Hi, I'm Kayla Canfield!
I am a curious, resourceful, and self-directed learner who adapts quickly and stays open to change. I use research, writing, technology, and creative problem-solving to improve processes and create materials that are clear, useful, and audience-centered.
in Higher Education
and Technology (Exp. May 2027)
English & Communications
My Latest Projects
Grief support resources are often text-heavy and emotionally inaccessible. There was a need for an interactive, self-paced learning experience that could guide users through the emotional landscape of loss without overwhelming them.
Designed and built a fully interactive journey map using Twine and custom CSS, applying trauma-informed design principles, UX writing, and instructional scaffolding to create a nonlinear, user-driven experience.
Produced a complete, publicly accessible eLearning artifact that demonstrates mastery of learner-centered design, UX writing, and multimedia development applied to a sensitive real-world topic.
Bereaved individuals often lack structured, accessible tools for processing grief during the first year after a loss. Existing resources are either clinical or too brief to support sustained reflection.
Designed and developed a multimedia digital workbook combining reflective prompts, psychoeducational content, and interactive elements, applying instructional design theory to a self-directed learning format.
Delivered a complete multimedia learning artifact demonstrating mastery of instructional design theory applied to a sensitive, real-world topic.
The Communications Department at MSMU needed updated student-facing materials to support advising week and program promotion. Existing materials did not clearly communicate the value of the major.
Wrote and designed a print tri-fold brochure from scratch, researching program offerings and developing copy that spoke directly to prospective and current students.
Produced a professional, print-ready brochure used during advising week and campus events to support student recruitment and program awareness.
Large student evaluation files needed to be separated into individual PDFs for faculty distribution. The manual process was time-consuming and created unnecessary administrative burden.
Identified the inefficiency, designed a solution, and built a PDF splitter tool to automate the process, with documentation for non-technical staff.
Reduced processing time significantly, freeing up administrative time for higher-value work and demonstrating initiative in applying technology to workplace challenges.
The Political Science Department needed a concise, student-facing fact sheet to communicate program highlights, career pathways, and department information during advising and recruitment events.
Researched program details, wrote and edited all copy, and designed the one-page fact sheet in Canva using a clean, accessible layout aligned with department branding.
Delivered a polished, print-ready fact sheet used at advising events and campus fairs to support student recruitment and program visibility.
Students needed a clear, scannable overview of Spring 2026 Political Science course offerings to use during fall advising week to compare options and plan schedules.
Gathered course information and organized it into a visually accessible handout using Canva, structured for easy scanning and comparison.
Produced a handout distributed during advising week and used by students and faculty advisors to support Spring 2026 registration planning.
The History Department needed an invitation for the Senior Reception and Phi Alpha Theta induction that would improve RSVP response rates and simplify event planning.
Designed a visually engaging Canva invitation with a linked RSVP format to streamline the response process and simplify attendee tracking.
Improved student engagement with the event and simplified the RSVP process, making it easier to track attendance and plan event logistics.
Hood College's student newspaper needed stronger editorial direction, more consistent content strategy, and better mentorship for student writers.
Served as Managing Editor supporting both the printed paper and website, helping manage deadlines, reviewing articles, guiding student writers and editors, and preparing print layouts in Adobe InDesign.
Strengthened publication quality and consistency, mentored writers, and built foundational skills in content strategy and team leadership.
Work Experience
I have experience in higher education communications, instructional design, student support, and editorial leadership. These roles have helped me to build strong proficiencies in writing, editing, project coordination, student-centered communication, and creative problem solving.
Emmitsburg, MD
Serving the Communications Department and supporting five academic departments, I function as a one-person communications, operations, and instructional support team. My role spans hiring, content design, event coordination, social media, and instructional resource development.
Chambersburg, PA
Provided one-on-one writing support to undergraduate and graduate students across disciplines. Developed supplementary writing resources and guides for the Writing Center. Supported students with research methodology, citation practices, and academic writing conventions. Applied instructional scaffolding and learner-centered coaching techniques to meet each student at their level.
Emmitsburg, MD
Guided students and families through financial aid questions, required documents, deadlines, and next steps. Maintained student records, confidentiality, and student communications. Supported daily office operations, student follow-up, record updates, and administrative tasks.
Chambersburg, PA
Collaborated with the admissions team to support enrollment and retention efforts. Assisted students in completing financial aid applications, conducted individualized consultations to assess eligibility, and addressed student concerns through various communication channels. (Temp role via Randstad staffing agency.)
