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Educator | Musician | Learning Designer
Background & Goals
When I began as an Assistant Professor at Northeastern Illinois University twenty years ago, I had no formal training in course design for classroom teaching. Over time, I discovered that thoughtful course design can reshape both the teaching process and the learning experience. Now, as a tenured professor, I teach music, design and redesign my own courses, and support colleagues in improving theirs.
My work with the university’s Center for Teaching and Learning as a Faculty Mentor, along with my experience as an instructional designer for E-Content Consulting, confirmed my passion for creating effective and engaging learning experiences. This interest led me to pursue formal study in instructional design through the ISLT program at Florida State University.
After graduating from FSU, my goal is to apply my instructional design knowledge more intentionally within my current teaching and mentoring roles while also beginning to offer freelance instructional design services. I look forward to continuing to bridge my experience in higher education with my growing expertise in learning design.
Professional Experience & Education

Professor of Music

Northeastern Illinois University (2004–Present) Progressed from Assistant to Full Professor, designing and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in music education, performance, and pedagogy. Integrated adult learning theory, authentic assessments, and student choice into course design. Developed and led an online music pedagogy course certified by Quality Matters. Founded and direct the Chicago Clarinet Ensemble, fostering collaborative performance and learning. Advised music education majors on degree planning and licensure preparation. Currently Serve as a Faculty Mentor in the Center for Teaching and Learning, supporting campus-wide initiatives. Contributed to the First-Year Experience (FYE) curriculum and developed the FYE Faculty Resource Hub. Teach MUS 109 - First Year Experience + Music Concepts Listening Break Select the clarinet to hear me play "I Got Rhythm" by Gershwin

Instructional Designer

E-Content Consulting (March 2022 - October 2023) Freelance | Remote Contributed to instructional design projects primarily for clients in the transportation industry, including state Departments of Transportation. Collaborated with senior instructional designers to develop web-based training for technical audiences. Wrote detailed design plans, created storyboards in PowerPoint, and translated complex content into instructionally sound formats. Participated in design review cycles with project managers, subject matter experts, and peers. Instructional Design Internship (Spring '25 semester) Gained hands-on experience across all phases of the ADDIE model. Reviewed SME intake documentation to define training goals and constraints. Drafted and revised course design plans, developed storyboards, and built sample slides in Articulate Storyline. Observed LMS implementation processes and contributed to evaluation tasks, including writing knowledge checks and documenting SME feedback.

Certifications

Quality Matters Master Reviewer (2021–Present) Reviewed or chaired over 30 online and hybrid courses across disciplines. Focus on course alignment, accessibility, and learner engagement using the Quality Matters Rubric Quality Matters Peer Reviewer (2019–Present)

Education: A Lifelong Learning Journey (1989-2025)

Bachelor of Music Clarinet Performance DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois 1989 Master of Music Clarinet Performance University of Akron, Ohio 1992 Doctor of Musical Arts Clarinet Performance University of Wisconsin–Madison 2004 Master of Science Instructional Systems & Learning Technologies Florida State University Expected December 2025

Program of Study at Florida State University