Kayla Story-White, MFA

Current Role

Kayla is an Instructional Designer at the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. 

Education

Graduate Certificate, Instructional Design, University of Wisconsin

MFA Studio Art, University of Wisconsin Madison

BFA Photography, Columbia College Chicago

Background and Interests

Kayla comes to the University of Maine after a long winding journey through multiple fields, disciplines, and homes. Her most recent adventure was living with her family in London, UK where yummy meat pies were eaten and many trains ridden.

She earned her MFA in Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, focusing on blending digital photography and manipulation into the papermaking process. While there, she also taught courses in digital art making tools and graphic design, both before and after the pandemic, an experience that inspired her to explore how digital tools could better be incorporated into the teaching and learning expedition. That spark led her to shift her career toward education, remote learning, and engaging, design-driven approaches to impactful learning experiences.

To broaden her experience she moved into working as an instructional designer for Trek Bicycles in Wisconsin redesigning their entry level sales content and gaining a certification in Instructional Design. There she sharpened her mountain biking skills alongside her passion for creating blended experiences that truly motivate and meet learners where they are.

Before turning to education she wore many hats: a studio photography assistant, image editor, retail slinger, gallerina, and analog darkroom assistant. (She still misses the smell of fixer in the morning.)

Now in her “raising small humans” era, Kayla squeezes in cycling through the woods, tapestry crochet, and trying her hand at new crafts whenever she can.