About Me

In Aiden's spare time, he enjoys working on programming and robotics projects. He joined GameU because he has been a longtime student and thought it would be fun to work here.

Achievements

Enrolled in the HCVSD Computer Science and Applied Engineering Academy

About Me

Ailsa graduated cum laude with a BFA in Interactive Design and Game Design from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). She specializes in graphic and character design, drawing, and drag-and-drop programming, and is the author of a VR (virtual reality) game. Additionally, she is an expert in Blender, Unreal Engine, Substance Painter, RPGMaker, Construct 3, and Adobe’s Creative Suite, among others. In her free time, Ailsa enjoys 3D art, tabletop RPGs, zoology, drawing, and animation!

About Me

Alaura holds a Bachelor’s degree in 3D Modeling in Visual Studies and a minor in Creative Writing & Fine Arts from the Ringling College of Art and Design, where she was also awarded Best of Ringling Faculty in 2020. A natural team player, Alaura enjoys creating and developing ideas in a collaborative setting, and is a skilled artist and 3D modeler, specializing in programs such as Maya, Zbrush, Substance Painter, and Substance Designer. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting with various mixed media, playing games, and restoring old arcade machines and retro consoles back to working condition.

About Me

Alex loves video games and game design, and he also loves teaching and working with people with special needs. Before he joined the team, he was already looking for ways to teach people how to design video games privately because he hadn't realized that companies like GameU existed. That coupled with the fact that he could work from home has made his job with GameU "the best job I've ever had!"

Achievements

• Self-taught indie developer since 2014
• Has one released virtual reality game
• Contributions to various PC indie games as a freelancer work
• Very advanced with Unreal Engine 4 and 5

About Me

Alex likes things of all sorts like cycling out in the countryside as well as staying in and playing video games. Most of his hobbies revolve around making video games. He hopes to one day make something that he can be proud of.

Achievements

• Graduate Of Ohio University

About Me

Amelia holds an associate's degree in Criminal Justice from Penn State University. She has over a decade of professional experience in a variety of simultaneous fields, including human services, education, management, and others. Prior to her career at GameU, she worked as a "latchkey" teacher at a before/after school program. In all aspects of her varied vocations, however, she continually dedicates herself to understanding the ins and outs of operations and all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into them - with the goal of maximizing efficiency and minimizing issues.

In her free time, Amelia enjoys hiking, kayaking, and even skydiving!

Achievements

• Associates Degree from Penn State University
• Over a decade of professional experience with human services, education, management, and others.

About Me

Andrew enjoys a wide variety of games (including Super Smash Bros., Animal Crossing, Pokemon, and Elder Scrolls), building model kits, and playing Dungeons and Dragons. A big goal of his is to be able to create an experience that other people get to enjoy through game design which made GameU a natural fit for him. Though, he also strives to someday publish an indie game that creates some widespread enjoyment.

Achievements

• Graduate of Bloomfield College with bachelor’s degrees in Video Game Design and Video Game Programming

About Me

Anisah had a few different career paths before coming to GameU: IT consultant, web developer, graphic designer, and private school office administrator. She also worked for an indie dev company for over a year and jumped into a few teams, including clothing creating, hair creation, texturing, and rigging. Some of her hobbies include F1, learning massage therapy, cooking, and gardening in addition to producing 2d and 3d art and gaming. She also enjoys modding software apps, games and even devices until they break. Anisah still wants to fulfill her dream from when she was 12 and create/maintain an animation studio.

Achievements

• Has a Master of Science degree in Digital Imaging and Design from New York University with a concentration in 3D Animation
• Has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Information Technology and Informatics with a minor in Art History
• Certificate in 3D Character Design for Video Games from Vertex School

About Me

Anna's goals are to share her experiences and skills with others and to make learning both profitable and enjoyable for all of her students! She wants to help them do something that they might always have wanted to do but couldn't quite figure out how. When she was a kid, she was honestly hungry to learn things (anything! To this day, she will challenge anyone to best her in dinosaur trivia) but was always especially on fire to know how to do things like art and writing. Watching other people grow and succeed because of something she gave them is one of the most fulfilling parts of being a teacher. At GameU, she works with children and adults both with and without special needs, teaching them how to do things she also loves to do. She writes for her company and shows off what the kids are learning. She's doing what she loves and helping other people do it too. In her free time, Anna enjoys spending time with family, kayaking, hiking, writing, making digital and traditional art of all kinds, and attempting (with limited success) to keep her pet cockatiel Shadow from devouring everything in sight.

Achievements

• Graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education Interdisciplinary Studies at Liberty University along with a minor in Studio and Digital Arts
• Invited to join honor societies: Alpha Lambda Delta and NSCS (National Society of Collegiate Scholars)
• Commissioned freelance artist with two consecutive Honorable Mentions
• Art Program Leader at Gigi’s Playhouse, a non-profit center for individuals with down syndrome.

About Me

Anthony has an Associate’s degree in Psychology from SCCC (Sussex County Community College). He’s an avid video game player (ranked in the top twenty best players worldwide for several different video games) and musician, with an impressive list of projects! These include: “Hot-Wheelz EP”, the openings for Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Tame One, and Justina Valentine, in addition to a recording by the Misfits and various other singles and collaborations in the hip-hop genre. Anthony’s also been offered multiple opportunities to open for Rakim, as well as perform at Vans Warped Tour! In his free time, Anthony enjoys playing Xbox One and being outdoors.

About Me

Ariana is a longtime student at GameU and lover of animation and Nintendo games. She is training to break into Storyboarding for TV animation one day.

Achievements

• Has an Associate of Applied Science degree from Nassau Community College

About Me

Benjamin is an avid gamer and enjoys sharing his interests with others. He has a degree in game development and was scouted on LinkedIn by Michael Kawas. His goal is to release a very successful game.

