MEnu
Education | Experience | Engagement | Extras | Contact Info
Welcome
My name is Nicole Hopkins, and I am an Instructional Technology Support Specialist in Academic Technology & Outreach at Montana State University. In this role, I support the use of Adobe and other instructional technology tools across campus through workshops, in-class demonstrations, and other events.
I earned my Master's degree in Adult and Higher Education from MSU in 2024 and my Bachelor's degree in English Writing from MSU in 2022. In my studies I focused on digital literacy, ePortfolios, and employability skills. I hope to pursue a PhD or EdD in the future to continue exploring these areas within the education field.
Professional Certifications
Adobe Certified Professional
I earned a certificate in Content Creation and Marketing with Adobe Express in October 2024.
Canvas Basics Credential
I earned a certificate in Canvas Basics in June 2024.
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Education
GRADUATE
MEd - Adult & Higher Education
Montana State University | May 2024
- 4.0 Cumulative GPA
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Member
My master's degree in Adult & Higher Education allowed me to focus on my interests in the student success career field, specifically through professional development, ePortfolios, and digital literacy skills.
Undergraduate
BA - English Writing
Montana State University | May 2022
- 3.75 Cumulative GPA
- 2021/2022 - Grit Grant Recipient
- Fall 2021 - President's List
- Spring 2019 to Spring 2021 - Dean's List
Through my bachelor's degree in English Writing, I honed my communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. My capstone, a curriculum implementation proposal for ePortfolios, exemplifies this learning.
Experience
Studying at Montana State University has opened up amazing opportunities for me to gain experience in different roles and positions. Through my time at MSU, I have been a peer mentor, a new program intern, a digital literacy coach, a digital literacy assistant, a digital literacy specialist, and now an instructional technology support specialist. For over 5 years I have supported programs and initiatives across campus. Scroll down to learn more about my roles and responsibilities.
Instructional Technology Support Specialist - Academic Technology & Outreach
December 2024 - Present
- Conduct ongoing IRB-approved research studies on students' perceptions of their own digital literacy to understand how these perceptions change after studying digital literacy and creating digital media projects
- Update and maintain MSU's Adobe website and instructional technology sites using the university's CMS and event scheduling system
- Support various instructional technology tools including Panopto, iClicker, the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, Gradescope, YuJa Panorama, and Canvas LMS through workshops, webinars and consultations
- Teach in-person and online sections of "Exploring Digital Literacy and Design with Adobe Express," a non-credit course using Adobe tools to create content and build digital literacy skills
- Develop new trainings and support materials for instructional technology tools responsive to institutional needs
Digital Literacy Specialist/Assistant/Coach - Academic Technology & Outreach
Specialist: June 2024 - November 2024
- Attended NRMERA 2024 and presented a research poster on digital literacy skills in college students
- Provided dedicated support to ePortfolio efforts including updating and upgrading workshop content, the MSU ePortfolio website, and marketing materials
- Expanded workshop offerings to include broader topics such as building a personal brand, introductions to popular Adobe tools and a faculty-facing workshop on how to incorporate Adobe Express into the classroom
- Supported grant faculty in the implementation of digital media assignments in their classrooms, including facilitating in-class demonstrations of tools and the importance of digital literacy
Assistant: August 2022 - May 2024
- Attended Adobe MAX (a premier creative conference) in 2022 and 2023, used experiences and inspiration to create new workshops and hone existing digital literacy team materials
- Facilitated faculty focus groups to gain insight on faculty perspectives on digital literacy and to collaborate with more diverse groups on campus
- Hosted student focus groups to understand student perceptions of ePortfolios and the prevalence of digital media experiences within their classrooms
Coach: January 2022 - May 2022
- Continued development of the ePortfolio program including the introduction of professional development workshops
- Supported faculty who received Digital Literacy grants for the implementation of ePortfolios into classes across campus
- Assisted in organizing and hosting a showcase event to celebrate the work of grant faculty in collaboration with Adobe
Program Intern - Sophomore Surge/ePortfolio Program
June 2021 - December 2021
- Learned & utilized MSU's content management system (CMS) to construct a website for the university's new ePortfolio initiative
- Created resources and materials for ePortfolio workshops to deliver content to students
- Ran several ePortfolio workshops in conjunction with both the Sophomore Surge peer mentorship program and the Digital Literacy Integration (DigLit) Team
Peer Mentor - Sophomore Surge Program
August 2019 - December 2021
- Provided instructor and student support in first-year seminar courses
- Built personal relationships with new students and fostered community both inside and outside the classroom
- Collaborated to share knowledge and to support fellow mentors within the Sophomore Surge program
Engagement
Digital Literacy Cafe Panelist | April 2025
I was invited to speak at a Digital Literacy Cafe hosted by Adobe for Education about my work with Generative AI. I shared how we use AI to bring brands to life in a Build-a-Bear inspired workshop on branding and marketing and talked on a panel with other students about the impacts of AI on education and the workforce.
The buttons below link to the Digital Literacy Cafe website with upcoming webinar information and past offerings, and the press release from MSU about the event.
Adobe Student Ambassador | 2023-2024
I was accepted to the Adobe student ambassador program for the 2023-2024 school year. Through this program I was able to attend a Winter Institute focused on professional development, creativity, and personal branding. I also made connections with the Adobe support staff and students at other Adobe creative campuses. At the end-of-the-year awards in the spring of 2024, I won a Breakout Star award for my exemplary participation in the program within my first year.
The buttons below link to the information page for the student ambassador program and to an archive of social media posts I created for the program's social media requirements that were posted on the DigLit team's Instagram page.
Jordan Smith Undergraduate Student Fellow | 2021-2022
I was awarded the Jordan Smith Undergraduate Fellowship for my work with first-year students and first-year student-serving programs through ePortfolios and the Sophomore Surge peer mentorship program. One of five undergraduates who were selected nationally, I both received the award and attended the National Conference on the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition hosted by the National Resource Center out of the University of South Carolina.
The buttons below link to information about the fellowship and the press release from MSU about this award.
Extras
Photo captions below
Contact Info
Email: nicolehopkins2@montana.edu
Phone: 406 994 6595