Academic Design
Meet the Team
Academic Design Team
Kara Wicklund, Ed.D.
Director of Academic Design
With expertise in pedagogy and andragogy, curriculum design, assessment, and accreditation, Kara brings 20 years of experience across K–12 and higher education. Joining Bethel in 2011 as an instructional designer, she now serves as its director. Committed to fostering belonging and helping students reach their vocational goals, she actively seeks partnerships across the university on educational technology, faculty support, and system change. She holds a B.S. in Education, an M.A. in Education, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership.
Kyle Lemberg, M.A.
Senior Instructional Designer
With over 20 years of experience in secondary and higher education, Kyle brings expertise in teaching, instructional design, curriculum development, and faculty support. After a decade as a high school English teacher, he transitioned into higher education in 2016, where he has focused on instructional design and supporting course and program development. He is passionate about creating engaging, student-centered learning environments and collaborating with faculty to improve course quality. He holds a B.A. in Pastoral Studies and Children’s Ministry and an M.A. in Teaching.
Nicki Luehrs, M.A.
Instructional Designer
Nicki is an Instructional Designer with over 15 years of experience in education. Her interests and expertise lie in supporting early college students, community building, and increasing clarity in the student experience. She sees relationships as foundational to meaningful work and learning and brings that value into the course design process. Nicki is passionate about making education sustainable for faculty and transformative for students, believing that when both are supported well, great learning follows. She holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Teaching.
Suzanne Oakes, M.A.
Instructional Designer
Suzanne brings over 20 years in curriculum design, eLearning, and undergraduate teaching. While teaching, she discovered instructional design as a way to make online learning more engaging and meaningful. Since joining Bethel in 2023, she has partnered with faculty to create courses that nurture faith, foster deep thinking, and support student growth. Her background in communication, health education, and continuing education/accreditation grounds her outcomes-driven approach. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Community Health and an M.A. in Communication from Bethel University.
Josh Johnson
Instructional Media Designer
With a background in media production and camera support, Josh brings technical expertise to the media design process. He has over 10 years of experience creating instructional videos, which began with his role as a student worker for Bethel’s Physics department. He holds a B.A. in Media Communication from Bethel University and is currently taking courses at the seminary.