Achievements

• Degree in Game Dev
• Coded his own VR game engine in C++

About Me

Benjamin always enjoys learning something new, especially when a student presents something they want to learn that he is not entirely familiar with. He also really enjoys new and live music and teaching himself guitar. He was glad to start at GameU since it blended a lot of his interests with both education and video games.

Achievements

• English degree with minor in Journalism and Communication

About Me

Brad is a game industry professional mostly working in Indie Studios, but also has experience at a few AAA Companies working on a few well know FPS games. He is also a Quality Engineer working for a big real-estate company know as Zillow. Some of his hobbies are playing video games (obviously), traveling the world, making models, painting, drawing, running a graphic design company on the side, rowing crew boats/scull boats, and weightlifting!

Achievements

• Has 3 bachelor degrees from Purdue University in Computer Graphic Technology, Game Development and Design, and Web Programming and Design
• Working toward his master's degree

About Me

Brennan's primary hobby would most likely be playing various video games and seeing the new releases for strategy and MMO games as time goes on. He enjoys playing basketball and building things in his free time. He also collects mechanical keyboards and is constantly trying to thrift old keyboards.

Achievements

• Graduated from Purdue University with a dual major in Video Game Design and 3D Animation
• Was a Freelancer for 3D Design projects

About Me

Brett is a father of three who, in his (limited!) spare time enjoys comic books, hip hop, basketball, and mountain biking.

Achievements

• Attended California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art & Graphic Design
• Worked as a CTE Game Design Instructor
• Was a software developer and UI designer for various tech start-ups and open-source software
• Character designer and illustrator for several indie team projects
• K-12 Game Jam Facilitator.

About Me

Since beginning her journey in the art field, Brittany's dedication to the work and motivation to grow have led her to wonderful projects and experiences. This led her to GameU. She is grateful for a profession she's passionate about, and in her free time, she likes to paint, play with her pets, and go on hikes.

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Animation from Savannah College of Art and Design
• Associate degree in Illustration and Advertising from Mercer County Community College
• Producer, Animator, Modeler on Function, a 3D animated Short
• Winner of Red Dot for Design

About Me

Camila is a versatile multimedia artist and game developer, focusing on the interaction of fine arts and technology and specializing in programming, game design, AR/VR (augmented and virtual reality), interactive video, and 3D animation and design, as well as more two-dimensional practices such as graphic design, photography, and videography. In her free time, Camila enjoys dance, hiking, yoga, and music!

Achievements

• Won an IGDA Scholarship from IGDA• Has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Game Development from the University of Advancing Technology (USA)• Obtained an associate’s degree in photography from the City College of San Francisco and a filmmaking certificate from a three-year program (Escuela de Cine y Televisión)• Won several awards and recognitions, including Codaworx 2021, several first-place, juror’s choice, and pick list positions (Los Angeles and San Francisco stARTup Art Fairs, Open Studios Group Exhibition), and the Institute for Humanities Fellowship Award (University of Michigan) • Regularly exhibited and featured internationally by the Academy of Sciences, Modernbook’s Themes + Projects Gallery, Adobe, Lenscratch, Forbes, Open Studios Guide, and many more• Spent two years in Caracas, Venezuela as the creator, developer, and manager of public school coding curriculum for 3rd-6th graders• Designed educational games and training elementary teachers in programming skills• Active in community work, giving talks and teaching workshops that focus on art, technology, and the ways the two meet.• Was a Cinematic Artist at Telltale Games, working on a wide range of video games and projects that have since been released on standard and major gaming platforms, such as Batman: The Telltale Series (Episode 3-5),  Batman: The Enemy Within (Episode 1-5), The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (Episode 1-4), Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series (Episode 1-3), and more. • Other independent, Unity-developed releases and projects include the following: IF (an interactive VR music video built for the Oculus Go and Gear VR); Virtual Mutations (iOS & Android app for viewing AR artwork); and the merit award-winning Transmigrations, another iOS application for viewing AR works, commissioned for the Downtown Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

About Me

Cat holds a B.F.A. from the College of New Jersey’s Interactive Multimedia Program. For one of his projects, he created and developed a game controller that looked like a lyre, and used it to control both movement and sound by hooking up each “string” to a different keyboard input. An accomplished artist and instructor, Cat is especially skilled in world and character design/development. In his free time, he enjoys working on personal art projects, Dungeons & Dragons, and playing video games.

About Me

Chris is currently a student at GameU and an Instructor. His hobbies are writing, gaming, and designing. A goal of his is to make a game.

Achievements

• Won award from GameU showcase

About Me

Christian has been developing games for over seven years, and is proficient in tools like Unity, Construct 3, and general programming languages like C#, C++, and Javascript. He developed a full game with a team which was uploaded to Steam titled Uh Oh Bartender, a game where you have to guess ingredients for a drink based off of wacky, generated names. He also loves to work on Motion Graphics projects on the side and is very proficient in the full Adobe suite.

Achievements

• Graduated from SUNY Purchase college with a double degree of Mathematics/Computer Science and New Media.
• Has worked on games in the Steam store
• Has edited videos for notable people, primarily a film made by a famous Macedonian film director, Igor Tomeski.

About Me

Christopher has been with GameU almost since the beginning, starting as a student around 2015. As he became more connected with GameU over the years, he grew to love the atmosphere of learning and fun the company brings and became an instructor.

Achievements

• Attending Drexel as Computer Science major
• Former Amazon Certified Cloud Practitioner

About Me

Corey has a diploma from North Hunterdon High School, a long-standing position in GameU’s Accelerate 360 program, and a passion for 3D modeling. Skilled in Maya, Blender, and Gimp, Corey specializes in making 3D models of cars and game logos. In his free time, he enjoys surfing the internet and playing video games.

About Me

Corey, a former government software contractor, holds a bachelor’s degree from Full Sail University in Computer Science with a focus in Game Design & Development, as well as an Associate of Arts degree in IT & Networking from the University of Phoenix. He is skilled in a variety of industry-standard software, fields, and programming languages, including Unity, Unreal Engine, Blueprints, and C#. Specializing in raycast programming, environmental ambiance, level design, SDLC, VR/AR training software, animation, AI blackboarding, and even miniature painting, among others, he is a true jack-of-all-trades with multiple projects and published games already under his belt. A Megaman-based game, a 2.5D platformer, an exploratory puzzle solver, and an online poker app for PokerGo are just a few of his achievements.

