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 education resources are often clinical or text-heavy, leaving learners without a way to visualize or navigate their own emotional experience. There was a need for an accessible, empathetic digital tool to support reflection.
Designed and built an interactive grief reflection tool with seven clickable regions representing different grief experiences, guided prompts, and draggable markers for tracking the journey over time.
Produced a complete, publicly accessible digital learning experience combining instructional design, UX writing, visual design, and interactive media.
Created for MEDUC 619: Multimedia Design and Theory. Grief is underserved in digital learning spaces, and most available resources are either clinical workbooks or passive reading materials.
Built an interactive digital workbook grounded in grief theory, applying Mayer’s multimedia learning principles, UDL frameworks, and learner empathy to structure content and visual design.
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 lacked a concise, visually engaging document for program marketing, recruitment, and academic advising.
Researched department program information and designed a fact sheet in Canva aligned with university branding and student audience needs.
Delivered a professional fact sheet used across advising appointments, recruitment events, and digital sharing.
Students needed a clear reference for Spring 2026 Political Science course offerings 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.
Led editorial direction, managed a team of student writers and editors, oversaw content strategy and layout design, and mentored student journalists.
Strengthened publication quality and consistency, mentored writers who pursued journalism careers, and built foundational skills in content strategy and team leadership.
Work Experience
My professional background spans higher education communications, instructional design, editorial leadership, and student support. I bring a cross-functional skill set developed across academic, nonprofit, and media environments.
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
Led editorial direction for Hood College’s student newspaper, managing a team of student writers and editors. Oversaw content strategy, layout design, and publication of print and digital editions. Mentored student journalists in reporting, writing, and editorial standards. Developed editorial workflows and style guidelines to improve consistency and quality across issues.
Academic Background
Studied current trends in education, the role of distance education, and the integration of technology in teaching and learning. My coursework taught me how to create effective digital learning environments that support active, constructive, and reflective instruction. I also learned how to plan and deliver research-based instructional solutions using systematic design models and multimedia theory.
- MEDUC 601: Foundations of Instructional Design and Technology
- MEDUC 605: Learning Theory and Instructional Design
- MEDUC 610: Systematic Design of Instruction
- MEDUC 615: Distance Education and eLearning
- MEDUC 619: Multimedia Design and Theory
- MEDUC 625: Assessment and Evaluation in Instructional Design
- MEDUC 630: Emerging Technologies in Education
Studied the intersection of language, communication, and storytelling across disciplines. My coursework developed my skills in writing, research, rhetoric, and media analysis. I learned to analyze audiences, craft persuasive arguments, and communicate complex ideas clearly across multiple formats and contexts.
- Advanced Composition and Rhetoric
- Technical Writing
- Media Studies and Digital Communication
- Research Methods in the Humanities
- Editing and Publishing
- Public Relations Writing
- Journalism and Reporting
Completed foundational coursework in English composition, technical writing, and the liberal arts. Developed core writing and communication skills that formed the basis for my continued academic and professional development.
- English Composition I and II
- Technical Writing
- Introduction to Literature
- Public Speaking
- Introduction to Communications
Awards & Achievements
Skills
My skill set spans instructional design, content strategy, visual communication, digital tools, and research. I bring both the conceptual grounding and the practical toolbox to design materials that work.
- Instructional Design Principles
- Curriculum Development
- eLearning Development
- Articulate Storyline 360
- Rise 360
- Adobe Captivate
- H5P
- Nearpod
- iSpring
- LMS: Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- ADDIE and SAM Models
- Learner-Centered Design
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Instructional Writing
- Technical Writing
- UX Writing
- Copywriting
- Content Strategy
- Academic Writing
- Editing and Proofreading
- Research Writing
- Digital Content Development
- Style Guide Development
- Audience Analysis
- Plain Language Writing
- 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
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.