Curriculum Vitae
Reginald T. Gardner, Jr.
Independent Scholar | Game Studies and Digital Culture
New York | LinkedIn
Last updated: August 2026
Research Areas
Topics:
Game Studies; Digital Culture;
Critical Esports Studies; Fighting Game Communities;
Race, Gender, and Representation in Games;
Urban Play Spaces and Arcades;
Knowledge Infrastructures;
Documentary and Platform Analysis
Methods:
Qualitative Methods;
Ethnography;
Documentary Analysis;
Platform Discourse Analysis;
Curriculum and Citation Analysis.
Education
Doctoral Study in Informatics (Graduate Emphasis: Feminist Studies)
University of California – Irvine, School of Information and Computer Science,
Advanced to candidacy; degree not completed
Research: Diversity and representation in competitive gaming communities
Master of Science in Informatics, 2023
University of California – Irvine, School of Information and Computer Science,
Advisor: Constance Steinkuehler, Ph.D.
[Dual] Master of Public Administration and Master of Science in Student Affairs Administration, 2017
Certificate in Community College Teaching, 2017
SUNY Binghamton University, College of Community and Public Affairs,
Advisors: Kristina Lambright, Ph.D., Thomas A Sinclair, Ph.D. & Sharon Holmes, Ph.D.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Concentration: Global and International Affairs, 2015
Binghamton University, Harper College, Department of Political Science,
Advisors: Ricardo René Larémont, Ph.D./ J.D., & Mikhail Filippov, Ph.D.
Associate of Arts, 2013
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College,
Advisor: Jason Libfeld, MFA
Publications
2024: Gardner, D., Boyd, L., & Gardner, R. (2024). Piecing Together Performance: Collaborative, Participatory Research-Through-Design for Better Diversity in Games. IEEE Transactions on Games, https://doi.org/10.1109/TG.2023.3349369.
2023: Steinkuehler, C., Anderson, C.G., Reitman, J.G., Lee, J.S., Wu, M., Wells, G. & Gardner, R.T. (2023). Enriched Esports: The Design and Four-Year Examination of a School-Affiliated Competitive Videogame Program for Youth. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 34(1), 59-119. Waynesville, NC: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/221828/.
2023: Wells, G., Romhanyi, A., Reitman, J. G., Gardner, R., Squire, K., & Steinkuehler, C. (2023). Right-Wing Extremism in Mainstream Games: A Review of the Literature. Games and Culture, 19(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/15554120231167214
2021: Reitman, J., & Gardner, R., et al. (2021). Academic and Social-Emotional Learning in High School Esports. Proceedings of the 2020 Connected Learning Summit. 148-159. Cambridge MA. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/13530038.v2.
White Papers, Book Chapters, and Professional Publications
2023: Wofford, A., Burton, A., Dennin, K., & Gardner, R. T. (2023). Equity-Minded Mentoring Toolkit. Inclusive Graduate Education Network. https://equitygraded.org/equityminded-mentoring-toolkit/
2021: Nour, N., O’Leary, S. R., Martinez, R., Gardner, R., Anderson, C.G. & Steinkuehler, C. (2021). Diversifying Student Participation in NASEF. Connected Learning Lab White Paper No. 5013.10.
2019: Steinkuehler, C., Reitman, J., Cho, A., Gardner, R., & Campbell, K. (2019). Enriching Esports: Assessment of an After School Esports Program for Teens. Connected Learning Lab. White Paper No. 5013.03.
2019: Steinkuehler, C., Reitman, J., Gardner, R., Campbell, K., & Cho, A. (2019). Academic and Social-Emotional Learning in NASEF: Quantifying the Patterns in Qualitative Observations. Connected Learning Lab White Paper No. 5013.02.
Manuscripts in Preparation
1. Who We Cite, How We Forget: A Citation Analysis of Game Studies’ Intellectual Memory. Article manuscript in preparation; planned submission to Game Studies.
2. Teaching the Canon: A Syllabus Study of Game Studies and Game Development Curricula. Article manuscript in preparation; syllabus corpus design in progress.
