COE Chose Me - University of Houston
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COE Chose Me

Judith JohnstonAlumna Judith Johnston received an Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction (CUIN), Learning, Design, and Technology (LDT) from the College of Education (COE). She always knew she was meant to work in the field of education, but didn’t know what form her career would take until she was introduced to the LDT team at COE. Discovering the discipline that focused on creating and implementing instruction based on knowing what learners need was the key to her educational future.

Johnston is currently putting the knowledge gained at the College to good use as she transitions from a position as a senior behavioral/social scientist for a federally funded research and development center to her own consulting business as a researcher at North Carolina State University.  “I have been able to use the knowledge and experience I acquired at the COE to develop, test, and implement analytic methods for analysts in a number of different intelligence agencies,” says Johnston.  “I’ve also parlayed the generalist instructional design processes and skills into new ways to help in non-traditional learning/problem solving environments.”  Johnston uses her skills to help those in the intelligence community understand how one’s culture can affect how they behave or react.  Her expertise has also led to advising senior leaders in the intelligence community on strategic issues related to performance improvement, career preparation, and collaborative analysis.

Johnston credits her COE professors with giving her the education she needed to be able to meet the demands of the field. “Dr. Bernard Robin did a great job of helping me believe in trying new things,” says Johnston, “and he was very supportive regarding my multidisciplinary work with the virtual environment lab and keeping me focused when dissertation time came around. And Dr. Sara McNeil impressed me with her ability to make creative connections, especially in designing learning solutions.”  Dr. Robin has high praise for Johnston as well. “Judith was a passionate and motivated student who excelled in her doctoral coursework,” he says. “We have followed her progress as a scientist and researcher and have been exceptionally proud of the significant contributions she has made in her career.”

When asked for advice for future students, Johnston says, “Don’t be afraid to experiment with different concepts inside and outside your discipline.  With the basics of research methods and instructional design as a framework, you can create solutions or interventions that work.” Considering this is what led her down her current career path, we couldn’t agree more.