In his spare time, Corey enjoys playing video (and board!) games, painting Warhammer-themed miniatures, and watching movies. But his true passion and ultimate aim? To help teach the next generation of software developers and game designers!

Achievements

• Bachelor’s degree from Full Sail University in Computer Science with a focus in Game Design & Development
• Associate of Arts degree in IT & Networking from the university of Phoenix.
• Multiple published games including a Megaman based game, a 2.5D platformer, an exploratory puzzle solver, and an online poker app for PokerGO.

About Me

Colby holds a BFA from the Columbus College of Art and Design. A professional concept artist and illustrator for more than eight years, he not only specializes in the 2D design and workflow, but is also proficient with Blender and the realm of 3D artistry. His work has been featured in no fewer than fifteen separate exhibitions, including the Society of Illustrators’ 2020 Student Competition. A self-described eternal learner, he is always working to perfect his own craft, pass it on to others, and even pick up some new tips and tricks along the way.

When not creating art, studying game development, or designing for clients and tabletop game companies, Colby can be found playing video games, practicing his yo-yo skills, and being fascinated with anything to do with sports.!

Achievements

• 8+ years as a professional concept artist & illustrator
• Effecient in 2D design, 3D & digital art.
• BFA from Columbus College of Art & Design

About Me

Courtney is a concept artist who enjoys a good game of Yu-Gi-Oh or a new K-R&B album. He always looks forward to breaking it down on the dance floor.

Achievements

• Graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor's degree
• 1st Place Disney Imagineering Competition 2016
• Oculus Launch Pad 2021 Winner
• CGVerse Certificate holder
• 2D Concept Artist
• Visual Developer
• Shaco Enthusiast

About Me

Daniel is an avid Game Jammer. He has published games on Itch and IOS. Daniel joined GameU in 2018. Since then, he has helped students release games for the iPhone and the computer.

Achievements

• Has a bachelor's degree in Digital Game Development
• Has an associate degree in Computer Arts

About Me

Darriel is currently pursuing dual bachelor’s degrees in Art and Computer Science from Virginia Commonwealth University. As a consistent member of the Dean’s List, a Digital Painting Instructor, and a freelancer, she specializes in 3D modeling, digital art, illustration, game design, and other subjects. Her current programs of expertise include industry-standard software such as Maya, Procreate, Photoshop, and Unity; this list continues to expand. A swift, flexible learner, Darriel is always willing to broaden her skill set in order to better help a student – whether it be drawing, coding, artificial intelligence, data science, math, software development, or anything else! – and dedicates much effort to her ongoing professional development.

Here at GameU, Darriel aims to combine all her passions (art, coding, teaching, and even dancing) and help bring fun and wonder back into learning!

About Me

Destin enjoys gardening, cooking, and playing piano. Before GameU, he spent a year as a python instructor.

Achievements

• IBM certified in data science 101 and data science principals as well as blockchain principals

About Me

Dilan has worked at GameU since 2017 and loves seeing students finish and publish their games for others to enjoy. He designs his own video games and board games in his spare time while also maintaining an active art account on Instagram.

Achievements

• Worked at high school-level game design camps in college
• Graduated from Drexel University with a BA in Computer Science with a focus in Game Design
• Worked as Lead Game Designer at a startup in Philadelphia for 6 years

About Me

Emily holds a B.F.A. in Fiber Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She is a professional artist, teacher, and manager with a broad skill set, specializing in experimental painting and 2D and 3D work in Adobe Suite, Krita, Blender, and Rhino, among others. Additionally, she works in Construct 3, GameMaker, and Scratch to teach foundational coding concepts. Prior to her career at Game-U, she was a long-term substitute art teacher for grades K-5, served as the Assistant Director of Arts & Media at Camp Kohut for two years, and published a variety of cover art pieces during her undergrad and post-undergrad journey. In her free time, she enjoys pursuing her further educational goals (studying art therapy!), traveling, painting (of course!), hiking, and roller-skating.

Above all else, Emily loves mastering new skills, exploring new software, and continuing that endless cycle of teaching and learning. Ultimately, she aims to work in a collaborative studio that bridges mediums and artists in a learning environment. She fits in perfectly here at Game-U!

Achievements

• 8+ years as a professional concept artist & illustrator
• Effecient in 2D design, 3D & digital art.
• BFA from Columbus College of Art & Design

About Me

Eric is currently in his senior year at SNHU, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Game Design & Development. While he specializes in Roblox game development, he is skilled in a variety of fields, programming languages, and applications. In his free time, Eric enjoys collecting keychains, making game mods, and kiteboarding!

Achievements

• National Hispanic Merit Scholar
• BSA Eagle Scout

About Me

Eric likes jogging, playing games, and baking.

Achievements

• GameU Summer 2022 Game Jam Champion

About Me

Gwyneth enjoys making and playing a bunch of different types of games, improv, linguistics, reading and writing stories. She hopes to one day publish a book! She is also am very interested in Natural Language processing and would love to be involved in some form of research with it. Gwyneth was drawn to GameU because GameU stands out among other game-design schools for having excellent classes that balance entertainment and educational value!

Achievements

• Working toward a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Written Research Paper on Language-oriented analysis of Congressional Transcripts
• Assisted with research in Sound-based control systems
• Head of Improv Troupe TOAST

About Me

Harry loves to create art, whether that be traditional or digital. He also loves to do anything that inspires the creative process like reading comic books and visiting libraries, museums, and art galleries. Here at GameU, Harry is constantly pushing himself to learn new things in game development and the arts. His goal is to be the best instructor to the kids and help them achieve their dreams.

