Melissa (Mel) Castillo

Melissa (Mel) Castillo has a diverse work experience in the field of learning experience and design. Melissa (Mel) started their career in 2005 as a Student Records Specialist at Cardean Learning Group - Ellis College of NYIT. From there, they worked as a Program Associate and Interim Program Associate at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

In 2007, Melissa joined the University of Wisconsin-Stout as a Program Associate in University Communications and later worked as an Interim Program Associate in the Department of Art and Design.

In 2009, they moved to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where they worked as a Graduate Assistant and later became a Program Associate in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

In 2012, Melissa joined the University of Wisconsin-Stout again, this time as an Academic Technology Technician in Learning Technology Services, where they also worked on a website redesign project.

Melissa's work experience continued at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 2013, where they worked as a Technology Assistant and Project Coordinator in the Learning Technology Center.

From 2014 to 2018, they worked as a Research Assistant in the School of Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee while also serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in 2017.

In 2019, Melissa became a Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Since 2018, they have been working at Ease Learning, starting as a Learning Designer and then becoming the Lead Learning Designer. Currently, they hold the position of Lead Learning Experience Designer, where they oversee high-level learning experience design, sets project visions, and manages a team of learning experience designers or learning designers to ensure the successful and timely delivery of learning design projects.

Melissa (Mel) Castillo has an extensive education history. Melissa (Mel) pursued their Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 2014 to 2023. Prior to that, in 2014, they briefly attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout to study Instructional Design. Mel earned their Master of Arts (MA) in English from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire between 2008 and 2011. Melissa (Mel) completed their Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Philosophy at Trinity International University from 2001 to 2004.

In addition to their academic degrees, Mel obtained a certification in IRB-Social and Behavioral Researchers from the CITI Program in October 2021.