Our People

Director

Dr. Lisa Giacumo is an Associate Professor in the Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) department of the College of Engineering and Boise State University. She directs the lab and focuses on the MarCC R&D Learning Tech Group by collaborating with clients, OPWL students, graduates, and faculty members, as well as other students and faculty at other universities.

She teaches needs assessment, instructional design, rapid e-learning development and storyboarding, scenario-based e-learning design, mentoring systems in organizations, principles of adult learning, and foundations of performance improvement.

Lead Global Researcher/Assistant Director

Michelle Green (she/her) graduated from Whitworth University in 2009 with her B.A. in Political Science and International Studies. Previously she taught English in Japan as part of the JET program, and has recently left a career in Banking and Finance to pursue a Masters in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning. She has a passion for organizational development, sustainability, and equity. 

Michelle focuses her studies on cutting edge technology and multicultural research in the hopes to provide her services to organizations with a global footprint. As Assistant Director of the MarCC Lab she helps focus and set priorities for each semester, and actively works to increase lab members’ morale and motivation.

Senior Researcher

Dr. Fan Xu (she/her) is a Senior Learning Designer in the Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE) of theCollege of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University. She got her Ph.D. degree in the Educational Studies doctor program at The Ohio State University, specializing in Learning Technologies. Her work focuses on designing and developing technology-enhanced learning experiences for Ohio’s underrepresented groups. Her research interests include learning design, learning analytics, collaborative learning, etc.

Lead organizational performance consultant
Last involved Spring 2021

Lenz Bayas (he/him) is an experienced instructional designer whose interests include fostering performance-oriented training, creating learning programs, and facilitating blended learning opportunities. He has worked across various sectors and industries, relying on his expertise in teaching and adult learning to contribute to organizational performance. From 2020 to 2021, Lenz participated in the lab. During this time, he continued to hone his skillset in performance improvement while exploring opportunities to foster culturally appropriate and safe spaces for learners. Lenz also worked on investigating the outcomes of organizational systems designed to support engineers from low income, first generation, and underrepresented backgrounds. Lenz led multiple projects, training, on-boarded new members, and as part of the lab published his work several times at a national conference and in a technical report. He also contributed to a peer reviewed journal article that is in preparation for review.

Lead Learning experience consultant
Last involved Spring 2022

Justin R. Beaudry (he/him) is a Learning Experience Consultant and working towards a Master’s Degree in Boise State’s OPWL program. He has a BS in Mathematics from Springfield College and an MS in Computer and Information Sciences from Sacred Heart University. Upon graduation, he accepted a computer programming role with a large insurance company but quickly transitioned into an instructional designer role. His knowledge of the technical side of software gives him unique insight into how best to utilize eLearning within a blended environment. From 2020 to 2021, Justin participated in the lab. During this time, Justin focused his skill development and continued education on ways to make any topic, regardless of complexity, accessible to all learners by creating great learner experiences. As part of the lab, Justin has been accepted to present her work at a national conference and has published it in a technical report.

Performance Improvement Consultant
Last involved Fall 2021

Erin Gregory (she/her) is an experienced educator in the K-12 system, with additional background working in non-profit development. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in OPWL to transition into the field of organizational development and design. Erin is interested in working with organizations to strengthen individual performance and improve learning and development initiatives while building a strong workplace culture.

Performance Improvement Consultant
Last involved Spring 2022

Michael Cowan (he/him) is a business video producer introducing human performance technologies into his professional skill set. Currently Michael is a full-time graduate student enrolled in Boise State University’s OPWL Workplace Instructional Design certificate program. He intends to use his newfound knowledge to improve learning for the seasoned workforce, enabling those with older skills to feel relevant as they age and be able to more effectively compete in a rapidly changing job market. Michael holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and resides in Seattle with his partner Pam and their kind and above average Labradoodle Stephen.

Lead research investigator
Last involved Fall 2021

Chantel Early (she/her) graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2014 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and earned her graduate certificate in Instructional Design from Boise State in 2021. She is a full-time OPWL Master’s program student and is a Coast Guard Veteran. Chantel resides in Atlantic City, NJ with her husband Tim, and their two dogs, Rey and Maddy. Chantel led multiple projects, training, on-boarded new members and published her work several times at a national conference, in a technical report and has contributed to a peer reviewed journal article that is in preparation for review. Her last project with the MarCC lab resulted in a change management project plan and social media strategy deliverable for our outreach efforts.

Organizational performance consultant
Last involved Spring 2021

Audrey Fisher (she/her) is an educator with over 10 years of experience working with diverse populations in community college and K-12 systems. She is currently working towards a Master’s degree in OPWL to transition into the field of performance improvement where her interests in reducing barriers to success intersects with her love of solving problems. In the future, Audrey hopes to consult with organizations about creating cultures that support diverse workforces with their learning and development efforts. From 2020 to 2021, Audry participated in the lab. During this time, she investigated the organizational systems designed to support low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented engineering students. As part of the lab, Audrey has been accepted to present her work at a national conference and has published it in a technical report.

Performance Improvement Project Manager
Last involved Spring 2022

Lorraine Frazier (she/her) is an award winning instructional designer with 10+ years of adult learning experience. She is in her final semester before completing her Master’s degree in OPWL and a certificate in Workplace Performance Improvement. Her Bachelor’s are in Business Management and Computer Information Systems.

Lorraine is a strategic problem solver with strong empathy for an individual’s needs. Her experience makes her uniquely aware of topics related to DEIJ, and she intentionally seeks opportunities to engage on these topics. She will be supporting the MarCC Lab in its efforts to guide individuals and organizations on the path to more inclusive spaces. After graduation, she plans to serve as a performance improvement consultant.

