About Me

I build learning experiences for the way people actually learn.

I’m Deb Mattoso — a Senior Instructional Designer, learning strategist, and the kind of person who thinks deeply about why a module isn’t working and won’t stop until it does.

I hold a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology from Walden University and a Graduate Certificate in UX Design from Cornell. I’ve spent six years in higher education designing faculty-facing training, building institution-wide AI literacy programs, and leading cross-functional eLearning projects from concept through evaluation.

Currently, I’m a Senior Instructional Designer at Covista (formerly Walden University), where I lead the design of the AI Ready Graduates initiative — a multi-module, multi-audience AI literacy program training faculty, staff, and students across the institution. It’s the kind of project that requires translating complex frameworks into plain, accessible language, managing multiple stakeholders, and making design decisions grounded in cognitive load theory, Mayer’s principles, and Universal Design for Learning. It’s also the kind of work I do best.

What Sets Me Apart

I design for how brains actually work. As a neurodivergent designer, I apply accessibility principles because I experience firsthand what happens when learning design fails to account for different minds. Every module I build is informed by UDL, sensory-aware design choices, and a deep belief that if it doesn’t work for the edges, it doesn’t work.

I bring cultural depth to my work. I’m Brazilian-born and trilingual in English, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish. My Latin-American upbringing shapes how I think about embodied learning, inclusive design, and creating space for people who’ve historically been left out of “standard” learning environments.

I’m also a yoga teacher. I run Luminous Yoga Academy and teach weekly classes locally. Yoga informs my design practice in tangible ways: sequencing, pacing, reading the room, knowing when to challenge and when to support. The way you do anything is the way you do anything.

Outside the Work

When I’m not designing, I’m probably on a yoga mat, on a trail, or journaling about both. I live in Maryland with my husband, two dogs, and one cat. I keep a notebook everywhere because the best ideas rarely happen at a desk.

Academic Education

Walden University, 2025

Master of Science, Instructional Design and Technology

Cornell University, 2022

Graduate Certificate, User Experience Research and Design

Estácio de Sá University, 2003

Associate’s of Arts, Journalism

Walden University, 2020

Bachelor of Science in Communication

University of California, 2018

Certificate, Academic and Business Writing

Curtin University, 2017

Certificate, Digital Branding, and Engagement

Work Experience

Awards & Recognition

2023 USDLA Silver Award Winner

2025 OLC Presenter/ Speaker

Let’s connect.