Blanca Torres-Olave
Higher education professional Senior Instructional Designer
American Academy of Dermatology
ID Professional Certification
Blanca transitioned into healthcare as a Senior Instructional Designer after building a project-driven portfolio that showcased empathy, creativity, and real-world impact.
She had spent years working in higher education, where she developed a strong foundation in pedagogy and learner experience. But when she set her sights on transitioning into instructional design, her early job applications went unanswered, so she made a pivotal choice: to pause the scattershot search and commit fully to working with the Devlin Peck team.
“Peck Academy was absolutely instrumental in helping me transition into instructional design, through a rigorous program that gave me the technical and soft skills to succeed in a competitive job market.”
— Blanca Torres-Olave
A Portfolio That Tells a Cohesive Story
Blanca's work stands out for its empathy and real-world grounding. She designs scenario-driven learning that helps people respond thoughtfully in the moments that matter most.
After diving into project work with her SME, she built momentum and crafted a portfolio that told a cohesive, compelling story about her capabilities.
Apply NowDesigning for Real-World Impact in Healthcare
For her flagship project, Blanca created an interactive eLearning module to help hospital staff better support patients who might decline care. The course weaves in real-world scenarios, reflective moments, and clear guidance, helping learners build both procedural knowledge and cultural sensitivity.
This wasn't just a theoretical build. It addressed a real healthcare challenge, giving Blanca the chance to merge instructional design best practices with socially impactful content. To bring the project to life, she used Articulate Storyline 360, Canva, and Vyond, demonstrating her powerful blend of instructional design and eLearning development skills.
From Final Interview to Final Offer
After completing her flagship project and launching a sleek, scenario-driven portfolio, Blanca approached the job market with renewed confidence. She followed the guidance from Peck Academy to sharpen her LinkedIn presence and tailored her applications to reflect her evolving identity as a learning experience designer.
Blanca applied widely, navigating the emotional ups and downs of the job hunt with resilience and community support. She ultimately received two strong offers, but it was the role at the American Academy of Dermatology that truly aligned with her goals. The position gave her the chance to contribute to meaningful healthcare learning initiatives while joining a team that values work-life balance.
Now thriving in her role as a Senior Instructional Designer, Blanca brings empathy and expertise to her work, drawing from both her academic past and her newly refined ID toolkit.
“Before joining Peck Academy, I had a strong background as an educator but struggled to break into instructional design. I felt confident I could pick up the tools and skills listed in job postings, yet I wasn't getting any traction when I applied. It was frustrating to feel capable yet unseen in the job market, and I knew I needed a way to bridge that gap.”
“The Academy gave me the structure, support and community I needed to make that shift. Through real-world projects, feedback, and collaboration, I built a portfolio that showcased both my new and existing strengths. I could speak the language of instructional design with confidence and perform well in interviews, which led to two offers — including one that was truly my dream job.”
“Not only did the Academy help me develop the skills I needed, but the certification program also gave me the confidence and clarity to move forward in a new professional identity. My background as an educator is still an asset — it now informs the way I design learning experiences, but with the added tools and perspective of an instructional designer.”
