Updated as of September 5, 2026

Stuff that I love:

Wildlife Photography

I've loved animals and nature my whole life, and wildlife photography is how that shows up in my creative world. I especially love birding and bird photography, and it's something I share with my family, particularly my dad.

Lately my favorite spot has been Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in the Outer Banks, which is home to an incredible conservation effort for the critically endangered red wolf.

When I can save up enough PTO, I try to make a week-long trip to Yellowstone every other year. It's my absolute favorite place on earth, and the biodiversity there is unreal. For me, wildlife photography is about more than just getting a good shot. It's about promoting a love for wildlife and drawing attention to conservation efforts that matter.

You can check out my work on Instagram at @bex.takes.pics.

Pottery

Pottery is one of my newer creative outlets and I'm completely hooked. There's something really satisfying about starting with a lump of clay and turning it into something functional or beautiful (or both). I've been especially into sgraffito lately, which is a technique where you carve designs through a layer of colored slip to reveal the clay underneath. I'm always on Pinterest looking at new shapes, glaze combinations, and patterns to try next.

Art

Art is a huge passion of mine. I grew up drawing and painting, and in middle school and high school, I did multiple murals for my schools. My favorite medium is probably watercolor, but I've always wanted to try my hand at oil painting. I also love crochet and embroidery, and every now and then I'll do some digital art too. Basically if it involves making something with my hands, I'm in. Fun fact: I made all of the art/backgrounds for this website!

Acrylic painting of a strawberry frog

Scratchboard drawing of an owl

Acrylic painting of my grandpa and me when I was a toddler

Plants & Horticulture

I have always loved collecting houseplants and livening up my home with greenery, but after working as a nursery cashier at Cross Creek Nursery, my interest grew tenfold.

I learned so much about horticulture and plant care during my time working at Cross Creek Nursery that it inspired me to pursue a Minor in Horticulture alongside my CS major and HCI minor. I wasn't able to quite squeeze in all of the courses for a minor considering how different they were from the rest of my courses, but it is something I am really passionate about, so I took as many classes as I could fit in my schedule.

Cooking

I love to cook! I'm completely self-taught, with a little help from my parents, and I love to learn new recipes. My favorite thing to make (and eat) is pasta. Specifically, homemade pasta: the dough, sauce, everything.