Biography

My name is Catherine and I'm a learning and development specialist focused on educational technology and instructional design for educators in adult-learning environments. I'm a current doctoral student in the University of San Francisco's School of Education Learning & Instruction doctoral program. I’m passionate about the field of educational technology, its potential to make education more accessible for all students, and investigating the benefits and risks associated with the educational technology ecosystem today.

I completed a Master’s degree in Educational Technology at the University of San Francisco, where I was selected to be a School of Education Student Ambassador, and also hold a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Chicago. I have teaching experience as an adjuct faculty member in the USF EdTech graduate program. 

I’m also currently a full-time instructional designer at the University of California, Berkeley. I work with faculty members to design the learning experiences for online and onsite continuing education courses. Outside of my formal career, I’m dedicated to building community in all the spaces I inhabit. On the UC Berkeley campus, I’m currently a co-chair of the Instructional Design Community of Practice, as well as one of the leads working to establish a new Filipinx Faculty & Staff Association. I’m also a member of the educational committee of an Oakland-based, grassroots community organization for Filipina women and TGNC people.

Previously, I worked for Google for Education, where I created and managed instructional resources for higher education faculty members on how to use technology to increase student engagement and learning. I also held a role as a Training Program Lead at YouTube, where I used digital learning management systems to create and assess adult-learning programs — including using instructional design skills in course design and delivery, developing learning objectives, and crafting assessments. 

I’m deeply invested in public education and providing the best learning experience for students — whether they’re undergraduate or graduate students attending class on campus, professional students logging into online courses, or community members coming together to deepen their knowledge of a social justice topic.