About Me

When I first applied to the M.S. in IDD&E, I described myself this way in my statement of purpose:

The experience and certifications I earned as a software trainer led me to the instructional development side of the house as a training consultant working full-time for consulting companies specializing in human performance and organizational change management. Such companies make their bread and butter taking on the task of developing and delivering end user training in large-scale ERP implementations. It’s an important niche to fill: often, organizations bring in a third party-implementer to do the technical tasks such as system configuration and architecture, security, and system testing, yet those implementers often don’t have the knowledge or resources to train adult front-end users effectively. … The role of training consultant, a role I’ve held for about 18 years now, brings together all the writing, presentation, and public speaking skills I’ve developed into one package. The role demands something else …: a strong desire to, rather than achieve my goals, help others achieve their goals.

If I were content with being a consultant, I would carry that career through to the finish line. But I’m never 100% content. Besides wanting the theoretical background to complement my practical experience in this field, it’s been a long-held goal of mine to earn a terminal degree. Initially my intent was to pursue a Ph.D or Ed.D in instructional design after I complete this degree. However, after taking IDE 611 Technology for Instructional Settings, I find I have an interest in this area also, and even have come up with a couple of ideas for possible research and dissertation topics. (Not saying what they are here—I don’t want anyone stealing my ideas!) Only after I complete all required courses will I have a clear idea of the next academic step to pursue.

In between the M.S. and the doctorate, I probably will return to the workforce, both for financial reasons and to put into practice the theories and practical applications I am gaining from this entire curriculum.

Retirement? …That’s not a thing in my world.