3. Black, Broken, and Rebuilding: A Black Feminist Reading of Barret Wallace and Sector 7. Article manuscript in preparation; requires the public release of concluding object (The 3rd game).
4. Psychgeist of Hades / Playing in Progress: Early Access, Community Feedback, and Participatory Design in Hades and Hades II; Proposal Submitted to Editor.
5. Psychgeist of Cyberpunk / Carrying Night City: Care, Survival, and the Feminist Psychology of Player Choice in Cyberpunk 2077; Proposal Submitted to Editor.
Conference Presentations and Invited Talks
Conference Presentations and Academic Panels
2024: Fletcher, A., Gray, K., Mejeur, C., Gardner, R. T., & Nemer, D. (2024) “Playing Beyond the Academy: Playgrounds as Sites for Alternative Community.” DiGRA 2024 – Playgrounds. University of Guadalajara. Jul 1-5, 2024
2022: Gardner, R. T., Fletcher, A., Goard, J., & Gray, K. (2022) Black Joy, Black Pain: Exploring Narratives of Survival in Gaming. International Conference on Meaningful Play. Michigan State University. Oct 14, 2022
2022: Gardner, R. T. (2022). Final Fantasy and Black Reality: The Changing Cultural Contexts of JRPGs. Proceedings of the Games + Learning + Society Conference 2022. Irvine, CA. Jun 15, 2022.
2021: Luong, P., Lewis, A., Gardner, R. T., et al. (2021) Maintaining Well-Being as a Graduate Student Bridging the Gap Series. University of California – Irvine Office of Access, and Inclusion. Apr 6, 2021
2021: Doughty, A., Gardner, R. T., Fletcher, A., Jones, S., & Ortiz, S. (2021) Gaming in the Dark: Black Perspectives for Game Studies. Society for Cinema and Media Studies Annual Conference. Virtual Conference. Mar 17, 2021.
2020: Gardner, R. T., Gray, K. (moderator), Johnson, R., Benne, J., Cash, J., & Arabian Prince. (2020). Confronting Racism in Esports: A Prenote Discussion. UCI Esports Research Conference. Virtual Conference. Oct 7, 2020.
2020: Gardner, R. T. (2020). Legends Never Die: Music Videos as Game Developer Discourses. Digital Games Research Association 2020 Annual Meeting. Tampere, Finland. Jun 5, 2020. Accepted presentation; conference canceled.
2020: Gardner, R. T. (2020). SPEAK UP: Confronting Racism in Gaming and Supporting our Students. UCI Esports: Tools for Schools. University of California – Irvine. Jun 4, 2020.
2019: Du, Y., Anderson, C., Knutson, M., Gardner, R. T. (2019) Failure, Breakdowns, Peer-to-Peer, and Institutional Support of Play. Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts 33rd Annual Meeting: Experimental Engagements. University of California – Irvine. Nov 8, 2019.
2019: Gardner, R. T., Hartoonian, N., Cullen, A., Anderson, M. (2019) Games & Education Webinar. Department of Informatics. University of California – Irvine. Apr 11, 2019.
2019: Gardner, R. T. (2019). Welcome to Summoner's Rift: The Landscape of College and University Esports. National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Annual Conference. Los Angeles, CA. Mar 11, 2019.
2018: Gardner, R. T. (2018). Receiving and Doing Mentorship and Facilitation through Minecraft. University of California – Irvine Graduate Division Competitive Edge Poster Symposium. Irvine, CA. Aug 17, 2018.
2018: Gardner, R. T. (2018). Utilizing Social Digital Games in Residential Curriculum. The CUNY Games Conference 4.0. New York. NY. Jan 22, 2018.
2018: Gardner, R. T. (2018). The Viability of Collegiate eSports Within Established College Sports Structures. The CUNY Games Conference 4.0. New York, NY. Jan 22, 2018.
