I translate for a living
As a medical interpreter I carried meaning between patients and providers in conversations where getting it wrong wasn't an option. I bring that same care to explaining technical systems to people who aren't technical.
Hello, I'm
Michelle Gallego
Learning Experience Designer
I take complex systems and turn them into learning experiences people can actually use. I start with the learner, find the right tool for the job, and test it before it ships.
1,000+ global members onboarded for a new doctoral program
4 HBS faculty members supported as their primary point of contact
2 graduate certificates in learning design and digital storytelling
3 working languages: English, Spanish, and Japanese
Selected work
Case studies
Click a project to see the challenge, my approach, and the outcome.
How I work
My design process
The need decides the format, not the other way around. Step through the process to see where each part shows up in my work.
What I bring
Skills explorer
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Beyond the job title
What sets me apart
I design across cultures
I taught English in a fully Japanese-speaking school in Shiso, Japan, adapting lessons for many learning levels. I've worked in three languages, and it shaped how I think about who a piece of learning is for.
I can make the thing
I script, record, narrate, and edit my own training in Camtasia and Premiere Pro. I'm also finishing an ALM in Digital Media Design at Harvard Extension School with a short-film capstone.
I advocate for the learner
I first learn a new platform as a beginner so I can build the training from a beginner's view. I check accessibility and usability early, when changes are still cheap to make.
Experience
The journey so far
Education & credentials
Always learning
Harvard Extension School
ALM, Digital Media Design
In progress · Expected May 2027 · Capstone short film combining digital storytelling, UX, and learning technology
UMass Amherst
B.A. Comparative Literature, Minor in Japanese
GPA 3.85 · Cum Laude · Dean's List · Honors-to-Honors Scholarship · Phi Theta Kappa · Study abroad at Kansai Gaidai University, Osaka
Certificates
- Learning Design & Technology Graduate Certificate, Harvard Extension, 2026
- Digital Storytelling Graduate Certificate, Harvard Extension, 2025
- UX Design Micro-Certificate, Harvard Extension, expected Jan 2027
- Medical Interpreting (Spanish) 60-hour certificate, UMass Medical
- Translation & Interpretation UMass Amherst
Let's talk
Have a learning problem worth solving?
I gravitate toward design roles that advocate for the learner.
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