Influential Women Spotlights Jacqueline LeFevre: Advancing Learner-Centered Design In The Future Of Digital Learning

WATERLOO, WI, UNITED STATES, August 25, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Instructional Designer and eLearning Developer Combines Education, Accessibility, Visual Storytelling, and Emerging Technology to Create Practical Learning Experiences

Jacqueline LeFevre is an instructional designer, eLearning developer, and former science educator whose career reflects a commitment to making learning engaging, accessible, practical, and meaningful. Based in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Jacqueline currently works as a contract Learning Experience Designer with Emergency Management Services International (EMSI), where she develops scenario-based emergency management training aligned with Incident Command System (ICS) standards and real-world operational response needs. Her work brings together education, technology, creativity, accessibility, and user experience principles to help organizations deliver learning that prepares people to apply knowledge beyond the digital classroom.

Jacqueline’s transition into instructional design grew naturally from her background in science education and curriculum development. Her experience as an educator gave her a strong understanding of how people learn, while her creative interests encouraged her to explore new ways of communicating information through digital experiences. Today, she applies those perspectives to the development of eLearning and multimedia solutions designed around the needs of real learners. Her approach emphasizes clear communication, thoughtful visual design, practical application, and an understanding of how technology can support rather than distract from meaningful learning.

Her professional skill set spans a broad range of instructional design and digital learning capabilities. Jacqueline has experience with eLearning development, multimedia production, accessibility-focused design, AI-supported workflows, and UX-informed learning strategy. She works with tools including Articulate 360 (Storyline & Rise), Vyond, Canva, and Figma, using each platform strategically to bring learning concepts to life. Rather than treating technology as an end in itself, she focuses on how tools can help solve learning challenges and create experiences that are intuitive, visually compelling, and useful to the intended audience.

Jacqueline’s portfolio demonstrates the versatility of her approach. Her projects have included emergency management simulations, onboarding experiences, therapy dog interaction training for healthcare professionals, and “SharkSmart Learning,” an accessibility-focused eLearning project that illustrates how thoughtful instructional design can transform everyday tools into meaningful educational experiences. Across these projects, she demonstrates an ability to adapt her design process to different audiences, industries, learning objectives, and subject matters. Her work reflects her belief that effective learning should be both engaging and immediately applicable.

Her passion for human-centered learning also extends beyond her professional projects. Jacqueline is a certified therapy dog handler with Alliance of Therapy Dogs, combining her interests in education, art, and animal-assisted support to promote compassionate engagement within communities. This experience further reflects the values that shape her instructional design philosophy: empathy, connection, accessibility, and an understanding of individual needs. Whether she is developing digital training or participating in community-centered activities, she remains focused on creating environments where people can feel supported and engaged.

Jacqueline attributes much of her professional success to perseverance, adaptability, and the relationships she has built through networking and collaboration. Even while working on contracts, she has remained actively connected to the instructional design community, developing professional relationships, exploring emerging trends, and paying attention to the evolving needs of organizations. She recognizes that instructional design is continually changing alongside technology, accessibility standards, artificial intelligence, and learner expectations. For Jacqueline, continuous learning is therefore not simply a professional requirement but an essential part of remaining curious, capable, and prepared for new opportunities.

One of the most influential pieces of career advice Jacqueline received came from her mother, who encouraged her to explore instructional design. Her mother recognized the natural connection between Jacqueline’s strengths in education, creativity, and communication and the opportunities available within the field. That encouragement prompted Jacqueline to research instructional design, develop new skills, and consider what kind of career would best reflect her interests and abilities. The experience reinforced the importance of remaining open to unexpected possibilities and trusting that career growth can come from exploring paths that may not initially be obvious.

Jacqueline is especially passionate about encouraging young women entering instructional design and related professions. She believes the industry offers a broad range of opportunities but also recognizes that competition can be significant. Her advice to aspiring professionals is to begin building relationships early rather than waiting until they are searching for a job. Networking, participating in professional communities, learning from experienced practitioners, and staying consistent can help emerging designers develop both knowledge and visibility. She believes professional relationships can become an important source of learning, collaboration, encouragement, and opportunity throughout a career.

She also encourages aspiring instructional designers to create projects that genuinely interest them. Rather than producing portfolio pieces solely because they believe employers expect to see them, Jacqueline recommends developing learning experiences around subjects that inspire genuine curiosity and enthusiasm. Personal projects can reveal a designer’s personality, creativity, strengths, and problem-solving abilities while helping them discover the types of work they most enjoy. In her view, an authentic portfolio can communicate far more than technical proficiency—it can demonstrate how a professional thinks, what they care about, and the kind of value they hope to bring to an organization.

Jacqueline recognizes that instructional design faces challenges, including the fact that organizations do not always have a complete understanding of the profession’s scope. Instructional designers may contribute to learning strategy, multimedia development, accessibility, technology, communication, user experience, and organizational performance, with responsibilities varying considerably from one workplace to another. At times, professionals may need to help organizations understand not only what they can create but also how effective instructional design can contribute to broader organizational goals.

At the same time, Jacqueline sees significant opportunities emerging as digital learning, artificial intelligence-supported workflows, and technology continue to evolve. Organizations across healthcare, emergency management, corporate training, and education increasingly have opportunities to create more engaging and accessible learning experiences. Jacqueline believes professionals who combine creativity with communication, technical knowledge, strategic thinking, and a strong understanding of their audiences can bring considerable value to these environments. While the job market may be competitive and navigating applications, interviews, and contracts can require persistence, she believes strong portfolios, intentional networking, and a clear understanding of the industries and audiences a designer wants to serve can make a meaningful difference.

At the heart of Jacqueline LeFevre’s career is a simple but powerful commitment: learning should work for people. Her professional journey demonstrates how education, creativity, technology, accessibility, and human connection can come together to create stronger learning experiences. By remaining adaptable, continuing to learn, building meaningful relationships, and embracing emerging opportunities, she continues to shape a career centered on thoughtful design and real-world impact. Through every project and community initiative, Jacqueline strives to make learning more inclusive, visually engaging, practical, and useful—while encouraging the next generation of instructional designers to approach their own careers with the same curiosity, authenticity, and perseverance.

Learn More about Jacqueline LeFavre:

Through her Influential Women profile, https://influentialwomen.com/connect/jacqueline-lefevre

Influential Women

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