Profile

Natalia Guerrido Petersen, an ISD MA graduate, is a Career Management Consultant with over 20 years of corporate, government, non-profit and small-business experience. Petersen's experience includes training workshops, seminars focusing on knowledge and skill development, business development strategies, presentation skills to name a few. She most recently worked as a senior sales executive for a Fortune 100 company where she developed and delivered strategies to local sales reps, enabling them to develop their business opportunities. Petersen has enjoyed this part of her job so much so, she decided to make a career change transitioning into the human performance technology field.

Having received her B.S. in Organizational Management from Columbia Union College and started her graduate studies at Marymount University, Petersen decided to research the internet for a program that concentrated more on computer-based training or distance learning--training delivery methods that would facilitate her career transition. And, that's when she discovered UMBC. Petersen then transferred over to UMBC's ISD Training Systems Master's Program.

Petersen has been able to make practical application of her academic experience at UMBC. As a volunteer of the Potomac Chapter of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI), she was able to use classroom knowledge and skills to collect and analyze data for ISPI's strategic planning taskforce. As a result of her contributions, she received the organization's Bert Holtby Award for Outstanding Volunteer. Other courses helped her apply learning strategies consciously and systematically. A self-directed project entitled "Toward a Philosophy of Training" allowed her to integrate results of assessment instruments to create a personal philosophy check list that enabled her to apply a consistent, value-based approach in all her training interventions. Always ready to volunteer, Petersen agreed to serve as a student liaison on the ISD Training Systems Advisory Board.

"The students, faculty and alumni provided me with a rich network of opportunities for information and job interviews. Many of the students and faculty work in the field so it has been possible for me to gather pertinent and practical information about the field. These networks have been invaluable to me as I explore the type of companies, roles, training cultures and real world performance issues," says Petersen.

"The ISD Training Systems Program is one of the few programs in the area that gives you the knowledge, skills and networks you need to make the most of a career in human performance improvement," says Petersen. "The academic work at UMBC has provided me with an exceptional background in training and development. Combined with my work experience, I feel very confident that I am well prepared to make a significant contribution in the field. I would highly recommend this program to anyone."