University of Rochester

University of Rochester

Frontend development for Simon Business School using custom CMS

Project Overview

Client:
University of Rochester – Simon Business School
Role:
Front-End Web Developer
Industry:
Higher Education

As a contract Front-End Web Developer, I was brought on to enhance the digital presence of the
Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. Working within a Drupal 9 environment,
I was responsible for improving site performance, accessibility, and user experience across the school’s public-facing
web properties. My contributions focused on front-end development, content governance, and collaborative feature
planning with internal stakeholders.

The Challenge

The Simon Business School website needed structural and performance enhancements to support academic departments,
prospective students, and marketing campaigns. Challenges included:

  • Optimizing layouts for mobile and accessibility compliance
  • Improving content governance and permission control within Drupal
  • Delivering scalable, secure updates within an existing site architecture
  • Ensuring performance consistency across browsers and devices

The Approach

Drupal Development & Site Configuration

I utilized Drupal 9 to configure complex content structures, including custom Views, Blocks,
and Layout Builder components. I integrated access control logic using Drupal’s permission system to tailor
content visibility by user role.

Front-End Optimization

Leveraging PHP, HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, I implemented accessible and responsive page
designs that improved both usability and visual consistency. I tested layouts across breakpoints to ensure
mobile-first compatibility.

Governance & Workflow Management

To support internal stakeholders, I managed user roles, permissions, and publishing workflows,
allowing for secure editorial oversight and streamlined content deployment.

Performance & QA

Using Drupal caching and code best practices, I optimized site speed and performance. I
participated in Git-based code reviews, handled pull requests, and tracked tasks via
Asana in an Agile development workflow.

Accessibility Compliance

I advised on WCAG and Section 508 compliance, addressing keyboard navigation, semantic
markup, ARIA roles, and screen reader compatibility.

Results

  • Improved page performance through optimized caching and clean code practices
  • Enhanced mobile usability, resulting in a more intuitive experience across devices
  • Strengthened governance by implementing structured user roles and workflows
  • Delivered an accessible site experience in line with federal and state guidelines
  • Supported a collaborative, Agile team environment using Git and Asana

Simon Business School Website