Welcome to the site of my Professional Portfolio! Thank you for your interest in my professional experiences and career at The Pennsylvania State University. I have worked in the Central Pennsylvania Area for over 25 years, in a variety of positions serving people across all ages.

 

Visit my portfolio at Penn State.

Professional Summary

Higher education leader and instructional design expert with over 25 years of experience in curriculum design, online learning, faculty development, and program leadership. Proven record of designing innovative, student-centered learning experiences and managing cross-functional teams to support institutional goals. Experienced in leading organizational development initiatives, mentoring faculty, and building strong collaborative relationships to foster academic excellence.

Summary of Qualifications

• Over 25 years of progressive experience in higher education, instructional design, curriculum development, and faculty and staff development.

• Proven expertise in designing, developing, and delivering high-quality online, blended, and face-to-face learning experiences that align with pedagogical best practices and accessibility standards.

• Strong background in academic leadership, including supervising and mentoring staff and student employees, leading cross-functional teams, and managing complex instructional and organizational projects from initiation to completion.

• Experienced in building and sustaining collaborative relationships with faculty, administrators, and university partners to promote student-centered teaching and learning initiatives.

• Skilled academic researcher and practitioner with a focus on instructional design, adult learning, learning analytics, and higher education leadership, with multiple publications and national presentations.

• Committed to applying research-based learning strategies, universal design for learning (UDL), and ADA Section 508 compliance to ensure inclusive and accessible learning environments.

• Extensive experience with learning management systems (Canvas, D2L BrightSpace, Moodle), instructional technologies, and content development tools, as well as project management platforms to support instructional and organizational goals.

 

I am proud of the work I have done at Penn State, Purdue and in my small business, both personally and professionally. Click through the pages to learn more about my career.

 Contact:

Heidi A. Watson-Held, D.Ed.

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Cell: 814-883-5008
Emails: haw6@psu.edu, hwatsonh@purdue.edu, hacwatson@gmail.com