Chris Whetstine – Chief Learning Officer
Experienced in curriculum planning, student success strategies, and program development. Skilled in designing educational solutions, tracking progress, and fostering collaboration among students, faculty, and stakeholders. Expertise in aligning instructional content with industry standards, managing academic policies, and leveraging certification frameworks. Passionate about optimizing learning experiences through innovative instructional design.
Leadership & Expertise
✔ Strategic Learning Solutions – Develop instructional design strategies aligned with organizational goals.
✔ Course & Curriculum Development – Create competency-based, engaging, and interactive learning experiences.
✔Online Program Management –Drive seamless program delivery while incorporating cutting-edge educational technology and Open Educational Resources (OER) for cost-effective learning solutions.
✔ LMS & Digital Transformation – Building and managing courses in proprietary LMS platforms, ensuring seamless integration of content, assessments, and interactive learning experiences.
✔ Faculty & Corporate Training – Providing best-practice training for faculty, corporate teams, and leadership.
✔Faculty & Student Support – Experienced in facilitating courses in Skills for Learning in an Information Age and Organizational Behavior Management.
✔Lifelong Learning & Micro-Credentials – Developing professional development programs and micro-credential courses tailored to industry demands, equipping learners with future-ready skills.
✔ Enterprise Learning Solutions – Overseeing large-scale course development, platform migrations, and instructional initiatives.
✔ Innovation & Thought Leadership – Driving edtech adoption and instructional design trends to improve engagement and retention.
Enterprise Learning & Platform Migration
- Led the migration of 1,600+ courses to a new LMS, developing protocols, training programs, and usability testing to ensure a seamless transition.
- Created style guides, instructional templates, and standardized workflows for content consistency and scalability.
- Designed and facilitated high-impact faculty and staff training, ensuring the successful adoption of new learning systems.
Education & Credentials
- M.A.Ed. in Adult Education and Training (AET)
- M.M. in Management
- B.S.M. in Management, Public Administration, and Communication
Passionate about transforming learning experiences, I help organizations implement innovative, effective, and engaging instructional design strategies.
Karina Whetstine – Strategic Learning Consultant & Learning Experience Design Expert
With over 18 years of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, and online learning, I create engaging, results-driven educational experiences for higher education and corporate clients. My expertise includes course design, faculty support, and project management, ensuring high-quality learning solutions that drive student success.
As a Principal Instructional Designer, I have led multi-million-dollar U.S. Department of Education grants, including the First in the World Grant and NISGTC, overseeing large-scale curriculum development, instructional design teams, and digital learning initiatives. I collaborate with stakeholders, SMEs, deans, chairs, and executives to design high-impact courses that align with competencies and industry needs.
Leadership & Expertise
✔ Instructional Design & Curriculum Development – Designed 100+ OER and competency-based courses, incorporating evidence-based engagement and retention strategies and courses across all higher ed levels (associate to doctoral).
✔ Authentic Assessments & Learning Experience Design – Developed hands-on assessments for real-world application and competency mastery.
✔ LMS & Digital Learning – Built and optimized courses in Canvas, Brightspace, Blackboard, CourseArc, Rise, and proprietary LMSs, leveraging interactive courseware and branded content.
✔ Faculty & Student Support – Experienced in facilitating courses in Professional Development, Customer Service, Critical Thinking, Skills for Learning in an Information Age, and New Student Orientation, fostering student engagement and success.
✔ Project & Stakeholder Management – Led cross-functional teams, conducted quality reviews, and implemented scalable instructional solutions for higher ed and corporate training.
Education & Certifications
- M.A. Training and Learning Technologies
- B.A. Communication
- Quality Matters: Applying the QM Rubric Certification
Passionate about innovative learning solutions, I thrive in fast-paced, collaborative environments, delivering strategic and engaging educational experiences that empower learners and institutions alike.
Krista Rae Mesa Ortega – Learning Experience Designer
I specialize in developing engaging, scalable, and results-driven educational solutions for higher education, corporate training, and workforce development. With experience in curriculum planning, student success strategies, and program development, I align instructional content with industry standards, academic policies, and certification frameworks to optimize learning experiences.
Leadership & Expertise
✔ Strategic Learning Solutions – Design instructional strategies that enhance engagement, retention, and student success.
✔ Course & Curriculum Development – Develop competency-based, interactive, and outcome-driven learning experiences.
✔ LMS & Digital Transformation – Implement and optimize courses in multiple LMS platforms for seamless learning.
✔ Faculty & Stakeholder Collaboration – Work with students, faculty, and leadership teams to foster collaboration and innovation.
✔ Academic Policies & Certification Alignment – Ensure courses align with industry standards, accreditation requirements, and best practices.
✔ Psychology & Learning Science Integration – Leverage insights from psychology and learning science to drive behavioral engagement and knowledge retention.
Education & Credentials
- ABD, Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology (Technology, Learning & Psychology)
- M.S. Psychology & Chemical Dependency
- B.S. Chemical Dependency
Passionate about optimizing learning experiences, I help organizations design and implement innovative instructional strategies that enhance learner success and engagement.