Achievements

• Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of New York City
• Studied illustration, animation, and motion graphics at the Art Institute of Philadelphia
• More than a decade of experience as a Senior Artist & Merchandiser at Bioworld
• Designed for Lucasfilm, Disney, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Warner Brothers, Nickelodeon, NASA, Funimation, Toei Animation, and Atari

About Me

One of Hernani's biggest hobbies is everything 3D printing. He is hoping to one day on his own a successful printing business. What brought him to GameU is the enjoyment of learning new programs; teaching what he knows is a big plus.

Achievements

• Has a BA in Game Design
• Skilled in 3D Printing

About Me

Ismail is a Sophomore at Stevens Institute of Technology studying Mechanical Engineering. He has skills ranging from CAD, CAM, programming, welding, mill operation, and lathe operation. He is also the Vice-President of the Stevens Society of Automotive engineers which is a club who designs, builds, tests, and races an offroad vehicle against other colleges.

In Ismail’s free time, he mentors FIRST Tech Challenge team 12601. When he was in high school, Ismail was mechanical lead and team captain of the team which made it to the World Championship. Ismail has worked on many projects ranging from sumo robots, competition robots, home automation systems, a cnc router, multiple go karts, off road vehicles, to a flatbed car trailer.

Achievements

• High school education from Hunterdon County Academies Computer Science and Applied Engineering Academy - 2021
• Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering in progress from Stevens Institute of Technology
• FCC Licensed Amateur Radio operator
• Skilled at electronics, soldering, 3D printing, CNC plasma cutting, CNC milling and turning, and welding

About Me

Dr. Ivy is a lifelong learner and medical educator who has a love of Adult Education and Curriculum Development. She is skilled in tailoring her instruction to her students’ needs. Dr. Ivy is thrilled to be able to bring her expertise to the GameU family.

Achievements

• Has a BHS from the Medical University of South Carolina, graduating magna cum laude
• Completed the University of Bridgeport’s Naturopathic Medicine program to earn an ND in 2005
• Has worked as a counselor, educator, curriculum designer, health and safety lecturer, program director, and more in higher education and also well known companies in the southern states

About Me

J joined GameU in 2019 after a 3 month internship program. He has been building robots and other STEM projects since middle school, and being able to share that experience and teach others about STEM is what drew him to teach at GameU!

Achievements

• Currently an engineering student at The Ohio State University
• Has worked on several engineering project teams, including the Buckeye Current Electric Motorcycle Racing Team
• Trained in machine workshop operation

About Me

Jack loves working with people, particularly in a tutorial setting. Becoming an affirming friend to people has always been an important part of his life. Jack's second passion in life (now that all of his kids are grown) is to use science to try and help feed the hungry of the world. He is currently planning a trip to Makoko Nigeria to set up food systems over their polluted lagoon. He plans to keep right on teaching while working in Nigeria.

About Me

Jade enjoys working on her projects, exercising, and going to wine and beer tastings.

About Me

James started in GameU as a student. Eventually, he joined game development team projects and began working for the company to make assets for the educational programs.

Achievements

• Has a bachelor's degree in Computer Animation

About Me

Jamie is currently a student at FIEA specializing in project management for interactive media. He is interested in using technology in games to provide therapeutic value for various mental health and neurological disorders. In his free time, Jamie loves to spend time outdoors with his dogs and friends. He also enjoys participating in and watching live music and performance art.

Achievements

• Obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Digital Media- Game Design from the University of Central Florida
• Working toward a Master of Science degree from the University of Central Florida's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) in Interactive Media with a focus on Project Management

About Me

Jason is the CTO of Exultant Games, a video game development studio which he co-founded. Jason has been a software engineer and technical director in the video games industry since 1996, and he has worked with several large companies, including: Sierra Entertainment, DreamWorks, EA, and Riot Games. He has developer credits on a dozen blockbuster video games, including: League of Legends; Star Wars: The Old Republic; Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3; Golden Eye: Rogue Agent; Bulletstorm; Return to Krondor; as well as several titles in the Medal of Honor series. When he’s not making or teaching video games, then Jason is probably playing them! He also enjoys exploring nature with his wife and their rescued dogs.

Achievements

• Bachelor of Science in Computer & Information Science from The Ohio State University
• Member of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences

About Me

Joe has worked at GameU since 2015 as one of the core instructors in its Flemington location until the pandemic then transitioned to the current virtual format.

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology from New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Has a Master of Arts degree in Teaching from The College of New Jersey

About Me

Joe has a decade of experience in building sets and other environments and brought that expertise and workflow from the physical to the virtual by becoming a game designer and multimedia artist with a focus on designing 3D environments. In his free time, Joseph enjoys scenic design, carpentry, video games, concept art, and comics!

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Science in Physics & Theatre from Hampden-Sydney College
• Has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Technologies from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

About Me

Joe attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, obtaining a bachelor of science in International Affairs as well as a dual minor in Economics and Political Science. Professionally, he boasts an extensive and varied experience, starting out as a visual and data designer in the financial sector. Later, he transitioned to the well-known Electronic Arts (EA) firm, working in several roles on multiple AAA titles, including Madden and The Sims. In 2013, he founded his own company, providing prototyping and consulting services in a variety of arenas – such as UX (user experiences), UI (user interfaces), and visual design, among others. He is also the co-owner of a local toys and collectibles shop, based in Florida, and a self-confessed “game jam addict”. He was even part of the team that won the “Tiny” Award at the 2019 Epic Games (Unreal Engine) MegaJam, so given to the best (and smallest!) game under 100 MB.

Not just a skilled game designer, Joe also specializes in UI/UX, prototyping, drones/drone programming, and teaching STEAM-based skills. He does much of his work in a variety of industry-standard programs, including Unreal Engine, Core, Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro, and Adobe XD, and is well-versed in multiple programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Likewise, he employs Twinmotion (and even Minecraft!) to explore architectural visualization, and has more than two decades of hobbyist-level experience in music and music-related technology like Reaktor, VCV Rack, and Ableton Like, with two albums of his own on Spotify and other streaming services. In this vein, he hopes to teach others how to design and build software synthesizers, synth patches, and even evolving musical performances through technological tools, AI composition, and coding.

