Ava Lebid Completes Experiential Learning Project at SUNY Oneonta

Ava Lebid, of Yorktown Heights, NY, has completed an experiential learning project titled "Red Dragon ePortfolio" at SUNY Oneonta.

Throughout the calendar year, SUNY Oneonta students put their classroom knowledge into action as they complete a wide range of experiential learning projects across every academic discipline. Whether studying fashion trends, conducting biological research, analyzing historical archives, working in professional accounting settings or participating in community-based fieldwork, students are gaining real-world experience that prepares them for career success.

These opportunities are supported through the university's Experiential Learning Center, located on the main floor of the Hunt Union. The center connects students with internships, research opportunities, global education experiences, volunteer programs and sustainability initiatives. By emphasizing hands-on engagement and practical skill development, the center ensures that experiential learning is woven into every major at SUNY Oneonta.

"Over the summer, I worked as a design intern under the supervision of Ed Beck at the SUNY Oneonta Faculty Center. The faculty center has been exploring ways to encourage students to build ePortfolios, and as a design student, I was able to contribute my skills to this initiative. My main role was to support students in developing portfolios. I worked extensively in WordPress, where I helped create a new starter theme that students could use to build their own professional portfolios and websites," said Lebid, who is studying Digital & Studio Art.

"As a culminating project, I designed and launched my own personal e-portfolio/website, applying the skills I had developed throughout the internship. Beyond my work, I also contributed to the SUNY Oneonta OpenLab WordPress site by designing a theme with custom headers, footers, and page layouts for ePortfolios that improved consistency and accessibility. The new theme was implemented in the Fall 2025 semester for campus-wide student use.

"To support the adoption of these tools, I created student-friendly tutorials that walked users through customizing the pre-made templates. These guides were written from the perspective of a student, making them approachable and easy to follow for first-time WordPress users. I designed reusable WordPress patterns that followed ADA accessibility standards; built my first beginner portfolio on WordPress, learning the program through trial and error; helped improve the usability and design of the OpenLab WordPress site, contributing elements like headers, footers, and galleries; and developed tutorials and documentation to help students confidently create their own websites and portfolios.

"When I began this internship, I had no prior experience with WordPress. My first take on building a simple portfolio challenged me to learn quickly and adapt. As I continued working, I became more confident in designing and customizing websites, learning not only the technical aspects of WordPress but also how accessibility and usability shape design decisions."

Students benefit from a robust network of campus offices housed within the Experiential Learning Center. The Career Planning and Networking Center helps students secure internships in locations such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Albany and Los Angeles, as well as with local businesses and nonprofits. The Office of Global Education offers programs ranging from 10-day faculty-led trips to full-year study abroad experiences, while the Office of Student Research and Creative Activity supports student research through grants and opportunities to present at the annual Student Research and Creative Activity Showcase.

SUNY Oneonta invests heavily in helping students access these opportunities. Each year, the university awards more than $120,000 in grants to support student research, internships and travel to professional conferences. In addition, 23 study abroad and experiential scholarships help students participate in faculty-led programs, national competitions and industry events.

To view these students click here: https://oneonta.meritpages.com/achievements/Ava-Lebid-Completes-Experiential-Learning-Project-at-SUNY-Oneonta/199235