2017: Gardner, R. T. (2017). The Power and Influence of Digital Communities. Challenging Biases and Eliminating the Echo Conference. Binghamton, NY. Nov 10, 2017.
Invited Lectures & Speaking Engagements
2024: Gardner, R. T. (2024). Esports History. Guest lecture for Game Design and Interactive Media 49: Game History, University of California, Irvine. Mar 13, 2024.
2023: Gardner, R. T. (2023). Exploring Organizer Perspectives on Diversity in Esports. Invited research presentation, Oxford Internet Institute Summer Doctoral Programme, Oxford, UK. Jul 5, 2023.
2023: Gardner, R. T. (2023). Towards Greater Diversity in Games: Representation, Desire, and Access. Invited lecture, University of California, Irvine. Jun 1, 2023.
2022: Gardner, R. T. (2022). Art, Medicine, and Videogames. Guest lecture for Medical Humanities 3: Art and Medicine, University of California, Irvine. Feb 10, 2022.
2020: Gardner, R. T. (2020) Shoutcasting Coursework and the Academic Future of Esports. UCI Esports Research Conference. Virtual Conference. Oct 7, 2020.
2019: Gardner, R. T. (2019). Esports, Access, and Geopolitics (Guest Lecture). Information and Computer Science 3 – The Internet, Technology, and Society. University of California – Irvine. Nov 20, 2019.
2019: Gardner, R. T. (2019). Welcome to Summoner's Rift: The Landscape of College and University Esports. HEVGA Europe Games Research Summer School. Skövde, Sweden. Aug 21, 2019.
Teaching and Mentorship
Instructor of Record Assignments
2022: COMM 502 Theoretical Approaches to Multidisciplinary Design Projects,
(University of Southern California, Annenberg: Communication Data Science)
Level: Graduate Seminar, Class Size: 8, Eval: N/A. Autumn 2022
Instructed seminars focused on examining theories and research in Communication and applying them to project design. Emphasis is placed on understanding communication and human behavior, as well as individual, group, and network level theoretical frameworks.
2021: I&C SCI 60/ GDIM 41 Games and Society (Game Design and Interactive Media)
Level: Introductory, Class Size: 20, Eval. 7.7/10. Summer 2021
Instructed classes focused on developing critical thinking and connecting games to other aspects of human life. Facilitated analysis of narrative (Oxenfree, Night in the Woods, Life is Strange), multiplayer (Destiny 2, Final Fantasy 14, Elder Scrolls Online), and competitive (Apex Legends, Rocket League, League of Legends) games.
Workshops, Short Courses, and Pre-College Instruction
2022: Research Design: iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3)
(University of Texas at Austin: School of Information)
Program Lead: Kayla Booth, Ph.D.
Co-taught with S. Nisa Asgarali-Hoffman, Ph.D. (UMD)
Level: Introductory, Class Size: 25. Summer 2022
Co-taught short course on how to conduct research, focused on applying basic skills and conceptualizing knowledge within the field of Information Studies. Including sessions on ethics, epistemology, qual. and quant. methods, theory, praxis, and research dissemination.
2022: Lab and Research Work: Game Science, Entertainment, and Tech. Summer Prgm.
Program Lead: Michael Dennin, Ph.D.
Co-taught with Gary Wells, Ágnes Romhányi, & Minnie Wu (GLS Center)
Level: High School, Class Size: 25. Summer 2022
Co-taught a short course on games research and game design processes, working with students to find answerable research questions, understand positionality and epistemology in research, timelines of game development, engage types of prototyping, and presentation.
2017: Emerging Leaders Program Workshop Series (Binghamton University)
Program Lead: Tyler Lenga, Co-taught with Sarah Saad (Columbia University)
Level: Micro Credential Seminar, Class Size: 70, Evaluation: 8.9/10. Autumn 2017
Co-taught a course of workshops across a variety of student leadership and life skills. Some skills taught include leadership strategy, time management, goal setting, motivation, communication, conflict management, group dynamics, ethics, networking, and etiquette.