Joe was drawn to GameU by virtue of a shared mission. There are few other inclusive programs for children and adults with learning differences, and a particular lack of STEAM-based initiatives. As the father of two young adults on the autism spectrum, bridging this gap is near to Joe’s heart, and he wants to contribute to GameU’s growth and success in this regard – in any way he can.

About Me

Jorey enjoys making (and playing) video games. He like to try all sorts of board games, and loves checking out what's happening in the technology and AR/VR worlds.He has a passion for creating great experiences and loves to help people reach their dreams.

Achievements

• Earned a bachelor’s degree in Animation & Game Design from Utah Valley University
• Earned two associate degrees in Applied Science (Visual Art & Design) and Science (Visual Art & Design) from Salt Lake Community College
• Worked on freelance projects: a multi-user tank simulator they called (Tank VR) and a music based brawler game called Rhythm Beatdown

About Me

Jovan is a 3d artist and enjoys making people smile. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, painting, reading, baking, and playing games. Jovan is passionate about inclusion and diversity, which was a big thing that brought her to GameU. Art is a language everyone can connect through and Jovan loves being able to support his students as they grow!

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation from Columbus College of Art & Design
• Was featured in Vice News for her work in The Open Source Afro Hair Library
• Lead role in developing Flora’s Gate, a VR horror experience
• Team collaborator on Endangered Species Act, an augmented reality project and Paranormal Party
• Lead developer and 3D artist for the IGDA E - Jam 2020

About Me

Justin has always enjoyed video games and went to college for game design and development, leading him to get a job teaching that at GameU in 2019. Justin enjoys lots of sports, going to the gym, Marvel movies and shows, Disney parks, and dogs!

Achievements

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Game Design and Development with a Minor in Computer Science

About Me

Justin is very passionate about game development, and has many interests including astronomy, hiking, and spending time with family. He loves sharing his knowledge and skills with other people. GameU gives him an opportunity to share what he has learned with others and make an impact in their lives!

Achievements

• Worked for several small indie studios as a 3D artist
• Mentored students in 3D software at the Academy of Arts University

About Me

Justin obtained an associate’s degree in Information Technology, and is currently studying for a bachelor’s in the same at NJIT. He is the author of the mobile game Sub-Beat, made for the final project in his game development course at RVCC, and is currently developing another. Justin is also the Game Manager for the DotA 2 team for NJIT, and runs a Twitch stream in his free time, wherein he enjoys his favorite hobby – playing video games!

About Me

Justin is an artist at heart, but also loves going to concerts, watching hockey, watching horror movies, and endless re-watching The Office.  He loves to connect with students and teach them exactly what they want to learn.

Achievements

• Works with a film VFX house for upcoming shows on Netflix and Apple TV+  
• Has worked as an artist in the video game industry for 15 years for games published by Square Enix, Warner Bros, EA, and many more

About Me

Kade is currently working toward his Bachelor in Game Design and a minor in Computer Science. He loves video games and the impact that they had on his life growing up. Eventually, Kade wants to work for a small indie company building special experiences for players.

Achievements

• Current student at California State University Chico

About Me

Kyle is an indie developer and studio owner. He is also an animal behaviorist.

Achievements

• Attended Full Sail for game design
• Attended Seminole State for Graphic

About Me

Lex likes to paint, read, and watch documentaries about the natural world. She always wants to learn something new and loves motivating others to pursue their creative goals.

Achievements

• Udacity High Immersion VR nanodegree
• Currently working as a middle/high school literature teacher, BOCES summer school, cram school, and EFL

About Me

Logan owned and managed multiple successful Minecraft servers for 10+ years. He also developed, released, and maintained 3 publicly downloadable Minecraft plugins with a combined 23,000 downloads. Logan played SMITE competitively, participating in amateur level tournaments, and is a proud Twitch Affiliate. He currently produces livestreams and spectator camera views on Twitch for SMITE tournaments. In his free time, he enjoys gaming, skiing, baseball, archery, and tennis.

Achievements

• Certificates of Concentrated Studies in Software Development and Java Programming from Vermont’s Champlain College
• Multiple Google Certifications

About Me

Madeleine loves games! She loves creative ideas and finding new ways to express them, regardless of the medium.

Achievements

• Bachelor of Arts in Interaction and Game Design from Savannah School of Art and Design

About Me

While in college, Mariana worked as a coach, mentoring other students in their coursework. She also worked as a TA for high school students in the Summer College Preview Program from CCAD. Mariana has always taken meticulous notes when learning and all of these experiences led her to GameU. Outside of teaching, she indulges in musical theater, roller skating, paddle boarding, and crochet!

Achievements

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation from Columbus College of Art & Design
• Published in PRIZM magazine
• Interned at Elevate Pictures LLC to work on Ultra Squad animated shorts (published on Justice Studios Youtube Channel)
• Short film "The Hunter" screened at Canzani Center’s Best of CCAD show, as well as at the Lincoln
• Theatre for CAPA Summer Movie Series Sunday Shorts
• Modeling 3D props and environment assets for the Voyager VR game published by Littleseed.io
• Freelanced as a card illustrator for Effigy TCG, designing creatures and spells for them to cast

About Me

Marco holds a B.F.A. in Game Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art, specializing in art, video and graphic design, C# programming, Unity, Scratch, and Adobe Creative Suite. He has a great deal of experience in multiple professional arenas, and has worked with and taught a variety of subjects both locally and internationally. Serving as the Lead Instructor at Coding Dojo, he taught game development and C# programming using Unity Engine and his own original curriculum; as an online instructor at TechAbility Inc., he ran remote coding and game development classes for children of various ages. Likewise, he was also a freelance game developer for Legends of Learning, creating two game prototypes for use in a Unity Associate Programmer learning course. At MICA’s Game Lab, he worked as a designer and collaborated with the Baltimore Police Department and the Mayor’s Office of Innovation to help create a card game called Dispatch, which focuses on promoting recruitment and community outreach. Last but certainly not least, during his internship in 2019, he helped develop and create an original VR game prototype for recovering quadriplegics at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Titled Quadcade, this particular project of Marco’s went on to win the 2021 Games for Change Award! A gifted teacher and game designer, Marco’s goals are twofold: to show students that learning can be fun, and to share his passion for meaningful game design with others. Here at GameU, he fits right in!