Human Resources & Universal Learning Design Consultant
Last involved Spring 2022

Stephanie Hartwell (she/her) is a full-time Boise State student who earned her graduate certificate in Instructional Design in 2021 and plans to graduate with an MS in Organizational Performance and Workplace Performance in August 2022. 

She is currently working as an instructional designer under a grant for the California Chancellor’s Office updating accessibility training courses for California Community Colleges faculty and staff. Stephanie hopes to work in a Human Resources role to advocate for more equitable hiring practices and design onboarding experiences that ensure success for all new hires.

Research and Accessible Learning Experience Design Consultant
Last involved Spring 2022

Jessie Laurence (she/her) is an instructional designer and accessibility advocate with 10 years in the field. She is working towards her MS in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning in December 2022. 

Jessie is incredibly passionate about creating inclusive workplace learning environments, reaching learners of all backgrounds and abilities. Her research interests include cross-cultural data collection, accessibility analysis, and diversity within the workplace. After graduating she hopes to continue working with organizations to assess and build inclusive learning environments and communities.

Learning Experience Design Consultant
Last involved Spring 2022

Osemome Ndebbio (she/her) started off her career as an educator. She has garnered experience working with nonprofit organizations to improve health outcomes for communities affected by health inequalities and avoidable disparities due to historical and contemporary injustice and discrimination.  She is working towards a certificate in Workplace eLearning  Development and Design as well as a Masters degree in OPWL.

Osemome’s interests lie in designing learning experiences that level the playing field, so learners feel supported to reach their fullest potential in the workplace regardless of their socio-economic or cultural background.  During her time with the MarCC R&D Learning Tech Group, Osemome will work on designing learning solutions that keep the organization’s culture at the forefront while keeping learners at the center.

Senior research and learning experience design consultant
Last involved Spring 2020

D’Jeane Peters (she/her) was a 2019 graduate of Boise State Master of Science in OPWL, with a graduate certificate in e-learning design. From 2017 until 2021, D’Jeane participated in the lab as a founding member. During this time, her research interests included cross-cultural data collection and analysis, learning evaluation, and creating inclusive learning communities. D’Jeane published numerous conference presentations, articles, and lead several projects.

Senior Lead global research consultant
Last involved Spring 2022

Kendra Peterson (she/her) graduated from her BBA in Business Administration and Entrepreneurial Management with certificates in Nonprofit Management and Sociology. She is currently pursuing Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning with a passion for organizational development, sustainability, and adult learning. Kendra focuses her studies on cross-cultural and multicultural research in the hopes to provide her services in third world developing economies. As Senior Lead of the MarCC R&D Learning Tech Group, she provides assistance to the lab’s organizational culture and helps set organizational objectives each semester. She also provides assistance to Leads and Researchers on project organization, knowledge transfers, and team morale. 

Organizational Performance Consultant
Last involved Fall 2021

Emma Salazar (she/her) graduated from the Universidade Federal de Alagoas (Brazil) with a B.S. in Pedagogy and an Associate Degree in Social and Human Services at Lake Washington Institute of Technology in 2012. She currently works as a Customer Success Project Manager and Internal Onboarding leader at a business analytics software company and is pursuing her master’s degree in OPWL. Emma aims to work with individuals to help them unleash their full potential and feel empowered in their work environment while directly impacting their organization. During this time, Emma focused her skill development and continued education on designing a social media strategy for the lab outreach efforts.

Senior Lead Experience Design and Research Consultant
Last involved Spring 2022

Shweta Shukla (she/her) is an Instructional Designer and working towards a Master’s degree in OPWL. She has also worked as a senior software quality analyst for six years. She aims to develop her career as a learning experience designer and bridge the gap between technology and traditional instructional design. In Lab she worked on investigating the outcomes of organizational systems designed to support engineers from low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented backgrounds. 

Project Coordinator
Last involved Spring 2022

Tasha Smagula (She/Her) is in her final semester of the OPWL M.S. program and is excited to move into a full-time role in the field of organizational performance.

A lifelong Bronco, Tasha also attended Boise State for her undergraduate career and received a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a minor in Sustainability in 2016. She is passionate about socially and environmentally responsible organizations and has aspirations to work for a B-Corp in the future. 

Tasha is excited to continue to grow her project management, research, writing, and presenting skills with her time in the MarCC R&D Learning Tech Group. She will support the group with its marketing and outreach goals.

Follow Tasha on LinkedIn

Human Resources Development Consultant
Last involved Fall 2021

Krista Yadav (she/her) is an HR professional with an extensive background in training and development and talent acquisition. She has a passion for helping others in pursuing their own career goals and seeks to grow further in HR on a consultative basis towards an HR business partner capacity. Krista is working towards her Master’s degree in OPWL, focusing on how we can apply HPI methods to an inclusive workplace. During this time, Krista focused her skill development and continued education on designing a social media strategy for the lab outreach efforts.

Assistant Director
Last involved Spring 2022

Madeleine Yount (she/her) is an Instructional Designer working towards a Master’s degree in OPWL. She was also chosen as a Summer Research Fellow (2021) for the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE). She has an Honors degree in International Development from New College of Florida and is

recognized as a Gilman Scholar. After graduating she became a Lead Training Designer for the Royal Navy’s engineering department in Fareham, UK. She aspires to work in the nonprofit or government sector in support of cross-cultural L & D initiatives. As Assistant Director of the MarCC R&D Learning Tech Group, she works with Dr. Giacumo to support and coordinate Team Leads, influence the Lab’s overall culture and strategy, and provide leadership support. 

Find me on LinkedIn!