Luiz Teixeira Associate Director of Instructional & Student Technology, UCLA Extension

"In my almost three decades in higher education, Veronica is truly one of the best and most knowledgeable professionals I’ve had the pleasure to work with. She brings a rare blend of strategic leadership and creative excellence to every project. As a collaborator, she’s focused, communicative, and consistently aligns instructional design with broader organizational goals.

What sets Veronica apart is her expert use of instructional design tools. She skillfully leverages platforms like Articulate, Rise, and Storyline to build engaging, effective learning experiences for diverse audiences, including external partners. While she is a professional of the highest caliber, her real secret is that she lives what she does. Her passion for learning and design is evident in every detail. I’d work with her again in a heartbeat."

Dr. Alina Dorian Associate Dean for Public Health Practice, UCLA Fielding

"Working with Veronica on the Virtual Training Academy was an absolute pleasure. From day one, she brought expertise, creativity, and a genuine passion for making learning accessible and engaging. Her expertise as Lead Instructional Designer ensured that materials were thoughtfully structured, onboarding was smooth, and trainees felt supported throughout their journey.

She not only ensured a seamless course design and launch but also made the entire process feel collaborative and inspiring. Her warmth, patience, and unwavering support—whether during weekly meetings or while troubleshooting tech issues—made a world of difference. Her dedication and leadership were instrumental in making this program a success. Veronica’s impact goes beyond instruction—she truly cares about people and their success."

Vivian Taslakian Program Director, UCLA Extension Engineering Department

"I've had the pleasure of working with Veronica Thompson since October 2017, as she supported the update of my most profitable and popular program, Project Management. Over the years, Veronica has been instrumental in launching programs and training instructors, always earning praise for her support.

She is widely recognized across our institution for her technical expertise and ability to lead large-scale initiatives, including partnerships with UCLA’s campus and corporate clients. Having worked with her for so long, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact she has had on the individuals she has worked with and the larger institution."

Dr. Animesh Sabnis Director of Health Equity Analytics and Strategy, UCLA Health System

"Veronica Thompson led the team developing an organization-wide training module for our large healthcare workforce. She was highly collaborative, strategically effective, and she applied her design expertise to creatively solve problems we faced in our project.

She and her team produced an exceptional, engaging, visually-appealing training that helped our organization convey essential clinical skills to our workforce and to comply with statewide regulations. End users routinely name Veronica’s product as the very best training they have taken over their many years at our organization."

Nurit Katz Chief Sustainability Officer, UCLA Sustainability

"I had the great pleasure of working with Veronica to update my course as part of UCLAxOnline, a comprehensive initiative to reimagine the learning experience for our students. Veronica helped me transition my class to a more accessible and dynamic online course. In addition to her technical knowledge about course design and online education, she brings creativity and energy to any endeavor."

Carri Joyce Sr. Instructional Designer, UCLA Global Online

"With a natural entrepreneurial spirit, Veronica proactively sought opportunities to optimize workflows and innovate instructional strategies. Whether researching and using generative AI tools to accelerate project development or building scalable templates using custom CSS within the Canvas LMS, Veronica consistently brought resourceful, solution-oriented thinking that aligned with our team's need to be lean and impactful. Her creative expertise in graphic design and visual communication consistently transformed complex instructional material into visually engaging and learner-centered content. She leveraged her design and programming skills with tools like Adobe Creative Suite and Articulate Storyline to create polished, interactive eLearning modules that were instructionally sound, accessible, visually captivating, and brand consistent.

Beyond technical expertise, Veronica is a natural mentor and motivator, who leads by example. She cultivates a culture where team members feel empowered and inspired. She champions continuous improvement and embodies the highest standards of professionalism and empathy."

Matt Larcin Sr. Instructional Designer, UCLA Extension

"Beyond her impressive technical and leadership skills, Veronica made the workplace a genuinely enjoyable and motivating space. She has a gift for building strong, connected teams through creative team-building activities, inclusive leadership, and an approachable, positive attitude. Her ability to balance high expectations with encouragement and empathy made a lasting impact on both our team culture and the quality of our deliverables. I’m deeply grateful to have had the chance to learn from and work alongside such a dedicated and inspiring leader."



Lee Anna Smith Sr. Instructional Designer, UCLA Extension

"Veronica is an exceptional leader who brings clarity, creativity, and heart to every aspect of her work. For five years, I had the privilege of working under her direction on UCLA Extension’s instructional design team. During that time, she consistently modeled what thoughtful, effective leadership looks like: technically skilled, deeply human, and focused on measurable results.

Her productivity and precision raised the bar for the entire team, helping us achieve key organizational goals. She led our remote team through a large-scale university initiative to redesign and enhance 88 online courses in under two years. She also guided cross-functional efforts to streamline instructor onboarding, expand our instructor knowledge base to over 100 practical resources, and develop templates and a style guide that ensured consistency and quality across all educational products...Working with Veronica was a professional highlight. She led with integrity, built with intention, and inspired our team to do our best work. "