About Me

Marcus has a long history with GameU, including a ninety-day internship after years of attending classes as a student. Check out some of his showcased work here, done at GameU itself!

Marcus’ hard work and faithful attendance has paid off – not only does he have a 4.34 GPA (projected to be 4.5 after this year!), but he’s also proficient in a variety of industry-standard programs, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Blender, FL Studio 20, Google Suite and related applications, and others. Marcus specializes in music production, 3D modeling, and Unity 2D & 3D, and maintains fluency in Construct 3 and GameMaker Studio 2 as well. He’s a video game devotee and developer – and even enjoys powerlifting on the side.

Marcus aims to both develop professionally as a game design instructor and gain experience for future career fields, as well as build bonds with his colleagues and students. GameU is his natural choice for all of those goals!

About Me

Matthew is a self-professed odd fellow from all over the Eastern US, currently instructing from a comfy little town in Delaware. He is on the Autism Spectrum and has worked with others on the spectrum for his entire life. Because of this, Matthew finds working at GameU to be an excellent fit. Nothing brings him greater satisfaction than creating new things. When he's not trying to help students create the things they enjoy, he is most often planning for or working on a big web-based project of his own – about which he will remain mysterious.

Achievements

• Studied Interactive Digital Media and Animation at Drexel University

About Me

Maxwell is a husband and a dad living in NJ who enjoys making music, playing paintball, and doing things outside with his family. He has had a very eclectic career that's ranged from software tester to warehouse supervisor. He has been a musician and drummer for about 15 years and started working with electronic music about 4 years ago. He is a trained voice actor, coached by Brian Atwood. GameU offers Maxwell a place to utilize all of his skills in a fun, educational environment that lets him feel like he's making a real difference in someone's life.

Achievements

• Holds certificates issued by the NJSP (NJ State Police) in basic emergency management and specific scenario training
• Member of my municipal and county Community Emergency Response Team

About Me

Meghan is an artist and educator who loves spending time creating, gardening, and being active in the great outdoors. She can often be found on an adventure with her corgi Finn, or working on a number of projects. What brought Meghan to GameU is her love of a creative and maker-based education and learning experience!

Achievements

• Graduated with her Bachelor’s in Fine Art from Saint Ambrose University (2011)
• Spent seven years teaching for various public and private entities throughout the greater Midwest and Colorado.
• Maintained a small business focused on ecological science, art, and design
• Completed her master’s degree in Education from the University of Northern Colorado (2018)
• Coached Robotics for 4 years
• Developed the STEAM curriculum program for Rivermont Collegiate, the #1 private STEM school in the state of Iowa.

About Me

Melina graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Science in Game Programming and Development. In addition to her position at GameU, Melina is also a private tutor, teaching K-12 Math and English. Some of her projects currently in development include an Android app inspired by whack-a-mole (with a twist!) and Iorness, a 2D game for PC that involves healing infected people on an island. In her free time, Melina enjoys singing, gaming, and streaming on Twitch.

About Me

Michael is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Ohio University, where he is also a professional writer for the GRID (Game Research and Immersive Design) Lab as well as a worker for the university’s OIT (Office of Information Technology). Skilled in Blender, Unity, and other programs, he’s been part of a development team on several VR games and has participated in multiple game jams.

In his free time, Michael enjoys building games, maintaining fruit trees, writing, and drawing. But his ultimate aim? To help others learn how to create worlds within games!

Achievements

• Professional writer for the GRID (Game Research and Immersive Design)
• Developed several VR games with a development team
• Participated in multiple game jams.

About Me

Michael is a science teacher, and he enjoys making indie games.

Achievements

• Published a game on Xbox Live Arcade and Nintendo DsiWare

About Me

Michael has been around video games his entire life, doing everything from playing games to learning to make them.  Now, Michael wants to take what he has learned and pass that knowledge to his students.

Achievements

• Graduated from Bloomfield College with a bachelor's degree

About Me

Michael has worked as a machinist, a designer, a computer programmer, an engineer, and a game developer. He strives to be creative and enjoys seeing new endeavors take flight. Michael is a problem solver and enjoys the opportunity to solve real-world puzzles – and fake world puzzles!

Achievements

• Has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Programming from Lane Community College (2018)
• Has 10 years of engineering experience in aerospace and biotech
• Has worked on projects for the DoD, tier 1 aerospace suppliers and international research organizations
• Has extensive experience in mass production, C Elegans research, sensor data collection.
• Owns a small independent game studio

About Me

Miles has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interactive Multimedia from the College of New Jersey. Prior to his career at GameU, he was a technical artist and game developer for an indie team, as well as a theatrical carpenter. He specializes in 3D modeling, art, and game development, and is experienced with industry-standard software, including Blender, Maya, Unity, Adobe Creative Suite, and others. In his free time, he enjoys swing dance, carpentry, and playing tabletop RPGs.

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interactive Multimedia from the College of New Jersey
• Was a technical artist and game developer for an indie team
• Was a theatrical carpenter

About Me

Mirena has a Master’s degree and licensure in Architecture from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering, & Geodesy. This first passion of hers led to her love of 3D work; now, she’s an artist and game developer, specializing in 3D modeling, animation, and texturing. She's also an expert in a variety of industry-standard software (Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, Mudbox, Zbrush, Blender, Sculptris, Tinkercad 2D and 3D, Adobe Creative Suite, Marvelous Designer, Piskel, Unity, Unreal, Garage Band, Roblox Coding, and Scratch, to name but a few!). With over twenty years of experience as a Lead & Senior Artist for video games as well as AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality), Mirena has worked extensively for companies such as Lucasfilm, Activision, Gameloft, SEGA of America, and even the U.S. Army. She’s likewise been credited on several blockbuster franchises, including Star Wars, Iron Man, Shrek, X-Men, Ice Age, and Hot Wheels.