Teaching Assistant Assignments (University of California, Irvine)
2024: I&C SCI 139W Critical Writing (Information and Computer Science),
Principal Instructor: Rebecca Black, Ph.D.
Level: Introductory, Class Size: 80, Eval. 8.8/10. Autumn 2024
2024: I&C SCI 139W Critical Writing (Information and Computer Science),
Principal Instructor: Darren Aaron Denenberg, Ph.D.
Level: Introductory, Class Size: 80, Evaluation 8.9/10. Spring 2024
2024: GDIM 49 Game History (Game Design and Interactive Media)
Principal Instructor: Aaron Trammell, Ph.D.
Level: Introductory, Class Size: 80, Evaluation 8.4/10. Winter 2024
2020: I&C SCI 60/ GDIM 41 Games and Society (Game Design and Interactive Media),
Principal Instructor: Constance Steinkuehler, Ph.D.
Level: Introductory, Class Size: 70, Evaluation 7/10. Spring 2020
2020: IN4MATX 131 Human Computer Interaction (Informatics),
Principal Instructor: Stacy Marie Branham, Ph.D.
Level: Upper Division, Class Size: 100, Evaluation 9.3/10. Winter 2020
2019: I&C SCI 139W Critical Writing (Information and Computer Science),
Principal Instructor: Morten Bay Christensen, Ph.D.
Level: Introductory, Class Size: 42, Evaluation: 9.7/10. Summer 2019
2019: I&C SCI 60/ GDIM 41 Games and Society (Game Design and Interactive Media),
Principal Instructor: Constance Steinkuehler, Ph.D.
Level: Introductory, Class Size: 70, Evaluation 9/10. Spring 2019
Mentorship and Student Development
2022 – 2024: UCI Black Gxming Society — mentor/advisor to approximately 50 undergraduate students; organization recognized as 2024 The*Gamehers Top Collegiate Organization.
2023: UCI Nextgen Pathways (10 graduate students)
2019 – 2022: UCI Department of Informatics (20 graduate students)
2022: UTA The iSchool Inclusion Institute (30 undergraduates)
2017 – 2018: Binghamton Departments of Public Administration & Student Affairs (6 graduate students)
2017: Student Supervision and Mentorship, NASPAA Public Service Weekend (20 undergraduates)
2014 – 2015: Binghamton Program for Undergraduate Guidance & Transfer Mentorship (10 undergraduates)
Fellowships and Recognition
2018 – 2023: UCI Eugene Cota Robles Fellowship ($212,000 Award over 5 Years of Study)
Competitive five-year diversity fellowship supporting doctoral study and preparation for academic teaching and research.
2023: UCI Informatics Department Dissertation Writing Fellowship ($8,000 Award)
The fellowship is designed to support 3 months of dissertation writing.
2023: Informatics Department Summer Fellowship (sent to Oxford Internet Institute)
Competitive scholarship supporting attendance at The OII’s annual Summer Doctoral Programme (SDP), which brings together doctoral students from around the world for a fortnight of study at the University of Oxford.
2023: Xbox Gaming for Everyone GDC Scholarship (sent to Game Developers Conference)
2023: Community Partnership Award, UC Irvine Police Department.
Recognized for graduate student representation, public safety collaboration, and service on department hiring and community advisory committees.
2021 – 2022: IGDA-Foundation Scholar Fellowship & IGDA-F Direct Award (Game Developers Conference)
2021: Department of Teaching Excellence & Innovation Fellowship ($5,000 Award)
2018: UCI Diversity Recruitment Fellowship ($5,000 Award)
2017: American College Personnel Assn. Convention Sponsorship ($500 Award)
2013: 5th Annual CUNitY Educational Summit Award for Urban Male Leadership
2013: Hostos College Student Leadership Ambassador Certificate of Excellence
Professional Appointments
2023 – 2025: Digital Media and Culture Scholar, Critical Approaches to Technology and the Social Lab,
Department of Informatics, School of Information, University of California – Irvine, Irvine, CA
Advanced an independent research agenda on digital culture, game communities, and knowledge infrastructures while representing the lab through national and international presentations. Produced peer-reviewed scholarship, conference work, and dissertation research that strengthened the lab’s profile in critical game studies, digital culture, and community-centered research.
