Chrystal's Biography

Instructure's Educator of the Year (2022)

Chrystal Trapani is the Lead Instructional Technologist: Digital Accessibility Architect and an adjunct instructor in the Department of English at Old Dominion University. She is a doctoral candidate at Old Dominion University in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies in the Instructional Design and Technology program. Her doctoral research investigates two critical areas in the field: the scarcity of digital accessibility training within instructional design programs and the institutional challenges of achieving compliance in online higher education learning environments.

Chrystal blends her experience working with first-generation and non-traditional students, curriculum development, creating interactive and accessible online course content, and training faculty to help them achieve positive student outcomes and success. In working with faculty, she helps her colleagues gain a strong, working knowledge of how to make course content successful for students of all learning abilities.