About Me

Hi, I'm Amanda. My pronouns are she, her. I currently work as a Learning Experience Designer at the University of Southern California (USC). Formerly, I was an instructional technologist at a small, prestigious liberal arts college. Before that, I served as an instructional designer at a large community college, where I was also a faculty member. 

At my core, I am a lifelong teacher and learner who thrives on challenges. I delight in meeting learners where they are and helping them move beyond. I taught in higher ed for over a decade, mainly in communications/English and student development courses. My teaching and instructional design philosophies center on learners' needs, inclusive and equitable practices, and a firm belief that a pedagogy of care yields results. 

I apply my experience in teaching adult learners, authoring and editing content, developing online competency-aligned curriculum, and implementing instructional technologies to provide high-quality, relevant, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences.

This portfolio includes some of my diverse professional writing and instructional design work samples, highlighting my interests and passions: 

• Supporting diverse faculty and learners

• Researching and implementing innovative educational technologies that meet a need 

• Documenting and organizing processes

• Collaborating with others and sharing in accessible formats to benefit all

• Designing engaging content and assessments that make learning accessible and fun

On a more personal note, some things I like to do include hiking (a primary reason I moved to SoCal!), hanging out with my family and friends, snuggling my pup, crocheting, working out/lifting weights, baking, playing board games, and, of course, learning! 

If you have questions or would like to learn more, please contact me. 

Education

• 15 additional graduate credits in Education from Drake University

  • Coursework: instructional design, blended learning, assessment tech tools, vocabulary instruction, and educational neuroscience and psychology 

• M.A. in English: Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication from Iowa State University  

• B.A. in Communication Studies with a minor in Spanish from the University of Calgary

Certifications

• Document Accessibility from Deque University

• Customer Service for People with Disabilities from Deque University

• Accessibility for Designers from Deque University

• The Learning and Development Superclass from Josh Bersin Academy

• The HR Consultant: A Masterclass with Bill Pelster from Josh Bersin Academy