Professional Experience
Instructional Designer
UNC Blue Sky Innovations
May 2022 – Present
- Designed, developed curriculum, and delivered learning strategy and product for immersive virtual reality and e-learning program on diversity, equity, and inclusion for multinational investment management & financial services business using mind-mapping tools from design, video editing, and video production.
- Partnered with subject matter experts to gather and structure learning content that promotes equitable and inclusive practices and accessibility by providing clear, concise, engaging, and sensitively written materials for a wide-ranging audience based on adult-learning principles and educational psychology.
- Conducted research on a variety of multimedia including web and software applications. Wrote comparison reviews to meet client instructional needs.
- Led a multidimensional workforce development project, from design to implementation that met the requirements of scale & sustainability for the client using project management tools.
- Project management experience with a 5-member cross-functional (film, engineering, UX/UI, marketing) team; overseeing quality assurance for instruction and courses.
- Developed training materials, including presentations, e-learning modules, and participant guides.
- Coordinate with subject matter experts and business partners to ensure the accuracy and relevance of training content. Including researching, brainstorming, developing, implementing, and evaluating innovative and pedagogically-sound solutions for addressing instructional challenges within training materials.
- Course management and administration in Canvas and Moodle; Input and tracked learner activity completions in the LMS and generate reports for the team.
- Strong attention to detail, organized and scheduled training programs, workshops, and seminars for employees. Handled multiple priorities and time-critical project deadlines.
Marketing Manager
Sparrowood Jewelers
November 2018 – July 2022
- Planned and forecasted marketing campaigns, created, and edited all online content, increasing monthly interactions by 362% leading to an increase in total sales by 42%.
- Revamped website flows and navigation menus, reducing the frequency of misdirected customer service queries by 60% and increasing traffic to previously neglected pages.
- Analyzed market trends, customer demands, and preferences to develop marketing strategies.
- Administered daily training sessions for new employees to promote collective success and provided feedback on all training operations.
Elementary Teacher
Wake County Public School System
August 2017 – November 2018
- Taught and developed instructional materials for multiple interdisciplinary subjects that aligned with state standards in a classroom setting.
- Created and implemented blended learning solutions including creating and editing online videos with Adobe software.
- Collected and analyzed data from key assessments for 25 students providing personalized learning plans.
Elementary Teacher
Durham Public Schools
August 2016 – July 2017
- Planned and provided personalized reading intervention for 36 fifth graders daily.
- Met with and supported students and families to reach social, emotional, and academic goals providing support to individuals and their communities.
- Developed instructional content aligned to standards, tracked progress in all areas, and adjusted content to best meet student needs.
- Coached within the non-profit club “Girls On The Run” to manage the demands of social, emotional, and physical challenges in students’ everyday lives.
Publications
Willard, W.G.R., Van Dam, B., Bermiss, Y.S., Nwogu, C.T., Viernes, N.A., King, S. (2023) How Simulating Difficult Conversations in Virtual Reality Around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benefits Interpersonal Skills Training. In T. Cherner & A. Fegely (Eds.), Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education
Conference Presentations
Willard, W.G.R. (2023, July 28). Introduction to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Course Design [Presentation]. Masters of Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Innovation Showcase and AI Forum on Education. Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
King, S.T & Willard, W.G.R. (2023, June 4-6). Virtual Reality and the Future of Training [Invited Presentation]. 1st Annual Meeting of the Global XR Management Community. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Willard, W.G.R. (2023, March 13-17). Bridging the XR Technology-to-Practice Gap: XR Presence, Communication, and Engagement [Symposium]. Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference. New Orleans, LA, United States
Willard, W.G.R. (2023, February 13-15). Interpersonal Skills Training for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through Virtual Reality: Design Features, Considerations, and Recommendations [Pecha Kucha]. Digital Learning Annual Conference. Austin, TX, United States
Projects
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Virtual Reality Training Program | Spring 2023
- Why Wait? Product designed to reduce wait time for Carolina Panthers and Verizon 5G | Spring 2023
- Ronald McDonald House Charity Makerspace Design | Spring 2023
- Aha! Reading a product designed to support at-home reading comprehension | Spring 2023
Volunteer
Life Group Leader at NewHope Church
December 2019 – Present
- Fostered a community with women aged 18-35 during one of the most isolating periods in our lives with the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Grew our membership 25% during 2020.
- Hosted events in-person and online to help the homeless, preserve nature trails, and support refugee relief efforts.
- Fostered a sense of purpose and created an environment that is accepting and also developed leadership skills in other members.
Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Master of Arts in Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship
University of Florida
Master of Arts in Elementary Education
University of Florida
Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education