Sarah Espinosa, who is a PhD student in the College of Education Department of Learning Design and Technology (LTEC), was awarded a Navy Civilian Service Commendation Medal. Espinosa also earned a Certificate in Online Learning and Teaching (COLT) and an Online MEd in Learning Design and Technology (OTEC).
“Sarah is a wonderful doctoral student,” LTEC Professor Seungoh Paek said. “Despite wearing many hats and juggling numerous responsibilities, she has consistently shown dedication, intellectual curiosity, and a strong commitment to learning design and technology. It’s been a pleasure working with her and watching her grow as both a scholar and a leader. This medal is a well-deserved honor and a true reflection of the excellence she brings to her professional and academic pursuits. We’re so proud of her!”
An Instructional Systems Specialist for the Department of the Navy, MyNavy Career Center in Millington, Tennessee for two years, Espinosa provided systems training to Navy and civilian pay and personnel administrators.
The following is an excerpt from a certificate signed by S.C. Satterwhite, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and MyNavy Career Center Commander. “As the manager of the worldwide course, [Espinosa] oversaw more than 24 sessions annually that train over 400 personnel… Her personal initiative and exceptional performance reflected credit upon her and were in keeping with highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
As the course manager, Espinosa collaborated with various training hubs and stakeholders and was responsible for registering students, setting up training sites, tracking assessments, and evaluating the project’s mobile instructional team on site visits.
“Due to the success of the program, I was honored with this recognition, though, I could not have done this alone,” Espinosa said. “I had a fantastic team to work with, and they also deserve a lot of the credit.”
Espinosa changed careers after being a professional musician in the U.S. Navy for 11 years. She ended her contract when she became a mother and says the COLT program allowed her to get her foot in the door to education and eventually her master’s degree.
“My husband was on active duty, and being a veteran myself, I was able to utilize my GI Bill and try to complete the program while we were stationed in Hawaiʻi or take online classes if we were to transfer,” Espinosa said. “We ended up moving to Japan, but I was able to complete my coursework while overseas due to LTEC’s flexible course schedule.”
Attributing her ability to collaborate, remain patient, and assign tasks appropriately to LTEC, Espinosa says the masterʻs program uniquely prepares graduates for flexibility in instructional design work.
“I used nearly every single thing I learned during my time in the program in my government job,” Espinosa said. “I’m very grateful to the LTEC faculty for how often they cheered me on to keep pressing forward toward my goals. Many of my cohort members have become lifelong friends. I’m also very grateful to my husband and son for being patient with me while I have been in school and working.”