Self-described as a “forever student” who loves learning and trying new things for their own sake, Mirena aims to help students build great futures through the use of computers and other digital interfaces.

About Me

Miriam is an Illustrator, animator, and character designer. She loves drawing, exercising, and listening to all types of music. Her goals are to always improve and learn as an artist. One day, she wants to have a small business with her artwork. Miriam came to GameU to put her skills into practice while sharing them with everyone who loves art and games.

Achievements

• Graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a bachelor's degree in Computer art, Computer Animation, and Visual Effects

About Me

Ndubisi aims to seek a more professional opportunity in the game industry, and GameU has helped him improve his skills in design and programming. Much like any game developer/designer, he enjoys the games he plays and the small indie projects he works on.

Achievements

• Has a Master of Science degree in Game Design and Development from the Rochester Institute of Technology (2019)
• Developed multiple GameU Curriculum with the game engine Godot

About Me

Nick is an outgoing person who loves playing video games, watching sports, and swimming. He brings a different perspective to GameU because he is an employee and a student, so he gets to see things from both sides. This gives him the opportunity to provide unique feedback!

Achievements

• Currently an engineering student at The Ohio State University
• Has worked on several engineering project teams, including the Buckeye Current Electric Motorcycle Racing Team
• Trained in machine workshop operation

About Me

Nick is a lover of everything tech & nerdy! Some of his hobbies include working out, building games, and rock climbing.

Achievements

• Attended Full Sail University

About Me

Noah obtained an associate’s degree in Applied Science: Game Design Specialization from Austin Community College in 2017. Since then, he’s been sharing his passion for game design with students of all ages, teaching code-focused summer camps and after-school programs. While Noah specializes in creating and developing games in Unity, he also has considerable experience with Unreal Engine and Construct 3, powerful 2D and 3D/VR game engines. His most recent professional projects include Yobuds, made for a semiannual game jam, and the mobile game Spell Panic, published to Apple’s App Store, in addition to a project currently in development (Mission: CTRL).

Achievements

• Has an associate’s degree in Applied Science: Game Design Specialization from Austin Community College (2017)

About Me

O'Daiyah is currently a Game Designer and Game Programmer at ChronoShade. He loves creating game prototypes, going for runs to stay in shape, and playing video games (of course)! O'Daiyah came to GameU to mentor younger people in game development and GameU gives him a great starting point to do so!

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science from Lincoln University which is where I
• Received an Athlete of the Week Track & Field award at Lincoln University
• Studied abroad in Spain
• Has a Master of Science degree in Game Design from Full Sail University

About Me

Omolola enjoys cooking,baking, learning new languages, writing, and reading. She came to GameU with a newfound passion for teaching and mentoring. In 2020, she became an instructor and realized she loves it! Omolola enjoys seeing her students' faces light up with excitement when they learn something new!

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from Texas Woman's University
• Computer Programming certificate from Brookhaven College.

About Me

Rich loves to tell stories and make media. He enjoys making everything from video editing for film to game cinematics.

Achievements

• Was a Philosophy major

About Me

Robert is a passionate animator and storyteller who loves video games, movies, and books. He came to GameU to help people make their own animations as well as learn a few new skills himself. Robert tries to learn something new in every thing he does!

Achievements

• Alumni of Columbus College of Art and Design
• Participated in the 2019 game jam

About Me

Robert is a video game developer who graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology and creates educational video games based on STEM subjects. He joined GameU because he knew it was the perfect combination of his interests in video games and learning. It is also a way to hone his skills while helping others learn through games. Outside of video games, his hobbies include playing guitar, singing, writing fiction and nonfiction works, and snowboarding.

Achievements

• Graduated from The Rochester Institute of Technology's School of Individualized Study focusing on Game Design and Educational Entertainment Entrepreneurship

About Me

Sarah has a great deal of professional experience in both game design, art, theater, teaching, and project management She specializes in 3D animation, modeling, and game design. She is an expert in a varied array of software including Zbrush, Photoshop, Maya, Blender, UV Layout, Substance Painter, Clip Studio Paint, and many other 2D and 3D programs. It’s her love for game design, world building, and character design that led her to GameU. She considers being able to teach other people things as the best part of her role at GameU.

Achievements

• Has both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Media Arts & Science
• Has an associate degree in General Studies
• Working at/for Benjamin Harris Presidential Site, the Madam Walker Theater, and Serious Design & Game Art Therapy, respectively

About Me

Scott is a lover of all forms of artistic creation including music, cooking, traditional art, games, and more. He loves nature and finds that much of the inspiration for his work comes from walks in the mountains and forest around where he lives.

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Computer Science degree in Game Design from Full Sail University
• UI/UX Designer at Silver Sun Dynamics
• Former Creative Director at Serfworks Studios LLC

About Me

Sharai holds a B.A. in Environmental Policy from Middlebury College and a Master’s degree and GIS certificate in Geography from CUNY Hunter College. She’s had an illustrious career – interning at the United Nations, working for FEMA, an urban planning non-profit (RPA) in NYC, IUCN Asia, and a marine engineering firm called COWI, and is now employed at an environmental non-profit called the First Street Foundation. She’s a skilled researcher, often presenting her findings to federal agencies (such as the U.S. Department of Transportation), and some of her map-making work has found its way into the Queens Museum. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, going for walks by the water, swimming, and cooking delicious vegetarian food.

About Me

Shawn is a tinkerer who loves robotics and engineering. Making games has always been a hobby of his and he loves recreating mechanics from video games. Shawn also enjoys 3D Printing and blacksmithing.

