At the heart of my work is a deep passion for teaching, learning, and continuous innovation. I’m driven by the belief that education has the power to transform lives—and that intentional, well-designed learning experiences are key to unlocking that potential. Whether I’m guiding students through complex instructional design principles or exploring emerging technologies like AI, I aim to create meaningful, inclusive, and practical learning environments that empower both learners and educators.
My research fuels my teaching, and my teaching inspires my research. I’m particularly drawn to exploring how artificial intelligence, learning analytics, and digital media can enhance instructional design practices and improve learner outcomes. I thrive on bridging the gap between theory and application—translating evidence-based strategies into real-world solutions that support scalable, sustainable learning across higher education and professional development contexts.
As an instructor in the M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology program at UMGC, I teach a series of courses that prepare aspiring and experienced professionals to design effective, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences. My teaching spans foundational theory and practical application—from analyzing learner needs and applying adult learning principles in LDTC 600: Learning Theories and Learner Analysis, to exploring and applying design models like ADDIE, SAM, and UbD in LDTC 605: Instructional Design Models. In LDTC 610: Instructional Media, I guide students in developing multimedia content using design and accessibility principles to support diverse learners. I also facilitate LDTC 650: Instructional Strategy and Practice in Online Learning, where students explore best practices for virtual instruction, including learner engagement, feedback strategies, and inclusive teaching methods. Finally, in LDTC 690: Capstone, I mentor students as they synthesize their learning into a real-world instructional design project and develop a professional portfolio to showcase their expertise.
I regularly lead faculty development workshops at Penn State focused on instructional design, online teaching strategies, and the integration of emerging technologies such as generative AI. These workshops are designed to empower faculty and staff with practical tools and strategies to enhance learning experiences across disciplines. Topics have included course blueprinting, multimedia best practices, accessibility and UDL, assessment design, and using AI to streamline course creation and personalize instruction. My approach emphasizes collaboration, hands-on exploration, and real-world application, helping educators feel confident in applying what they’ve learned to their own courses and programs.
My research lies at the intersection of instructional design and artificial intelligence, with a focus on how emerging technologies can enhance the design, delivery, and effectiveness of learning experiences. I explore how AI tools can support instructional designers, educators, and organizations in creating scalable, accessible, and personalized learning environments.
I am particularly interested in the practical integration of generative AI into the instructional design workflow—leveraging tools for content generation, multimedia production, learner support, and data-informed decision-making. My work investigates how AI can accelerate course development while maintaining pedagogical integrity and promoting inclusive design practices. This includes the ethical use of AI, its role in faculty development, and the development of frameworks for responsibly integrating AI into instructional ecosystems.
By combining research-based instructional strategies with innovative technologies, my goal is to drive forward-thinking practices that improve learner engagement, support faculty adoption, and ensure quality across digital learning environments.
