Hi, I'm Alina Wang.
I am passionate about integrating instructional technology, UX design, digital learning, and librarianship to create engaging, user-centered learning experiences that make information more accessible and enjoyable.
My interests also include utilizing multimedia and emerging technologies, such as generative AI tools, to enhance learning design and improve educational experiences in both formal and informal settings. In addition, I am deeply interested in technology literacy, particularly how adult learners learn and interact with new technologies in the context of tech innovation.
I am pursuing a Master's in Library and Information Science (MLIS) and an Advanced Certificate in Digital Asset Management at San José State University (SJSU). I hold an MA in Instructional Technology and Media from Teachers College (TC), Columbia University, and a BA in Asian Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Welcome to my visual portfolio!
My Professional Experience
Peer Mentor, Online Learning: Tools and Strategies for Success, San José State University (SJSU).
• Mentored 35 incoming MLIS students in their transition to online graduate study, providing guidance and support for students' success in a virtual learning environment
• Co-led a live Zoom meetup session with fellow peer mentors to share tips and insights on using AI at the iSchool
• Assessed and provided feedback on student assignments using Canvas LMS, aligned with rubric guidelines
• Collaborated with faculty and fellow peer mentors in a team-teaching model informed by foundational learning theories
Graduate Assistant, Reading Nation Waterfall (RNW), San José State University (SJSU).
Contributed to children's literacy access initiatives for Native American communities by supporting four key projects under the Reading Nation Waterfall (RNW) program:
• Co-created a strategic pitch deck on Book Ecosystems to support program expansion across tribal and educational communities and secure funding
• Co-designed and formatted visual presentations for the 2025 ARSL Conference session, "Libraries Rise: Book Ecosystems as Foundations for Strong Communities," enhancing communication of program challenges, key learnings, and replication strategies
• Contributed to the redesign of the Replication Toolkit presentation to improve visual clarity, accessibility, and usability for community and institutional partners
• Partnered with Library Technology Integration (LTI) Lab as an information designer on the RNW VR Frame Space Project, developing an immersive 3D gallery for the 2025 ATALM Conference
Marketing and Communications Assistant, Department of Enrollment Marketing and Communications, Teachers College (TC), Columbia University.
• Collaborated with the marketing team on strategic initiatives to enhance visibility and engagement for academic programs
• Researched and recommended promotional channels to support the launch of TC's new online psychology program
• Optimized presentation templates (e.g., virtual tours, program decks) for faculty, staff, and prospective students, ensuring alignment with TC's updated branding guidelines
• Standardize visual assets across departments, ensuring consistency in fonts, colors, imagery, and logo usage to reinforce brand identity
When I worked as a student assistant at the Enrollment Marketing and Communications at Teachers College, Columbia University, I participated in two main projects.
Project One: Higher Education Competitive Analysis for Website Architecture
- Analyzed the websites of the top 10 educational graduate schools (U.S. News & World Report, 2023–2024) to evaluate their information and website architecture, UX, SEO, and overall digital presence.
- Identified strategic opportunities and delivered actionable recommendations to enhance Teachers College’s web strategy.
- Created stakeholder presentations with data visualizations and site models to support decision-making.
Project Two: TC's New Online School Counseling – Sponsored Content Placements
- Conducted targeted market research on 100+ educational and psychology organizations to support the launch of TC’s online school counseling program.
- Built and maintained a detailed dataset of potential partners, tracking mission statements, social media reach, advertising opportunities, and media contacts using Excel and Google Sheets.
- Partnered with the associate director of digital marketing to contribute to SWOT and competitive analyses, helping identify six high-impact organizations for strategic outreach.
Graduate Research Assistant
I also worked as a graduate research assistant at the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools & Teaching, Teachers College, Columbia University.
- Supported a senior researcher on confidential early college and dual enrollment initiatives by analyzing quantitative and qualitative data to generate actionable insights
- Created and formatted data visualizations, such as tables, charts, and graphs, in Excel and Word to ensure clarity and consistency across reports.
- Transcribed and synthesized interview content to support literature reviews and enhance project documentation.
Course Project
Where I’m From
A Poem About My Identity (Multimodal Learning Project)
This poem explores my personal and cultural identity through rich sensory details and memories, presented in text and video formats, to illustrate the power of multimodal expression in learning.
This piece describes my journey from China to the U.S. and the growth I have experienced through different cultures, places, and experiences. Every place I have lived has been an opportunity for me to learn about myself. Even when all the surroundings were new, I took comfort in art, language, and people. By sharing this poem, I want to demonstrate how I have learned to belong anywhere.
A video version of the poem
- Image created using Adobe Firefly (Adobe, 2025).
- Voice created using an AI Voice Generator tool: Adorable Girl (CapCut, 2025).
Redesign of Teaching Indigenous Languages (TIL) Website
User Personal Section: I contributed to the redesign by developing the “User Personal” section, focusing on improving user-centered navigation, accessibility, and cultural sensitivity. I also ensured that the content and layout reflected diverse user needs, including educators, language learners, and community members.
Wireframes: Led the refinement and polishing of wireframes to enhance clarity, consistency, and visual hierarchy. Collaborated with team members to align design elements with the project’s goals and user experience best practices.
Before
After
Wireframes
The wireframes visually illustrate the redesigned website's layout and structure, showcasing improved functionality from the upper header and navigation area to the footer and reflecting our redesign strategy. We used Canva to design the visual and interactive elements, including multimedia components, icons, images, and AI-generated videos to help improve usability and accessibility. To enhance user experience, we also designed interactive features such as carousels, hover effects, filters, dropdown menus, clickable buttons, and a search bar to help users easily and quickly find the most relevant resources. In addition, we made new taxonomy tags under the filter function, including “K-12 Education,” "Higher Education," and "Family Education," to help users browse, locate, and find categorized content.
Watch the video to view a detailed breakdown of each wireframe element and its purpose.
To learn more about wireframes, scan the QR code below.
Thanks for checking out my visual portfolio!
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn!
Credits:
Created with images by RomixImage - "Online learning design concept. Top view of student table with computer, headphone and stationeries." • Sensay - "E - learning concept, online education login or registration screen design" • ZeNDaY - "Brainstorming Session with Hand Drawn Mind Map" • yavdat - "School supplies, stationery space for caption. Back to school concept. School, education and learning concept. creativity for kids. Top view colorful background. Flat lay" • ArchiVIZ - "Staircase made of books, education concept, learning, improvement and progress through education, development of ideas, blank white background with copy space" • RomixImage - "Online learning design concept. Top view of student table with computer, headphone and stationeries."