Learning & Development, Program Management, Instructional Design

Nick Cates

linkedin.com/in/nicholascates 908-***-**** *******@*****.***

Summary

Accomplished Learning & Development professional with comprehensive experience in program / course development / management and instructional / learning experience design.

Experience

Instructional Design Coordinator

Hartford Public Library in Hartford, Connecticut from May 2024 - July 2025

—Instructional Design & Content Development: For the Library's “The American Place” (TAP), developed, designed, and managed ADA-compliant online courses, multimedia content, and training resources using several Learning Management Systems (LMS).

—Training: Served as TAP's lead for blended learning ("English for All" hy-flex course) and digital literacy (via Northstar and custom reinforcement of existing curriculum); trained instructors and staff on effective use of educational technologies and data analysis tools.

—Technology Administration & Data Management: Managed administration of online educational assessments (e.g., PearsonVUE, CASAS, GED, Northstar, ServSafe, CompTIA), maintained records of software licenses and agreements, and analyzed e-learning program data to compile monthly outcome reports. Also helped develop more robust data storage and access for administrators.

—User Support & Resource Creation: Enhanced digital literacy and user proficiency by developing instructional guides and videos, facilitating collaborative trainings, and providing direct technical support to staff and students.

—Website Design: Created and updated the The American Place subsite.

—Classroom Instruction: Taught and administered hybrid "English for All" class (300 students) and taught 200 hours of English as a Second Language to immigrant adults.

LMS Administrator / Instructional Designer / Instructor

World English 360 in South Windsor, Connecticut from January 2023 to April 2024

—Manage; market; create engaging, interactive online courses using principles of adult learning, second language acquisition, and Learning Experience Design (including Universal Design).

Program Director of the English Language Institute / Adjunct Professor

Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama from May 2015 - December 2022

—Supervised four F/T staff; managed budget; reported directly to Dean.

—Curriculum Development: Designed and delivered curriculum, including assessment, co-curricular activities (trips and events), and related resources and logistics for the ELI On-Campus and ELI Online (e-learning) intensive English programs, Student Summer Camp, English Teacher Training, and customized programs; supported ESL students across the institution through direct instruction and staff training.

—Data Analysis: Collected, analyzed, and reported program data (enrollment, test scores, customer satisfaction); improved outcomes by conducting program evaluation of student learning and administrative processes.

—Recruited alongside Public Relations, Marketing, and International Programs to increase international student enrollment using social media and Google Ads.

Director of Foundation Year

Laureate Vocational Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, Makkah, SAUDI ARABIA from 2013 - 2015

—Operations Management: Produced an educational experience for 1200 students ("Foundation Year") that enabled them to reach requisite levels in English, Life & Study Skills, Computer Literacy, and Math by the end of their first year; monitored and reported students' progress.

—Program Development: worked with curriculum specialists, local business representatives, and relevant stakeholders to develop, improve, and implement new courses of study.

—Staff Development: Recruited, hired, assigned, supervised, evaluated, and trained instructors and administrative staff.

Assessment Design Specialist

Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey from 2008 - 2013

—Developed test items and test forms for TOEIC and other ESL products.

—Recruited and trained contractors to supply images for use in assessments.

Program Director of the ESL Program

Mercer County Community College in Trenton, New Jersey from 2005 - 2008

—Led ESL program serving 1000+ students per year; scheduled classes (five levels, day/evening/Saturday) and secured associated resources; established and marketed four extension sites; managed ten staff.

—Co-led consortium of grantees redesigning curriculum to incorporate workforce readiness standards and served as liaison to the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development;

—Designed and established relational database to increase efficiency and accuracy of reporting.

Education Program Manager

International Rescue Committee in Decatur, Georgia from 2003 - 2005

—Designed, expanded, and operated ESL, Youth, and Women's programs for refugees; expanded programs through community outreach; presented at the Carter Center; managed instructors, grants, and budget.

Coordinator for the ESL Program / Instructor

Brookdale Community College--Ecuador in Guayaquil, ECUADOR from 2001 - 2003

—Recruited/hired/supervised/trained 10+ P/T instructors; coordinated 15+ classes and associated resources; strategically marketed program to increase services: “Send Your Kid to College this Summer” and customized language training courses for Nestlé and Bic.

