I'm a recent graduate of the Learning Technologies PhD program with interests in Learning Experience Design (LXD), User Experience Design (UXD), Video Game Development, Technology Leadership, and Instructional Technology Integration. I believe schools should be places that are supportive and inspirational to teachers and students from all backgrounds and abilities; that goal grounds the work I do as a data analyst for Texas Education THRIVE (https://thrive.education.utexas.edu/). I also had the pleasure of being involved with the Game Development and Design Capstone courses as an associate producer (https://sites.utexas.edu/gaming/).
Learning Experience Design (LXD), User Experience Design (UXD), Video Game Development, Human-Centered Design, Technology Leadership, Technology Integration
Melissa Wetzel (Committee Member)Literacy teacher preparation, coaching and mentoring, equity and justice in literacy instruction
Julie Schell (Committee Member)Academic technology, technology-enhanced learning, learning technologies, online education, college teaching and learning, course evaluations, design thinking, design pedagogy, learning experience design, and developing expertise in generative AI tools in higher education.
Beth Maloch (Co-supervisor)Examines literacy teacher preparation, specifically the role of coaching and mentoring that occurs inside programs.
Min Liu (Co-supervisor)Areas of expertise include designing and developing immersive, media-rich environments for learners at all age levels and research the effects of them using mixed-methods; studying the effect of other emerging technologies on learning and motivation; focusing on problem-based learning, project-based learning, and game-based learning pedagogical approaches; learning analytics in serious games and other online environments, and understanding MOOCs as an emerging online learning tool.
Maloch, B., Ries, E., Murdter-Atkinson, J., Wright, A., Alexander, K. & Wetzel, M. (2025). Change happens at the speed of trust: Context-attentive mentoring for early career teachers. Teaching and Teacher Education. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2024.104817.
Murdter-Atkinson, J., Ries, E., Maloch, B., Hernandez, L., Alexander, K., Wright, A. & Wetzel, M. (2024). I am lucky to be surrounded by so much talent: Growing a professional learning community for early career teacher mentors. Care and Teachers in the Induction Years: Supporting Early Career Educators in Todays Teaching Landscape (pp. pp.130–140): Routledge.
Wetzel, M., Maloch, B., Alexander, K., Murdter-Atkinson, J., Ries, E., Wright, A. & McLean, J. (2023). 'Reading' Into Statistics: Systems Analysis and Action in an Early Career Mentor Community. Literacy Research: Theory, Method, and Practice. doi:https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.utexas.edu/10.1177/23813377231184739.
Karoff, R. & Hendrix, D. (2020). Accelerating Momentum - The Report of The University of Texas System Affordable Learning Accelerator Task Force. (
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I support this university-district induction partnership through technology design, research, and program management.
I supported the design, development, and coordination the THRIVE Mentor Institute, a summer professional development conference provided for mentors of pre-service and early-career teachers. Presenters for this 2-day learning experience consist of UT College of Education faculty, doctoral students, and leaders/teachers from surrounding school districts. I lead the design of the interactive program that includes evergreen links to session resources (linked).
Texas Education THRIVE, a comprehensive educational initiative through the College of Education at UT Austin, provides engagement, support, professional development and networking resources to school districts across Texas. Geared toward both early and mid-career teachers, THRIVE is committed to providing the necessary mentorship and professional learning opportunities that ensure successful and productive careers in education for the betterment of all Texas children.
I work as a TA and Associate Producer for the Capstone Courses.
What do you need? How can I help?: Mentors understand and respond to beginning teacher challenges, American Educational Research Association (AERA), Philadelphia (2024)
Evaluating the System: Documenting the Design of a Human-Centered, Discursively Informed Executive Dashboard, American Educational Research Association (AERA), Philadelphia (2024)
Coaching for Culturally Sustaining Technology Integration (tinyurl.com/culturally-responsive-tech), Texas Education START, Austin, TX (2023)
'I know youre here to support me': Context Attentive Mentoring for Early Career Teachers, American Educational Research Association (AERA), Chigaco, IL (2023)
Early Career Mentors Practicing Sociocritical Literacies in Response to Professional Inequities, Literacy Research Association (LRA), (2022)
Virtual Instruction: Tips & Tricks (tinyurl.com/virtual-instruction-tips), Texas Education START, Online (2021)
Starting School Virtually, Rice University, Houston, TX: Online (2020)
