Instructional designer. Storyteller. Educator.
I design learning experiences built on narrative structure, emotional clarity, and evidence from the learning sciences. Ph.D. researcher in Instructional Technology in Education at the University of Nevada, Reno.
From stage storyteller to learning designer
My path into instructional design began as a professional storyteller in classrooms across India. That work taught me something research keeps confirming: people learn what they feel, and narrative is the most reliable way to make ideas stick.
Today my research examines how narrative structures and emotional arcs improve engagement and clarity in online courses. Alongside the research, I design and run real programs, from a university wide engineering outreach initiative to school curricula, so my design work stays grounded in what actually happens with learners.
What I bring
- Curriculum and course design
- Narrative based online learning
- Program building and outreach
- Teaching and facilitation
- Published learning design research
- Team leadership and grants
Where I design and lead
Coordinator of Community Outreach
Revived and redesigned EPIC Labs as a community based informal STEM learning program, growing participation from single digits to more than 500 through learner centered, hands on engineering experiences. I train and supervise a team of about 20 student facilitators, manage grant funding, and cultivate sustained partnerships with schools and community organizations. Designed the full slate of activities for Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, bringing about 100 Title I middle school girls to campus to explore engineering.
Founder
Founded and lead an online education venture delivering learning bootcamps and enrichment courses, currently developing a learning app and pursuing grant funding to scale. Partner with subject matter experts to translate domain expertise into courses aligned with current instructional design standards, coordinating the full course lifecycle from design through delivery.
Yoga Curriculum Designer
Design and maintain a yoga curriculum for kindergarten through grade 8 on contract, with 15 or more units per grade and about 120 daily lessons across nine grade levels covering the full academic year. Builds on my graduate thesis in embodied storytelling for focus and mindfulness.
Chief Creative Officer
Direct creative and instructional strategy for the school, developing curriculum, producing educational and promotional content, and training teachers. Design and organize annual summer enrichment programs serving about 40 families.
Graduate Teaching Assistant and Instructor
Instructor of record for Methods of Teaching Social Studies, preschool through grade 8 (EDEL 453/653). Designed the complete curriculum and lesson activities with an emphasis on hands on, narrative and discussion based instruction. Earned student evaluation scores of 3.6 to 4.0 out of 4.0 across all six categories, exceeding department and university means in every category, including a perfect 4.0 in Application of Evaluation Standards.
Graduate Teaching Assistant and International Student Mentor
Taught Fundamentals of Communication and led a cross cultural exchange project introducing students to Indian history, culture, and tradition.
Professional Storyteller
Resident storyteller and librarian at a partner school for a full academic year, delivering daily storytelling sessions to about 1,200 students in grades 4 to 8 and designing reading activities to build independent reading habits. Conducted storytelling visits to six additional schools across India, performing for audiences of more than 1,000 children per visit.
Selected publications and presentations
Education and community
Ph.D., Instructional Technology in Education
Member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Love of Learning Award, Fall 2025.
M.A., Storytelling and Communication Studies
Capstone: an embodied storytelling curriculum combining yoga and story to enhance focus in children ages 4 to 12.
Community Teaching and Volunteering
Lead weekly value education classes, teaching about 40 children annually across in person sessions at the Greater Nevada Hindu Temple and a national online cohort. Designed curriculum and led summer programs serving 50 to 1,500 children annually across Chennai, Boston, and New Jersey from 2012 to 2019, co heading 200 volunteers and training 30 to 50 teachers internationally in Dubai and Seattle.