Meet Lisa Royse! She received her master’s in education from the Learning Systems Design and Development program at the MU School of Information Science & Learning Technologies in 2010. Currently, she’s working on her Ph.D. in Information Science and Learning Technologies, and is expected to graduate in 2018.

Royse is both a Tiger alumna and employee, currently serving as a senior instructional design specialist at the MU School of Medicine. In this role, she contributes to the design and development of innovative web applications and works on a high-performing team to assess student performance and improve curriculum. She credits SISLT for providing her with the tools she needed to make the work she does meaningful, thus making life more meaningful.

Here’s more about why Royse elected to attend SISLT, not just once, but twice, and the impact her experience has had:

Why did you select to attend SISLT?

I chose the master’s program to advance my knowledge and skills in the field of instructional design. I selected the doctoral program to learn how to disseminate my work and add to the scholarly literature supporting design-based research and medical educational improvement.

What did you appreciate most about your experience at SISLT?

I continue to apply what I learned in the program directly to my work as a practitioner in the field.

How did your program at SISLT impact your career?

Both the master’s and Ph.D. programs have greatly influenced my career path. I started my career as a production editor at a medical textbook publishing company. After a few years, I moved back home to Columbia, Missouri, and worked as an instructional editor where I formatted online courses.

I was able to combine my work experience when I transferred to MU Health Care’s Center for Education and Development. As an instructional technologist, I was responsible for developing online training modules and served as administrator of MU Health Care’s Learning Management System.

Upon finishing my M.Ed., I realized an academic setting was a better fit for me, so I transitioned to my current role at MU School of Medicine and enrolled in the Ph.D. program.

What advice would you give prospective SISLT students who are considering the LIS program at SISLT?

The program will provide you with the practical knowledge and skills that you can apply directly to your work in the field.