A Lifelong Educator: CEHD’s Amy Riccardi, MEd.’04, Brings Instructional Expertise to the Classroom and the Community
February 17, 2026
By Kiersten Caputy
Amy RiccardiWhen Amy Riccardi enrolled in George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), she was already a seasoned professional with a growing career in corporate training and adult learning. She launched her eLearning consulting business in 2001 and sought a graduate program that would deepen her expertise while giving her the flexibility to design a curriculum aligned with her professional goals. CEHD’s MEd in Curriculum and Instruction offered exactly that. “I was able to craft a unique master's program that met my professional needs,” she reflects. The cohort model in Adult Learning gave her not only academic structure but also a strong sense of community that supported her throughout her program.
A turning point during her CEHD journey came when she taught a summer elective on eLearning at the end of her program in 2004—the first college-level course she had ever taught. That experience helped her bridge theory and practice, giving her insight into academic teaching that differed significantly from her corporate training work. It also solidified her passion for education and strengthened the instructional toolkit she continues to rely on today.
Her time in CEHD was also shaped by meaningful relationships. Mentors Edward “Ed” Jones and Becky Spurlock, who led the Adult Education cohort, provided the kind of steady guidance that kept her grounded—especially when she had to take a one-year break from the program. Their support ensured she returned and completed her degree, and the cohort model helped her build professional connections that have lasted more than two decades.
CEHD also transformed her understanding of how adults learn. Before George Mason, Riccardi had never formally studied andragogy or instructional design, and the coursework opened a new world of theory and practical tools. “From a foundational perspective, it was invaluable,” she says. The instructional models she studied and the tools she created continue to shape her consulting work today.
These models also guide Riccardi’s teaching as an adjunct professor at George Mason’s Costello College of Business. In 2024, for example, when the university transitioned from Blackboard to Canvas, she rebuilt her entire course from a 14-week in-person format into an 8-week fully asynchronous version. Her CEHD training allowed her to redesign content, activities, and assessments with confidence and rigor.
Today, Riccardi’s CEHD foundation informs every dimension of her professional life. As she continues her consulting work developing customized executive and management training programs, she draws directly on the instructional design frameworks she refined at George Mason. Since the pandemic, her business has seen increasing demand for strengths-based leadership programs and tailored professional development experiences. Her success, she says, is rooted in a lesson she first learned at CEHD: effective educators need a diverse instructional toolkit and the ability to adapt quickly when one approach doesn’t meet learners’ needs.
Riccardi is now preparing for an exciting new chapter. In November 2025, she was elected to serve on the Loudoun County School Board representing the Sterling District, a community with unique needs, including multiple Title I schools and a high percentage of English learners. She believes that her background in instructional design and curriculum evaluation will be essential as she helps shape educational policy and support vulnerable student populations. “My focus is shifting from adult learning to K–12 education policy,” she says, “to make a bigger impact on our most vulnerable populations in Northern Virginia.”
For current and aspiring CEHD students, Riccardi offers this advice: education—and the opportunities within it—extend far beyond the traditional classroom. “Do not overlook the importance of adult learning in corporate, government, or nonprofit settings,” she emphasizes. “There are so many pathways to make an impact. I’ve made an entire career of it, and customized training is still the number one request we receive each year.”
As her consulting business approaches its 25th anniversary in 2026 and she steps into her role on the school board, Amy Riccardi continues to exemplify the reach and versatility of a CEHD education. Her work stands as a testament to what happens when strong instructional design, a passion for learning, and a commitment to community come together to shape meaningful change.