2019 – 2023: Qualitative Games Researcher, Games+Learning+Society (GLS) Center,
Department of Informatics, School of Information, University of California – Irvine, Irvine, CA
Supported collaborative research on games, learning, and scholastic esports through qualitative analysis, writing, event coordination, and lab programming. Contributed to three peer-reviewed journal articles and helped sustain research-community infrastructure through conference support, programming, and cross-functional collaboration.
2020 – 2021: Ambassador for Diversity and Inclusion in Informatics,
Department of Informatics & ICS Office of Access and Inclusion, University of California – Irvine, Irvine, CA
Developed and implemented a diversity recruitment strategy for Informatics during the COVID-19 lockdowns, including targeted outreach, virtual programming, candidate support, and stakeholder coordination. The initiative contributed to a 100% increase in underrepresented minority admits.
2019 – 2020: Graduate Housing Staff Assistant, Palo Verde Graduate Housing Community,
UC Irvine Office of Residential Life, University of California – Irvine, Irvine, CA
Provided after-hours residential life support for approximately 1,400 graduate students and families across a 33-building community. Responded to emergencies, documented incidents, enforced housing policies, and connected residents to appropriate campus resources during high-stress situations.
2017 – 2018: Overnight Circulation Assistant, Glenn G. Bartle Library,
Binghamton Libraries, Binghamton University, Vestal, NY
Provided overnight circulation and patron support, assisting users with online catalogs, subject indexes, databases, and library resources. Processed more than 3,000 interlibrary loan requests, supporting timely access to research materials for students, faculty, and staff.
2015 – 2016: Assistant Residential Director, Newing College Undergraduate Housing Community
Binghamton University Office of Residential Life, Binghamton University, Vestal, NY
Managed daily residential operations for a residence hall housing 400+ undergraduate students and supervised a 14-person paraprofessional staff. Oversaw duty response, staff accountability, community standards, student support, and emergency management in a high-contact residential environment.
2013: College Assistant, Office of Academic Affairs,
Hostos Community College, Bronx, NY
Supported Academic Affairs operations for the Early College Lincoln Academy by maintaining student academic information, assisting with administrative records, and supporting coordination between college staff and early-college stakeholders.
Internships and Applied Professional Training
2017: Graduate Intern, Binghamton University New Student Programs
Binghamton University, Vestal, NY
Scheduled, developed, implemented, and assessed six First Year Lecture Series events and the Emerging Leaders Program. Supervised six undergraduate mentors and supported program delivery designed to strengthen first-year transition, leadership development, and student engagement.
2017: Assessment and Communications Intern, Information Delivery Services Project
Acting from Binghamton University Libraries, Binghamton University, Vestal, NY
Developed evaluation and communications guidelines for an 80-member library services network, supporting improved member communication, web services, and organizational assessment practices.
2017: Education Policy and Compliance Intern, Advised by Loretta Mason-Williams, Ph.D.
Department of Teaching, Learning, & Educational Leadership, Binghamton University, Vestal, NY
Conducted policy research on federal and accreditation reporting requirements for teacher preparation programs, including ESSA (2015), the Higher Education Opportunity Act (2008), and accreditor mandates. Synthesized compliance obligations into usable guidance for education faculty and program stakeholders.
2016: Reverse Transfer Coordinator, Broome County HEARS Program,
Broome Community College, Binghamton, NY
Conducted benchmark analysis of SUNY reverse-transfer practices to identify how institutions support transfer students with some completed credits but no credential. Produced comparative findings to inform regional strategies for degree completion and student mobility.
2015: Education Policy Intern, State University of New York Federal Relations,
Hall of the States, Washington, DC
Monitored and briefed the director on 60 education-related Congressional hearings and think-tank briefings during the summer of 2015, synthesizing federal policy developments into concise updates for SUNY Federal Relations.