Hood College, Frederick, MD
Served as Managing Editor for the student newspaper, supporting both the printed paper and website. Helped the Editor-in-Chief manage deadlines, review articles, plan coverage, and guide student writers and editors. Wrote, edited, researched, and fact-checked stories, interviewed campus sources, and helped prepare print layouts in Adobe InDesign. Attended weekly staff and editorial meetings, pitched story ideas, followed campus and local news, and supported advertising outreach with local businesses and nonprofits.
Academic Background
Relevant Coursework: MEDUC 610: Foundations of Instructional Design and Technology; MEDUC 611: Equity, Access, and Citizenship; MEDUC 612: Instructional Design in Digital Learning; MEDUC 613: Technology for Assessment, Teaching & Learning; MEDUC 614: Assistive and Adaptive Technology; MEDUC 619: Multimedia Design and Theory; MEDUC 633: Teaching the Adult Learner; MEDUC 631: Graduate Research Capstone.
Relevant Coursework: BUS 313: Principles of Marketing; COMM 207: Introduction to Public Relations; COMM 373: Social Media; COMM 201: Media Writing; COMM 310: Media and Society; BUS 250: Introduction to Business and Decision Making; Research Writing; Statistics; Developmental Psychology; Human Development; Abnormal Psychology; Research Methods in Psychology.
Relevant Coursework: Technical Writing; Business Writing; English Grammar; English Composition; Research Writing; English Literature; American Literature; Public Speaking; Introduction to Communication; Introduction to Philosophy; Ethics; Western Civilization; World History; Introduction to Psychology; College Algebra; Sociology, Anthropology, and Computer Software and Applications.
Awards & Achievements
Skills
I bring together research, writing, design, and technology to create learning and communication materials. My strength is moving from idea to finished product with attention to purpose, audience, structure, and usability.
Instructional Design
Backward Design, ADDIE, SAM, Dick and Carey Model, Gagné’s Nine Events, Merrill’s First Principles, Bloom’s Taxonomy, Action Mapping, curriculum development, and instructional objective alignment.
Learning Theory
Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, transformative learning theory, self-determination theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Kolb’s Experiential Learning, Knowles’ Andragogy, Vygotsky’s social learning theory, and Mayer’s Multimedia Learning Theory.
Learner Research and Accessibility
Learner needs analysis, performance problem analysis, learner-centered design, Universal Design for Learning, accessibility, educational psychology, human development, and early childhood development.
Assessment and Evaluation
Assessment design, Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels, ROI Institute’s V-Model, learning outcomes, performance measures, and instructional improvement.
eLearning Tools and LMS Platforms
Articulate Storyline 360, Rise 360, Adobe Captivate, H5P, iSpring, Nearpod, Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle.
Professional writing, copywriting, copyediting, content strategy, web copy, UX writing, microcopy, technical writing, documentation, academic program content, student-facing communications, audience analysis, information organization, tone and voice, plain language, and content revision.
- Canva (Advanced)
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Figma (Intermediate)
- Microsoft Office 365
- Google Workspace
- WordPress
- HTML and CSS (Intermediate)
- Infographic Design
- Print Layout Design
- Presentation Design
- Brochure and Flyer Design
- Visual Communication
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Literature Review
- Audience Research
- Higher Education Marketing Research
- Student Behavior Data Analysis
- Needs Assessment
- Evidence-Based Design
- Citation and Source Evaluation
- APA and Chicago Style
- Higher Education Marketing
- Social Media Management
- Content Calendar Development
- Student Recruitment Communications
- Event Communications
- Email Marketing
- Brand Voice Development
- Multi-Channel Content Strategy
- Program Promotion
- Event Planning and Coordination
- Vendor and Budget Management
- Student Hiring and Supervision
- Onboarding and Training Design
- Process Improvement
- Workflow Tool Development
- Administrative Operations
- Cross-Departmental Coordination
- Project Documentation
- Asana
- Monday.com
- Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Power BI, SharePoint, OneNote
- Google Workspace
- Jotform
Let's work together.
Whether you have a project in mind or just want to connect, I'd love to hear from you. I typically respond within 48 hours.
I'm currently open to full-time roles, freelance projects, and collaborative opportunities in higher education, learning design, and digital content strategy. Don't hesitate to reach out.