Campus Curriculum Development Team | BYU-Idaho

# Campus Curriculum Development Team

Meet the BYU-Idaho campus curriculum development team.

Chad McLane

****Director of Course Development**** 
mclanec@byui.edu 
(208) 496-1572 
 
Chad leads the curriculum development team with over ten years of instructional design experience. His specialty is in performance improvement. For him, instructional design starts with the end in mind, with the goal of helping the students know, do, feel, or become something greater. Clear outcomes drive effective design. He enjoys the process of working with colleagues to reach their shared goals. Chad has bachelor's and master's degrees in English, and a PhD in Instructional Design. 
 
Every fall, Chad makes about 40 gallons of apple cider. He considers it both exhausting and awesome.

Jennifer Palmer

****Project Manager**** 
palmerjen@byui.edu 
(208) 496-1898 
 
Jennifer brings over 30 years of experience in education, including 25+ years teaching mathematics and statistics in high school and at BYU-Idaho, ISU, CWI and CSI. Jennifer holds a bachelor's in Applied Mathematics with minors in Computer Science and Secondary Education from SUU, plus a master's in Data Analytics, a master's in Educational Technology and Instructional Design, and a graduate certificate in Applied Statistics from Texas A&M. 
 
Jennifer has been happily married for over 35 years and is the proud mother of four and grandmother to four more. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, reading, and spoiling her grandkids. She values family, faith, and finding joy in everyday moments.

Chris Hunter

****Curriculum Design Manager**** 
hunterch@byui.edu 
(208) 496-1505 
 
Chris has 11 years of experience in curriculum design, with areas of expertise including learning technologies, performance improvement, and building interactive elements. He aims for purposeful, engaging learning experiences that sponsor critical thinking and real-world connections. He enjoys coming up with creative solutions to difficult instructional challenges. He has a bachelor's degree in English Teaching, and a master's in Curriculum and Instruction. He has also worked as an instructor in a variety of settings. 
 
Chris loves spending time in the outdoors, including biking, hiking, and camping.

Robert McKenzie

****Curriculum Design Manager**** 
mckenzier@byui.edu 
208-496-1523 
 
Rob has 15 years of experience in instructional design with specialization in learning technologies, AI, and assessment design. He believes in building curriculum to help students succeed in a professional setting. Assessments should be relevant, help students meet goals, and apply to real-world scenarios. He enjoys the variety found in instructional design. He has taught seminary, theatre, film, English, and public speaking. 
 
Additionally, Rob has a second degree black belt in Kukkiwon Taekwondo and serves as an assistant instructor.

Julene Bassett

****Curriculum Designer**** 
bassettj@byui.edu 
(208) 496-1862 
 
Julene has a PhD in Instructional Psychology and Technology and has worked at BYU-Idaho since 2010, helping many departments create online courses. She has recently transitioned to the Campus Curriculum Department to continue designing powerful learning experiences in a variety of additional modalities. Julene is particularly passionate about finding ways to increase learning through meaningful relationships and helping students connect their secular learning with the truths of the gospel. 
 
Julene is also a frequent traveler to jolly old England and has visited enough times to have her favorite haunts.

Sharon Baldwin

****Curriculum Designer**** 
baldwinsh@byui.edu 
(208) 496-1865 
 
Sharon brings excitement and expertise to the curriculum design department. She specializes in learning technologies, gamification, and creating interactive elements in courses. Her goal is to create great content that is both instructor and student friendly. She believes that all people can learn, provided that they are given the right tools to do so. She loves making a difference in student understanding, experimenting, and creativity. Her background is in Russian and education, and has her instructional design degree from WGU. 
 
Additionally, Sharon loves languages and cultures. She enjoys spending time with people, and likes to cook food from around the world, even collecting world cookbooks.

Susan Burdick

****Curriculum Designer**** 
burdicks@byui.edu 
(208) 496-1886 
 
With nearly 30 years of course development experience in higher education, Susan brings a learner-centered approach to every project. She designs with the learner in mind and focuses on clear, accessible, engaging learning experiences. She loves variety and learning along with the students. Her degrees are in Theatre from BYU and Instructional Design from ASU. 
 
Susan also likes wandering the pages of a good book, learning a new board game, or road-tripping to a national park.

Kyle Dillon

****Curriculum Developer**** 
dillonk@byui.edu 
(208) 496-7224 
 
Kyle has over five years of experience, and specializes in learning technologies, gamifications, and a variety of interactive elements, including Articulate 360 and AI. He works on the premise that adult learners need meaningful learning experiences that are dynamic, interactive, and self-directed. Kyle has a bachelors degree in English from BYU-Idaho and a masters in Ed. Technology from BSU with a certificate in Online Teaching for Adult Learners. 
 
Kyle is a husband and father who enjoys playing Magic: The Gathering and building Commander decks.

Debra Lowe

****Curriculum Designer**** 
lowed@byui.edu 
208-496-7222 
 
Debra has alternated between the classroom and instructional design several times, with fifteen years as a designer. Her educational passions include creativity and student engagement. She dabbles in programming, art, and a wide range of interests. These come together as part of instructional design. She has a biology and teaching composite degree from BYU, and an instructional design MS from USU. 
 
Currently, Debra is seeking to improve her quality of sleep, and is spending the remaining time learning Hebrew, helping family members, and doing memetic research.

Scott Rey

****Curriculum Designer**** 
reys@byui.edu 
(208) 496-1587 
 
Scott brings ten years of experience to the Curriculum Design team. His specialties include learning technologies, gamification, role-play, situated learning, and interactive elements. He believes authenticity is the key to meaningful learning. As students see value in the work, they are more engaged. He loves learning about everything. His master's degree is in Learning Technology and Instructional Design from USU. 
 
Scott was a teacher in Houston, Texas before he worked as a curriculum designer. He loves cooking, camping, working out, and fixing things.

Samuel Smith

****Curriculum Designer**** 
smithsa@byui.edu 
208-496-1503 
 
Samuel has worked with online and campus courses at BYU-Idaho since 2010 and has also done instructional design work at BYU, Powerspeak, and Stukent. He has also taught religion courses at BYU and BYU-Idaho, and he is currently an adjunct professor in BYU-Idaho's Department of Humanities where he teaches classical languages. He has a PhD in Instructional Psychology and Technology, an MA in Hebrew Language and Literature, and a BA in Classical Studies. Samuel enjoys teaching students about the world around them as much as he enjoys working with the faculty members to improve and develop their courses.

Samantha Toale

****Editing Specialist**** 
toales@byui.edu 
(208) 496-1867 
 
As the editing specialist, Samantha manages student employees, providing training and feedback. She previously served as a copy editor at BYU-Idaho. Her degree in in English Language and Literature, and helps write grants in her spare time. Mentors have described her as an excellent example of active learning and professionalism. Also, she is hard working and detail oriented. 
 
Samantha is a published writer and learned in her younger years to ask questions.

Request a Project