2014 – 2015: Roadmap Intern, Binghamton University Office of the President
Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY
Produced and submitted four budget proposals for the university president’s “Roadmap to Premier” strategic plan, including proposals related to police training, department collaboration, and restructuring student welcome week. Supported executive-level planning through budget development and institutional improvement recommendations.
2014: Criminal Justice Research Intern, Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice
New York City Office of the Mayor, New York, NY
Supported the Task Force on Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System by publishing a weekly policy newsletter. Managed 20 surveyors, compiling a 450+ response survey dataset for the University of Chicago Crime Lab. And, prepared slide decks for senior leadership presentations in international policy settings (Wits University and the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional Law).
Academic and Professional Leadership
Selected Leadership and Editorial Service
2021 – 2025: Associate Editor, International Journal of eSports Multidisciplinary Research
IJEMR is a peer-reviewed international interdisciplinary journal devoted to the theoretical and empirical understanding of current research, advances, and practices within eSports. As Associate Editor, I supported editorial operations, peer review coordination, and conference-related publication projects for the esports research journal.
2021: Conference Chair, UCI Esports Conference
Roles: Conference Chair (2021); Speaker Experience Manager (2020); Volunteer Coordinator and Pre-Conference Session Coordinator (2019).
A collaboration between UCI Esports, the Connected Learning Lab, and the North American Scholastic Esports Federation, the conference centered on bringing together researchers and leaders at the intersection of esports and education to share with and learn from each other. I chaired the final year of a four-year conference collaboration, coordinating sessions, volunteers, speakers, and conference logistics for a research community focused on esports, education, youth development, and competitive play.
Games, Esports, and Community Service
2026: Judge, IGDA Questline: Online & Questline Gamescom
2022 – 2025: Advisory Board, Collegiate Fighting Games Conference
2019 – 2025: Volunteer Judge, Evolution Championship Series (International Tournament)
2023: Judge, Hack @ UCI & VenusHacks (Hackathon)
2022: Awards & Volunteer Services Coordinator, Games+Learning+Society Conference
2019 – 2021: Community Engagement Committee, Voice of Intercollegiate Esports
2019: Event Ambassador for AnyKey, TwitchCon
2019: Volunteer, Global Game Jam® (at UCI ICS)
Scholarly Reviewing and Editorial Service
2023: Reviewer, Games: Research and Practice
2019 – 2023: Reviewer, Connected Learning Summit
2022: Reviewer, New Media and Society
2022: Reviewer, Games+Learning+Society Conference
2019 – 2021: Reviewer, UCI Esports Research Conference
2021: Reviewer, CHI 2021 Late-Breaking Work
2020: Reviewer, CHI PLAY 2020 Rapid Communications
2020: Reviewer, ACM SIGCHI Conference 2020 Case Studies
Higher Education and Student Affairs Program and Awards Review
2024: ACPA Scholarship Session “Reflection. Evolve. Act.”
2021: NASPA Western Regional Conference “Courageous and Resilient Leadership”
2020: NASPA Conferences on Student Success in Higher Education
2020: NASPA Annual Conference (Event Canceled due to COVID 19)
2019: NASPA Western Regional Conference “Building Bridges, Creating Connections”
2018: ACPA Annual Conference “Be Bold”
2017: NASPA 2017 Annual Conference
2017: Grant and Award Review: ACPA Commission for Stu. Involvement
2017: Advance U Program Analyst, Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors
2016: Grant and Award Review: ACPA 2017 Annual Conference
Institutional Leadership and Student Advocacy
Selected Institutional Leadership Roles
2022 – 2025: Chair & Vice Chair, UCI Student Fee Advisory Committee,
Office of the Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor, University of California – Irvine
As both the chair and vice chair, I’ve led meetings and deliberations for a 10-member campus committee (comprised of students, faculty and staff) reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor. This includes reviewing Student Services Fee allocations, evaluating funding applications, recommending approximately $250,000 in permanent funds, and developing three campus referenda for consideration by a constituency of approximately 36,000 voters.