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Science degree From Full Sail University with a major in Game Design

About Me

Stephen enjoys sharing the fun of game development with others. When he isn't teaching, he also enjoys programming, digital art, watching movies, and spending time outside.

Achievements

• Attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Dual Major in Computer Science & Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences

About Me

Steven attended Stony Brook University, obtaining a B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies. He’s an experienced software engineer and martial arts/gymnastics instructor, as well as a skilled troubleshooter and problem-solver. Steven specializes in 2D game development, working with programs such as GameMaker Studio, Godot Engine, and Construct 3 to build projects for all to enjoy. In his free time, he enjoys martial arts and tattooing. Ultimately, Steven hopes to open his own indie game studio; as such, he’s deeply invested in GameU’s own mission.

About Me

Steven is a self-professed, extremely driven individual with hobbies & interests that include computer science, esports, politics, reading & writing, and community engagement. He also has a longtime history with GameU.

Achievements

• Pursuing a Degree in Computer Science and New York Institute of Technology
• Multi-platform Developer
• Public Speaker
• Top 500 Overwatch Player

About Me

Sy is a big gamer, artist, and avid movie watcher in his free time. He also enjoys cooking and making his favorite dishes and any kind of soup. Sy studied Korean martial arts in the past, having reached 2nd Dan in Tang Soo Do. He gravitated toward the collaborative culture of GameU and enjoys engaging with students in a hands-on format and inspiring them to create what they are passionate about.

Achievements

• Has a bachelor’s degree in Game Art and Design.

About Me

Ted is a solo game developer from Malverne, Long Island. He spends his free time building model kits and studying geography, He loves anything related to giant monsters and robots. Ted started as a cartoon character artist, but then learned how to code in Unity and has a lot of personal projects in the works. He joined GameU because he wanted to share his game development experience with students who are as passionate as he is, and he wants to help students create their own dream projects.

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Development from Long Island University Post Campus

About Me

Thomas holds a BFA in Computer Game Design from George Mason University. He is a skilled programmer and pianist as well as a musical composer, having written and performed multiple projects, soundtracks, systems, and websites in a variety of languages and programs – including HTML, CSS, and C# in Unity. Prior to beginning his career at GameU, he was a programmer at the VSGI (Virginia Serious Game Institute) for development of an as-yet unreleased educational mobile game, and the programmer and composer for a 2D co-op brawler game (Friendly Fire: Weekend Warriors). Currently, he is working on an independent project – a top-down action game called deFRAG. In his free time, he enjoys running, biking, reading, playing games like Gravity Rush and Kingdom Hearts, and exploring nature.

About Me

Travis loves just about everything games – board games, card games, and competitive games. In college, he played on the League of Legends esports team and has since hit some high rankings in Apex Legends, Valorant, Smash bros ultimate.

Achievements

• Has a bachelor's degree in Game Design from Full Sail University

About Me

Trent has always had a passion for teaching, however, he went to school for his other passion – game design. After graduating, Trent found GameU and realized the concept really spoke to him because teaching at GameU is a combination of his two interests.

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Fine Art in Game Art and Design

About Me

Tyler holds a bachelor’s degree in Game Design from Full Sail University, which he earned while working full-time and supporting his family. His primary areas of focus are programming and design, with additional expertise in 3D modeling, animation, and texturing. He specializes in Blender, Unity, and C#, and has mastered both visual and traditional types of coding languages – as demonstrated by his proficiency in Unreal 4 and 5, Blueprint (Unreal 4 and 5’s visual, high-level scripting language), and C++. Some of Tyler’s past projects include Rogue Zombies (a unique spin on the zombie shooter genre, including heavy rogue-like elements such as build customization), various FPS prototypes, and multiple procedural content systems. Tyler is always seeking to redefine gaming, creating new and unique experiences for players – and helping others do so too! Joining GameU has given him the opportunity to combine both his passion for teaching and his expertise in programming and game design into one fulfilling career, and he’s excited to pursue it.

About Me

When Tyler isn't busy working, he enjoys painting miniature models to play Warhammer 40k. He is also a DM for a D&D campaign and plays competitive online games.

Achievements

• Has a bachelor's degree in Computer Animation and Game Development -from CSU Chico
• 1st Place in Game Design for the game Night Watch at CSU Chico
• Unity Skill Assessment on LinkedIn• Microsoft Word Skill Assessment on LinkedIn

About Me

Victor studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati, then went on to attend the Columbus College of Art & Design and obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation, with a focus in Tech Art. In 2013, he showcased a student short film which won multiple awards. Since then, he’s had an illustrious career, working as a technical artist and engineer with companies such as EA Bioware, Max Gaming Studios, Multivarious Games, and more. Some of the most recent released titles Victor has been significantly involved in include: Star Wars: The Old Republic, Dark Horizons: Mechanized Corps, Adventure Time: Cards Wars Kingdom, WWE: Champions, Card King: Dragon Wars, Mega Moves, and Hatch-It, among others.

In his free time, he enjoys studying technology, game development, and – of course! – video games.

About Me

Zach attended Quinsigamond Community College, obtaining an associate’s degree in Interactive Media & Game Design. He is currently the Lead Developer for the game "Fly Me To The," and in the past, has been the sole developer and independent game designer of various indie-style projects, including ZZZZZZ and Nothing Strange About This Farming Simulator (the latter of which was submitted for the 2021 Indie Tales Game Jam). In his free time, he enjoys music, gaming, speed-running, and various outdoor activities.

Achievements

• Has an associate degree in Interactive Media and Game Design

About Me

Zack is a lover of game design and narrative and also pushing the boundaries of what's possible in games. He loves to write and worldbuild, read, and of course play both tabletop and video games. Zack is also big into cooking and food!

Achievements

• Has a Bachelor of Science degree in Game Design and B.S in Communication
• E3 2019 College Game Competition Finalist