Peck Academy Student Success Story

Gretchen Cohenour

Instructional Design Professional Certification

Instructional Designer at Tarrant County College

Gretchen transitioned from 23 years in higher education into a full-time Instructional Designer role at Tarrant County College, where her scenario-based portfolio and leadership skills opened doors to new impact and collaboration.

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From Higher Ed Leader to Instructional Designer

After more than two decades in higher education, Gretchen Cohenour had built a career she loved—leading programs, mentoring faculty, and shaping inclusive learning experiences. But by 2023, she began to feel the limits of her role.

“The opportunities to expand programs or sustain meaningful initiatives were becoming limited,” she said. “I wasn’t unhappy, but I realized I was ready to grow again.”

Curious about the instructional designers she’d long collaborated with, Gretchen started watching Devlin Peck’s YouTube videos. “His approach made instructional design feel attainable,” she shared.

What began as curiosity soon became conviction. She joined Peck Academy to bridge her deep background in education with new design tools, feedback, and mentorship that could help her pivot confidently into a new phase of her career.

“This was the first time I truly stepped into the world of instructional design with mentorship and support. The community was just so motivating—it made me feel part of something larger than my own progress.”

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Designing for Clarity and Connection

Gretchen’s flagship project was a scenario-based learning experience rooted in authentic workplace challenges.

Drawing from her background in UDL and program leadership, she designed a branching scenario that helped healthcare learners strengthen communication skills across shifts—a critical need in fast-paced clinical environments.

The project 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.”

“This scenario-based project helped me connect theory to practice and design with empathy.”

Building Confidence—and a Career That Fits

Screenshot of Gretchen Cohenour’s portfolio homepage.

Within six months of starting the Academy, Gretchen had built a strong portfolio, refined her resume, and earned certification that set her apart within her organization.

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 of my supervisors said my portfolio put hers to shame, despite having 20 years in the field,” Gretchen laughed.

That visibility led to greater trust, new responsibilities, and a renewed sense of purpose in her career.

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“Peck Academy reminded me why I love this work—to design learning that’s accessible and genuinely human-centered.”

In Their Own Words

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.

The ID Project Lab tasks, live workshops, and especially the thoughtful, detailed feedback from dedicated mentors pushed me to think more strategically and focus on true learner needs. All of this strengthened my collaboration and problem-solving skills.

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.