Get to Know our Senior Managing Director, Partnership Development, Learning
- Areas of Expertise: Learning Design, Curriculum Development, Pedagogy, Accessibility
- Specialties: Interactive Technology, Quality Matters Rubric, Collaborative Learning, Inclusive Design
- Robyn Hammontree – Senior Managing Director, Learning Partnerships – Noodle | LinkedIn
Why did you choose to work in education? How have your educational experiences shaped your career?
I come from a long line of university educators. My father was a professor who became vice president of a university, and I spent all my summers growing up on college campuses. My very first job at age 14 was working in what we then called “correspondence courses” in the Dean’s office. I knew from the beginning I knew I wanted to help people in my career, and education was the most attractive path to do so.
Originally, I went to school to become a professor, but I ultimately found instructional design more closely suited my interests. It allowed me to support professors who might not have the time to focus on teaching, and engage my interests in writing, research and pedagogy.
20+ years since my first university position, I’m thrilled to say I still love what I do, and the people with whom I get to do it. I’ve worked in K-12, higher ed, organizational and nonprofit spaces, each with its own lessons that have contributed to how I do my work today.
What is it about your background or career experiences that successfully positioned you for your current role at Noodle?
While I’ve worked in Instructional Design for over 12 years, I’ve been working in and around university campuses for 20+ years. This has allowed me access to a variety of perspectives and experiences on the unique challenges that university educators face. My primary goal is to come alongside faculty and staff to solve those challenges so that they can focus on what they love most about their work. In my current role, I’m able to bring that knowledge to each of the unique problems facing university administrators, faculty and staff today.
Please tell us something about yourself that people would be surprised to learn.
In high school, I was in a very serious snowmobile accident which caused a bone infection which nearly took my life more than once. Prior to the accident, I was planning to attend college to play volleyball. After being told I may never walk again, I knew my plans had to change, and that started with dual enrolling at my local university. I was able to knock out enough credits that I completed undergraduate in two years and went directly to graduate school before I turned 20. I spent over five years in daily physical therapy, and am happy to say I now run at least one half marathon a year. While it was the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced, the accident and aftermath changed the trajectory of my life, and made me who I am today, and I am grateful for that.
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