Gretchen Cohenour
Higher education leader (23+ years) Coordinator II, Instructional Design
Tarrant County College
ID Professional Certification
After more than two decades in higher education, Gretchen Cohenour pivoted into instructional design, building a scenario-based portfolio that opened doors to new impact at Tarrant County College.
She had spent 23 years leading programs, mentoring faculty, and shaping inclusive learning experiences. When professional growth plateaued, she joined Peck Academy to bridge her deep education background with new design tools, feedback, and mentorship.
“This program was truly a turning point for me!”
— Gretchen Cohenour
A Portfolio Built on Intention
Gretchen's portfolio showcases scenario-based work rooted in her background in UDL and program leadership, demonstrating how strong pedagogy translates directly into effective eLearning design.
Within six months of starting the Academy, she had built a strong portfolio, refined her resume, and earned certification. Her supervisor later said her portfolio 'put hers to shame, despite having 20 years in the field.'
Apply NowDesigning for Clarity and Connection
Gretchen's flagship project was a branching scenario that helped healthcare learners strengthen communication skills across shifts, a critical need in fast-paced clinical environments. It combined clean visual design, purposeful audio, and realistic consequences to reinforce learning outcomes.
Through the Storyline Labs and ID Project Lab, she learned to align every interaction with learning theory and performance goals. 'It wasn't about perfection,' she said. 'It was about designing with intention — and seeing how those choices shape the learner's experience.'
From Portfolio to Leading a Team of Nine
That credibility helped her move into an eLearning systems role at Tarrant County College, expanding her responsibilities from program coordination to instructional design and project management.
When leadership turnover left gaps on the design team, Gretchen's initiative and new skills positioned her to take on more design duties. Over time, her role evolved into a hybrid instructional design and project management position, leading a nine-member team that serves more than 49,000 learners.
Her portfolio became a powerful proof point, one that earned trust, unlocked new responsibilities, and gave her a renewed sense of purpose.
“This program was truly a turning point for me! Before joining Peck Academy, I felt proud of the career I had built over more than two decades in higher education. I wasn't looking to change careers exactly, but my professional growth had plateaued and opportunities to expand meaningful initiatives were increasingly limited.”
“The program provided the perfect blend of structure, mentorship, and community, helping me stretch my skills while reminding me why I do this work: to design learning that is accessible and be something people can actually apply. The scaffolded skill-building modules, like the Storyline labs, expanded my technical abilities and allowed me to explore the power that gamification and AI can lend learning experiences.”
“Peck Academy helped me refine how I bring clarity to complex ideas and approach projects with intention. I feel far more confident that I have the tools and perspective to design learning experiences that are practical, empowering, and genuinely human-centered.”
