Alison Holland, EdD | Web Developer

Headshot of Alison Holland
Photo by Natalie Jennings

Hi, I’m Alison.

I’m a web developer based in Minnesota with a background in online learning design, research, and public service.

I love solving problems, simplifying complex issues, and creating accessible digital experiences.

Before transitioning to web development, I spent 15+ years in education and served as a County Commissioner. These experiences helped me hone skills in systems thinking, clear communication, and collaborative problem-solving—skills I now apply to creating intuitive, user-centered websites.

One of my favorite (and coldest) days on the job was helping environmental scientists saw through ice to capture 360° images of invasive watermilfoil for an educational program. I’m a lifelong learner and nature-lover, and I bring curiosity and creativity into everything I do.

Whether I’m planning a new feature or writing clean, accessible code, my focus is always on making technology work better for people.

Skills

  • Front-end technologies including responsive, mobile-first design and accessibility practices (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Media Queries, Content Management Systems)
  • Back-end development including Object-Oriented Programming (Python) and database integration (SQL, Jinja, PHP)
  • Version control (Git, GitHub)
  • Web frameworks (React, Flask)
  • API development and integration including CRUD operations (REST, RESTful)
  • Learning design and learning management systems (Canvas, Moodle), including knowledge of UI/UX design
  • Quantitative and qualitative research including survey design (Qualtrics), usability testing, focus groups, and data analysis and visualization
  • Plain language writing, break downing complex topics and turning jargon into plain language
  • Standard office software (Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Canva)

Projects

AI Prompt Builder Powered by React
PromptAlchemy: A Chingu team project

Skills

  • Utilization of HTML, CSS, and React.js
  • Implementation of Google Gemini API
  • Collaborative development on a remote team using agile practices, including both solo and pair programming
  • Application of accessible design practices

Tools

  • React + Vite
  • Google Gemini API
  • Netlify
  • Figma
  • Chrome DevTools
  • GitHub Repository and Projects

Description

This app was created through a Chingu tier 1 voyage. As a team, we built a web application, PromptAlchemy, which lets its users become more effective at building AI prompts.

It follows a structured methodology called a Pentagram to help the user build good prompts, test them, and learn to improve on them along the way.

I led the implementation of accessibility best practices and applied design styles to ensure an intuitive and inclusive user experience.

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Custom WordPress Development
Fictional Marketing Agency

Skills

  • Utilization of HTML and CSS
  • PHP development of WordPress Custom Themes, Child Themes, and advanced theme customizations
  • Work flows utilizing local development, stage, and production environments
  • Application of accessible design practices
  • Editing and updating existing websites

Tools

  • MySQL
  • WordPress
  • Plugins
  • Visual Studio Code
  • GitHub Repository
  • SiteGround

Description

This is a custom WordPress site developed for a Skillcrush course. I customized the project by implementing a mobile-first strategy and adding customer quotes on the homepage, replacing a Twitter feed in the original design.

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React App with Filters
Resource list for learning to code

Skills

  • Utilization of HTML, CSS, and React.js
  • Image editing
  • Application of accessible design practices
  • Updating and adapting legacy code

Tools

  • CodeSandbox
  • GitHub Repository
  • Netlify
  • Canva
  • Chrome DevTools
  • Accessibility and CSS validators

Description

This resource list allows you to filter by type. It was built in CodeSandbox with JavaScript React and image icons created in Canva. Then it was saved to GitHub and deployed on Netlify.

Noticing the challenge of sharing resources with Skillcrush students in the company’s Slack channel, I decided to augment a course project that filtered hotel rooms to share resources for learning to code.

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