Hello, I'm Michael Hennessy,
Instructional Designer and eLearning Developer.
My Journey
From teaching to the priesthood to instructional design, my career has been a journey of transformation, storytelling, and learning innovation.
Learning Solutions
See how I craft engaging, learner-centered experiences through instructional design and eLearning projects.
Contact
Let’s connect. Reach out for collaboration, questions, or just to say hello.
My Journey
Looking back on my 20+ year professional journey, I’m both amazed and grateful. The path I took was one I never could have predicted, and even now, I sometimes find it hard to believe.With a passion for history at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, I naturally gravitated toward teaching. At 22, I stepped into my first classroom at the state’s oldest and largest public high school, a place filled with students from diverse backgrounds, speaking dozens of languages. Coming from a Catholic school education, it was a new and eye-opening experience—one that shaped me in ways I couldn’t have anticipated.Eight years in, as I neared 30, I felt the pull toward something different. I began to explore the idea of becoming a Catholic priest and joining a religious order. Looking back, I’m struck by the courage it took to step away from everything familiar into something entirely unknown. That path felt right, so I followed it—eventually being ordained at 36.For the next several years, I fully embraced what I thought would be my lifelong calling. My work took me from an urban parish in West Michigan to leadership roles in Los Angeles and New York City. It was meaningful, fulfilling, and challenging. But over time, I realized my heart was shifting in a new direction.Leaving ministry wasn’t just a career change—it was a complete reorientation of my identity. What would life look like outside of this role? And, just as practically, what would I do for work?I took time to breathe, reflect, and seek guidance. Conversations with loved ones and a career counselor helped me see that instructional design was a natural fit. I had spent years breaking down complex ideas into engaging, accessible learning experiences. I thrived on collaboration and had a strong foundation in technology.But I had work to do. I immersed myself in learning the tools and skills of instructional design, finding a program and a community that guided me along the way. Step by step, I built a new career—one that blends my passion for education, creativity, and making meaningful connections.
Learning Solutions
My approach to instructional design is rooted in clarity, engagement, and real-world application.
RunSure
At RunSure, providing customers with great-fitting running shoes is essential to improving their performance and growing sales. Their associates need to do more than only know a runner’s shoe size; they should be able to analyze the customer’s unique running style.I developed an interactive and scenario-based course in Articulate Storyline to assist these employees with the skills. The course, for new and existing associates, is tailored to help them sell more shoes by inviting repeat business through personalized running shoe recommendations.I designed this interactive and scenario-based eLearning course in Articulate Storyline to simulate the experience of watching a customer run and matching them with great-fitting shoes.
Briggs Engineering
Employees at Briggs Engineering are often required to lift heavy items as a part of their everyday work on the factory shop floor, putting them at risk for painful injuries and lost productivity.This course was designed to educate Briggs employees about lifting items safely to prevent injury. With Articulate Storyline, the course simulates the physical activity of lifting an object on the learner’s screen.The course, completed for the January 2024 eLearning Designers Academy eLearning design challenge, was selected as the top entry among all submissions, showcasing its user interface design, graphic design, visual communications, instructional design, and overall completeness.
Contact
Making a career shift can feel lonely, but you’re not alone. If you're navigating a transition—whether into instructional design or another new path—I’m here to support you. Feel free to reach out via email or connect with me on LinkedIn. Let’s walk this journey together.
Looking forward to the conversation!