Bio

Shaniquè Broom is an educator, curriculum and learning design specialist, and scholar with over a decade of experience in higher education. She has worked across academic and professional education settings to support faculty, staff, and institutions in designing learning experiences that are inclusive, rigorous, and grounded in justice.

Shaniquè’s professional work centers on equitable learning design, inclusive pedagogy, and the translation of theory into practice. She has collaborated with faculty and academic teams across the country to redesign courses, programs, and curricula with attention to access, power, and student experience. Her research and professional practice are deeply informed by critical pedagogical traditions, including the work of Paulo Freire and bell hooks, and by her scholarship on the experiences of Black women navigating systems of racism and sexism in professional environments.

Education

Shaniquè holds a B.A. in Psychology from Central Michigan University, an M.A. in Higher Education from Central Michigan University; a certificate of college teaching from Central Michigan University and a Ph.D. in Higher Education with a concentration in race and ethnicity from the University of Denver.

Teaching Philosophy

At the College of Professional Studies, Shaniquè brings a reflective, student-centered teaching approach that emphasizes critical inquiry, applied learning, and thoughtful engagement with real-world contexts. Her courses are intentionally structured to scaffold learning, invite multiple perspectives, and support students in developing practical tools they can carry into their professional and civic lives.

Bio

Melissa DeWitt brings her professional experience in instructional design, librarianship, teaching, and editing to her teaching at DU’s College of Professional Studies. She is passionate about creating inclusive and engaging learning experiences for adult learners.

Education

Melissa earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and her Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Denver.

Professional Background

As an instructional designer for the College of Professional Studies, Melissa designs, develops, and manages course projects for multiple programs across various modalities. The design process involves implementation of theories, collaboration with subject matter experts, experimentation with ed-tech tools, and creation of e-learning courses in the learning management system, with the end goal of crafting innovative and engaging learning experiences for diverse student populations.

Melissa was previously an academic librarian at Regis University, collaborating with faculty across disciplines to create and facilitate information literacy instruction for students across the globe. In this role, she cultivated a deep understanding of information literacy and research methodologies, provided research support to students, and engaged in projects to support campus research activity.

Teaching Philosophy

Melissa’s teaching experience spans a variety of subjects, including information literacy, instructional design, writing and composition, research methodology, and culminating capstone courses. She strives to connect students with relevant resources in their field and is available via email and Zoom meetings to provide support. Her teaching philosophy involves using a student-centered and care ethics-based approach so students feel comfortable expressing who they are, making mistakes, learning new things, and interacting with new people.

Bio

Amanda Hardman has been teaching and working in higher education for more than 15 years. Her roles have included faculty, online success coordinator, eLearning mentor, and instructional designer. She is also a facilitator with the Quality Matters online quality assurance organization.

Amanda is currently a Senior Learning Designer at Colorado Community College System, where she also continues to teach. In her role as a learning designer, she advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices in online course design and facilitation, including integration of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework into the system’s course design standards.

Amanda holds a B.A. in English and Piano Performance from the State University of New York at Geneseo, an M.A. in English from the University of Colorado Denver, and an M.A. in Learning Design and Technology from the University of Colorado Denver.

Bio

Emily May is a Senior Learning Consultant at Highspot, where she helps enterprise customers scale sales training through strategic learning design and maturity planning. She builds systems that drive behavior change, align with business goals, and support long-term product adoption. Emily also advises on scalable learning frameworks and governance models that support sustainable learning cultures.

Education

Emily holds an M.A. in Learning Design and Technology from the University of Colorado Denver and a B.A. in Media Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has completed advanced professional training grounded in the Project Management Professional (PMP) framework.

Professional Background

With roots in marketing, media, and project management, Emily has worked for award-winning ad agencies and global tech companies, bringing a systems-driven perspective to learning design. Through her consultancy, Emily May Consulting, she partners with clients across industries to lead L&D initiatives, design learning solutions, and strengthen internal capabilities. She is also a speaker and facilitator at professional learning events and conferences.

Teaching Philosophy

Emily is passionate about giving back to the field that shaped her career. Teaching allows her to support future instructional designers to lead with clarity and confidence. She enjoys combining theory with practical insights, sharing real-world lessons from her work experiences in the classroom.

Emily creates a collaborative, structured learning environment that fosters peer insight, reflection, and real-world application. She sets clear expectations, encourages proactive communication, and equips students with the tools and mindset to lead projects and communicate with impact.

Bio

Vince Tango is a seasoned learning and development professional, educator, and leader in online education. He has held leadership roles in both higher education and the corporate sector. With extensive experience collaborating with subject matter experts and stakeholders, Vince is passionate about creating transformative online programs that bring learners together.

Throughout his career, Vince has designed impactful learning experiences, directed programs focused on mind-body health, spirituality, and leadership, led community and enrollment initiatives for master’s degree programs, and coached faculty in developing engaging online courses. He has taught various undergraduate and graduate courses in leadership, communication, instructional design, and learning theory. Since 2020, Vince has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Communication Management and Instructional Design and Technology programs at the University of Denver.

Education

Vince earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education from West Chester University, a Master of Divinity from the Iliff School of Theology, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Denver. He is also certified as an integral life coach and a yoga instructor and is trained in somatic mindfulness and meditation.

Teaching Philosophy

Vince believes in creating a learning environment that supports self-expression and fosters a sense of belonging through discussion, feedback, and collaborative learning. He is dedicated to enhancing student success through clear communication, video content, and timely, responsive feedback. Vince is committed to being accessible to students, available via campus email and virtual office hours to provide the guidance and insights necessary for their success.