2022 – 2023: Organization President and Chair, Associated Graduate Students,
Student Government and Student Media, University of California – Irvine
As the chief executive officer of the graduate student government, representing approximately 7,000 graduate students, I chaired a 60+ member (graduate student) council, oversaw a $300,000 budget and 25-person staff, led long-term strategic planning, advanced more than 30 pieces of legislation, and contributed to university-level policy changes affecting graduate student welfare. Advocacy efforts contributed to substantial graduate student cost savings and helped initiate discussions leading to the current fundraising structure, both of which persist today.
Academic Governance (Faculty Senate), Accreditation, and Curriculum
2025: Council on Planning and Budget
2022 – 2023: Council on Educational Policy
2022 – 2023: Steering Committee on Reaffirmation (WSCUC Accreditation Self-Study)
2021 – 2022: Subcommittee on Courses & Continuing, Part-Time, & Summer Session Education
2020 – 2022: Working Group on Curricular Culture and Pedagogical Structures
2019 – 2022: Graduate Council
2019 – 2020: Council on Teaching Learning and Student Experience
2016 – 2017: Academic Computing and Educational Technology Committee (Binghamton Senate)
Hiring, Search, and Institutional Appointments
2023: Hiring Committee, Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
2023: Hiring Committee, Alumni Association Executive Director
2019 – 2022: UCI Police Department Lateral, Police Officer, and Sergeant Recruitment [7 hires]
2019: Hiring Committee, Vice Provost for Graduate Education
2017: Public Administration Faculty Search and Hiring Committee (Binghamton)
2017: Graduate Hiring Day Committee (Binghamton Student Affairs Administration)
Budget, Finance, and Resource Allocation
2023 – 2025: Council on Student Fees (University of California Systemwide)
2022 – 2025: Vice Chair/Chair, Student Fee Advisory Committee ($0.25M budget)
2022 – 2025: Associated Graduate Students Finance and Budget Committee (funded 50 student events annually)
2021 – 2023: Informatics Graduate Student Association President & Chair ($5,000 budget; Representing ~200 Informatics & Software Engineering Students)
2020 – 2023: Coordinated Governance Group (Housing & Facilities shared-governance model)
Includes Student Housing Budget Development Committee and Graduate Orientation Committee
2020 – 2021: AGS Vice President of Administrative Affairs & Internal Affairs ($25k budget)
2021: UCI Dining Services RFP Committee (Under NDA)
Equity, Access, Campus Climate, and Student Well-Being
2022 – 2023: Equity in Mental Health Committee
2022 – 2023: Land Acknowledgements Task Force
2022 – 2023: Gender Recognition and Lived Name Compliance Task Force
2021 – 2023: Black Thriving & End Racism Initiative Advisory Committees
2019 – 2023: Public Safety Advisory Committee (Division of Finance and Admin)
2022: Title IX Student Advisory Board Selection Committee (University of California Systemwide)
2021: University of California Campus Safety Symposium (University of California Systemwide)
2019 – 2021: IGSA Social Chair & Program Coordinator
2020: Founding Member, Department of Informatics Affinity Groups
Black Informatics Graduate Students and Informatics Sexuality and Gender Alliance
2019: AGS Campus Climate Director ($3,000 budget)
2017 – 2018: Executive Board Member, Town-Gown Advisory Board of Binghamton (TGAB)
Chair, Subcommittee on Dangerous and Underage Drinking ($50k budget)
Graduate Student Representative, Binghamton Campus and Community Coalition
2016 – 2017: Binghamton Libraries Advisory Committee
2012: Vice President, Black Male Initiative (Hostos CC)
Other Student Government and Public Service Leadership
University of California, Irvine
2022 – 2023: Board of Directors, UCI Alumni Association & Young Alumni Council
2021 – 2023: Student Regent Nominating Commission (University of California Regents)
2021 – 2022: Graduate Student Career Advisory Board
2020 – 2022: Student Center Board of Advisors
2019 – 2021: IGSA Social Chair & Program Coordinator
2018 – 2019: IGSA Communications Chair
Binghamton University
2015 – 2018: Party with a Purpose Planning Committee (Raised ~$15k in philanthropy annually)
2016 – 2017: Student Advisory Board for The College of Community and Public Affairs
