Portfolio

⦿slide left: unique slide decks, websites, and white papers.

Sonja Howell and Rufus Glasper, President and CEO Award Celebration at the League of Innovation Conference 3/17/26

AI by Design presentation sharing faculty experiences at League of Innovation Conference on 3/16/20

Ribbon Cutting 11/4/2025 - Center for Innovation, Jackson College

TRENDS Conference 2025: FRAME Model. Helping vocational educators understand how and where to find valid AI for students to experience.

Local educator and author Dr. Sonja L. Howell joined us to talk about her new book Feel It! — Feel It: Wake Up From the Lull and the science behind emotional numbness.

Televised interview on JTV’s Bart Hawley Show, discussing the TEDxJackson College event, By MI Desig — Dr. Sonja Howell discusses TEDxJackson College on JTV, sharing insights on community collaboration and leadership.

Dr. Newberry and Dr. Howell presenting at — Artificial Intelligence - TRENDS in Occupational Studies Conference 10/2023 - Click for slide deck.

Dr. Howell presenting at — Equity and Interactions - MI Canvas Users Conference 9/2023 - Click for slide deck.

Michigan Parent Spring Magazine — Transformative Mindset Instructional Design (TMID) Case Study Report. 6/2023 - Click to read the article.

Lenawee County Justice Committee June of 2023 — Transformative Mindset Instructional Design (TMID) Case Study Report 6/2023 - Click to view the video.

Training for Corporate and Continuing Education, Higher Education, and K-12. — Instructional Design Certified Educator Program (IDCE) 1/2023 - Click to visit the Corporate and Continuing Education Jetway Website.

PHD Dissertation — Transformative Mindset Instructional Design (TMID) White Papers 12/2022- Click to download.

Effectiveness of Instructional Design and Technology in a Non-Traditional Parental Program: An Embed — Dissertation Defense Presentation 11/2022 - Click for slide deck.

My Education

My work centers on instructional design that blends technology, equity, and emotional intelligence to create meaningful learning systems. I’ve led projects in accessibility, workforce development, and curriculum innovation rooted in community impact. My doctoral research, Effectiveness of Instructional Design and Technology in a Non-Traditional Parental Program (Liberty University, 2022), examined how design methods influence engagement and peacebuilding for parents in trauma-informed programs. The findings informed the development of my Transformative Mindset Instructional Design (TMID) model, which I published in the book, reminding others to "Feel It," with a focus on clarity, creativity, and care. This approach ensures learning remains effective, accessible, and deeply human.

Image of transformative mindset instructional instructional design intervention methods to help adul

My Skills

I bring expertise in instructional design models such as ADDIE, SAMR, and Bloom’s Taxonomy, using each to build purposeful and effective learning experiences. My work incorporates interactive elements, such as gamification, microlearning, and competency-based mapping, to enhance engagement and outcomes. I design platforms using tools like Adobe Captivate and Canvas, incorporating AI, augmented reality, and virtual reality into content that is both visually engaging and accessible. Every design is grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to ensure inclusivity is built in from the start.

My Experience

I approach every day with a smile... My career spans corporate, K–12, higher education, and nonprofit leadership. In every role, I have focused on innovation, communication, and impact. I have led transitions to new learning technologies, used data to enhance instruction, secured grant funding, and expanded participation in programs that matter.

I work closely with students, faculty, and community partners to design systems that respond to real needs. My commitment to lifelong learning and belief in the power of education guide every step I take.

⦿Marketing & Communications

My marketing and communications career began in 1992 at Jacobson's, one of the nation's premier department store retailers, where I built my foundation using industry-leading creative software of the time, including QuarkXPress, Streamline, and the early Adobe Creative Suite. As technology evolved, so did my expertise, expanding to today's Adobe Creative Cloud and modern platforms supporting brand

Image of the Tranuil Studio's Creative Map website.

Creators Map – Designed, developed, and managed the Creators Map website using WordPress hosted through GoDaddy. Developed the site's architecture, branding, page layouts, and content strategy while applying Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) principles to improve discoverability across traditional search engines and AI-powe

Center for Innovation Blog – Developed and managed blog content for the Center for Innovation. Created original written content, created images, optimized page layouts, and applied SEO (Search Engine Optimization), AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) principles to improve search visibility and AI discoverability. Collaborated within the existing website desig

YouTube & Podcast Content Management – Managed YouTube content for the Center for Innovation at Jackson College and the Creators Map Podcast. Planned, produced, and published educational videos and podcast episodes, including titles, descriptions, thumbnails, transcripts, playlists, and metadata. Optimized video and podcast content using SEO (Search Engine Optimization), AEO (Answer Engine Optimiz

LinkedIn Content Management – Planned, created, and managed professional LinkedIn content for the Center for Innovation at Jackson College, Creators Map, and personal professional thought leadership. Developed original articles, promotional posts, event announcements, educational content, branded graphics, and multimedia assets designed to increase engagement, strengthen organizational visibility,

Facebook Content Management – Managed Facebook business pages for SimplyHers, Creators Map, TEDxJackson College, and Content Designer (paid professional profile). Planned and executed content calendars, created branded graphics, wrote engaging copy, promoted products and services, supported community engagement, and developed marketing campaigns aligned with each organization's goals and audience.

⦿Instructional Design

5-Day AI Challenge – AI for Educators Advanced: This self-led challenge is designed for instructors ready to go beyond the basics of AI. Over five focused days, you’ll explore five core techniques of effective course design while being introduced to 26 advanced AI tools.

Lead Instructor
Instructional Designer

Over 100 students per semester.

The Welcome to Canvas course helps students in higher education prepare to use Canvas and techniques to be successful online students.
Course Design Rationale⬇
Lead Instructor
Instructional Designer

Over 950 students per semester.

Website URL: https://canvas.instructure.com/register

Course code: BTGF7F

Intro to Computer Software Systems course image

The Intro to Computer Software Systems course for Guangdong, China's international students, emphasizes total inclusion, global awareness, and technology expertise, shaping tech-savvy global citizens.

Course Design Rationale⬇

Lead Instructor
Instructional Designer

50 - 65 students per semester.

Course code: AYRPX3

Tranquil Parenting equips parents with conflict resolution and coping skills, fostering their transformation into the parents they aspire to be. This course instructs and evaluates parents' growth in promoting smoother family transitions.

Course Design Rationale⬇

Volunteer Instructor
Instructional Designer

Enrollment is court mostly ordered.

Course code: 6JRCN7