ESL Teacher Trainer

2001 at Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts, United States

—Leadership Development: Trained ESL teachers at international youth program

ESL Instructor

—Quinebaug Valley Community College in Willimantic, Connecticut, United States

—University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut, United States

—Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut, United States

—NOVA Corporation in Greater Tokyo Area, JAPAN

—SAIEI International in Greater Tokyo Area, JAPAN

—The Consortium, Thailand in Phanat Nikhom, Chon Buri, THAILAND

Education

M.A, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

University of Idaho in Moscow, ID

B.A, English

The University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT

Summer Program, Architecture

Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI

Associations

—Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)

—ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education)

—Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

—The Association for Talent Development (ATD)

—Project Management Institute (PMI)

—The Learning Guild

Skills & Tools

Technical & Software Skills

—E-Learning Authoring: Articulate Storyline 360, Rise 360, Adobe Captivate, Camtasia, Vyond; SCORM, xAPI, cmi5, and leveraging Virtual Reality (XR/AR/VR) & Artificial Intelligence (AI) in learning

—Learning Management Systems (LMS): Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Google Classroom; WordPress (TalentLMS, LifterLMS, LearnDash); LRS

—Multimedia & Design: Adobe Creative Cloud / Suite, Canva, Figma; Video Editing (Adobe Premiere, Camtasia, Vegas Pro)

—Web Design & Development: WordPress, Elementor; Visual Studio, HTML, CSS, APIs, webhooks, JavaScript, PHP, Google Apps Script, Google Cloud

—Office & Productivity Suites: Microsoft 365 / Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Forms, MS Access, SharePoint, PowerApps, PowerPages, Power Automate), Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Google Forms)

—Project Management Software: Jira, Asana, Trello, Coda, Monday, SmartSheet

—CRM & Student Information Systems (SIS): Salesforce CRM, Ellucian Banner, SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)

—Data & Analytics: Data Analysis, Google Analytics, Digital Marketing Analytics, Marketing Analytics

—Database Design: MS Dataverse, MS SharePoint, MS Access, MySQL

—Emerging Technologies: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR)

Management & Administrative Skills

—Program & Project Management: Program Evaluation & Development, Web Project Management, Agile Development

—Operations & Process: Operations Management, Business Process Improvement, Inventory Management, Purchasing

—Financial & Resource Management: Budgeting, Grant Writing

—People & Human Resources: Management, Supervisory Skills, Leadership, Staff Development, Human Resources (HR), Recruiting, Talent Management

—Education Administration: Enrollment, International Student Services

Education & Instructional Skills

—Instructional Design: ADDIE Model, SAM, Adult Learning Theory, Storyboarding, Needs Analysis, Curriculum Development, Universal Design, Assessment Design, Learning Analytics

—Teaching & Training: Teaching / Training, Train the Trainer, Androgogy, Language Teaching, TESL / TEFL (Teaching English as a Second / Foreign Language)

—Test Administration & Proctoring: CASAS, GED, PersonVUE, ServSafe, CompTIA, Northstar, Versant Plus, BEST Plus, KET/PET

—Specialized Knowledge: Science of Learning, Educational Technology, International Education

—Certifications: Adult Education Certification (CT#088), Alternate Route to Teaching Certification (CT), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Communication Skills

—Languages: English (Native), Spanish (working proficiency), Japanese (elementary)

—General Communication: Public Speaking (I taught this at college level), Technical Writing, Editing, Presentation Skills, Cross-Cultural / Intercultural Communication Skills (I’ve worked in South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia).

—Stakeholder & Community Relations: Stakeholder Management, Community Development, Customer Service

—Digital Communication: Zoom, Webex, Meet; Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, WhatsApp, Remind, TalkingPoints)

Strategic & Analytical Skills

—Strategic Planning: Strategic Planning, Knowledge Management, Information Management

—Marketing & Recruitment: Marketing, Digital Marketing, Online Advertising, Google Ads, Google Analytics / Search Console, Student Recruitment

—Design & User Experience: User Experience (UX), Experience Design, Information Architecture

—Research & Analysis: Research Skills, Critical Thinking, Reporting

Contact this candidate