About Me
Cindy Spires Malerba, M.A.
Most of my professional background is in higher education. I got my bachelor's degree in English from San Diego State University, and that is where I started tutoring international graduate students in English as a Second Language. I expanded my teaching and tutoring skills in graduate school as I earned my master's in English. While at Wayne State University, I was both the co-director of the university's writing center, and I was a GTA in English where I taught composition courses. Later, I started teaching around the Detroit area at local community colleges and at other universities. Eventually, I also got a teaching certificate in yoga in 2012, which helped me expand my teaching acumen. I have served as adjunct faculty in academic support services and as the director of a university writing center, and I have designed training and professional development for tutoring and supplemental instruction staff at multiple institutions of higher learning. Currently, I am the program coordinator for a breast cancer education and support program at a large hospital system in southeast Michigan where I curate meaningful learning engagements for breast cancer survivors. I am also a breast cancer survivor and empirically understand the need for meaningful patient education.
I have a love of teaching and of quality instructional design, which is why I have pivoted into this field by pursuing my MSEd in Learning Design and Technology at Purdue University. My unique background as a teacher and instructional designer helps me see the various ways that principles of instructional design can be brought to all aspects of our lives!