2016 – 2017: Constitution, Bylaws, & Chartering Committee (Graduate Student Organization)
2016 – 2017: Graduate Assistant, Panhellenic Council Recruitment (Greek Life)
2016 – 2017: Awards Reviewer, Standards of Excellence Committee (Greek Life)
2017: President, MPA Graduate Student Org. (Representing ~160 Graduate Students)
2017: Banquet and Awards Committee (Public Administration)
2015: Student Judge, Student Conduct Hearing Board
Hostos Community College
2012 – 2013: Executive Secretary & Scholarship Designer, Student Government Association
2011 – 2013: Student Ambassador & New York State Senate Advocate, Student Leadership Academy
Professional Development and Continuing Education
Featured Professional Development
2023: Oxford Internet Institute Summer Doctoral Program, Balliol College, Oxford, UK
Participated in an international doctoral programme for advanced researchers, during which I presented dissertation research, workshopped methods and theory with an interdisciplinary cohort, and developed feedback on the role of esports, digital culture, and community knowledge in contemporary media research.
2022: The iSchool Inclusion Institute Teaching Fellow, Austin, TX, USA
Supported students from underrepresented backgrounds in information science. Co-taught research design, supported students in developing research questions and methods, and participated in a residential living-learning model centered on mentorship, equity, and graduate school preparation.
2019: Higher Ed. Video Game Alliance Europe Games Research Summer School, Skövde, Sweden
Participated in the international summer school with seminars on games and learning, feminist design, game analysis, design science, serious games, and collaborative research development. This experience helped shape my early approach to game studies, pedagogy, and community-centered research.
Trainings and Certifications (University of California – Irvine)
2022: Counseling Center training in QPR Suicide Prevention
2021: Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation, Digital Learning Institute
2021: DTEI Certificate in Inclusive Hybrid Teaching
2020: Office of Inclusive Excellence Certificate in Thriving, Wellness, and Community
2019 – 2020: Graduate Division Seminar Series
Seminars include: Management Beyond the Classroom, Activate to Captivate, Improv for Teaching, Preparation for Faculty Career, Mentoring Excellence
2019: DTEI Certificate in Course Design
Additional Academic Development Activities
2021: International Game Developers Association Foundation Scholar Program, Online
2021: UCI Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation Fellow, Irvine, CA, USA
2020: Digital Games Research Association Doctoral Consortium, Tampere, Finland
2020: Teaching and Learning Associate, Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning
2019: Inclusive Streaming Initiative Inaugural Workshop, Irvine, CA, USA
Continuing Education
2026: Digital Games and Heritage, Copernicus College, The Jagiellonian University, Poland
2026: Gamification, University of Pennsylvania
2026: Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative, Vanderbilt University
2026: e-Learning Ecologies: Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Learning for the Digital Age, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2026: Transmedia Storytelling: Narrative worlds, emerging technologies, and global audiences, University of New South Wales, Sydney
2026: Serious Gaming, Erasmus University Rotterdam
2026: User Experience Research and Design Specialization, University of Michigan
2026: Esports Specialization, University of California, Irvine
2026: Methods and Statistics in Social Sciences Specialization, University of Amsterdam
2026: Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization, California Institute of the Arts
2026: Data Visualization: Fundamentals to Interactive Storytelling Specialization, University of Pittsburgh
2027: Xbox Product Manager Professional Certificate
2027: Introduction to Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Johns Hopkins)
2027: Digital Pedagogy and Inclusive Learning Design Specialization (Illinois)
2027: HarvardX — CS50’s Introduction to 2D Game Development
2027: Digital Platforms in Performance, University of Cambridge
2027: Artificial Intelligence Ethics / Philosophy and Ethics of AI, University of Oxford