2026 Champion: Costa, Stephanie and the Instructional Design and Development Team
Biography
Stephanie Costa is the Director of Instructional Design and Development at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide. Her work focuses on training, information technology, project management, and instructional development and design, with expertise in instructional development, training, communication, analysis, technology, and project management. She earned her MBA in Business Administration and Information Technologies from Baker College in Flint, Michigan, in June 2006.
Campus
WorldWide
Position
Director of Instructional Design and Development
COinS
2026 Champion: Costa, Stephanie and the Instructional Design and Development Team
Comments
Nomination Comments:
"The WW--COA appreciation for Stephanie Costa and her IDD Design Team is IMMENSE! Partnered with faculty SMEs during course development, redevelopment and update processes, Stephanie Costa and her team work tirelessly to schedule, support and operationalize the most important thing we do -- deliver course content to our students! But that is not all! These talented professionals contribute their unique expertise directly to this process. Which, of course, includes creative and innovative approaches to better ensure student success and achievement of course and program student learning outcomes with a clear path to degree completion paved with abundant, varied and high quality resources for our students AND faculty. How is this measurable? From July 2025 to March 2026, together, we have completed course design work on 134 courses--from April 2026 to June 2026 we anticipate an additional 26 courses (160 total!). This remarkable effort always includes, as a primary consideration, using learning resources that not only promote textbook affordability and open education, but do so with industry advisory recommendations and student engagement as primary drivers. We could not deliver the outstanding courses we do to our students without the partnership of Steph Costa and her Design Team! They deserve to be recognized, but not only that, enthusiastically applauded for their relentless dedication to excellence and teamwork. They help us to make "personalized, engaged student learning" a reality for the WW College of Aviation and we are most appreciative."