Aidan is a skilled programmer and game developer with extensive educational and professional experience and multiple published or beta-phase projects. He has served in a variety of roles ranging the spectrum of game development, including as a technical game designer, lead sound designer, co-producer, marketer, lead voice actor, and even programming teacher. But his ultimate aim remains the same – to work on games that bring happiness and provide the next generation with the skills to do so.

In his free time, Aidan enjoys working out, boxing, drifting, and – of course! – playing games.

• Holds a B.S. in Game Design & Development from the Rochester Institute of Technology
• Served as the Off-Tank and IGL for the D1 Overwatch team at RIT
• Solo or team developer for a variety of games, including State of Matter, Whispers in the Warehouse, Knockout Arena, and Glutton Gull
• Student project State of Matter tapped by O3DE to convert to their engine and bring it to launch
• Formerly ranked among top three chess players nationwide
• Skilled in a vast array of engines, editors, tools, programming languages, and management applications, including the following: Unity, Hammer, Open 3D Engine, Unreal Engine, Phaser 2D, Tabletop Simulator, Physics Editor, MonoGame, Box2D, Scratch, Visual Studio, Audacity, Wave Works Interactive Sound Engine (Wwise), Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop, Flutter, Swagger, FileZilla, Postman, Git, Trello, Atlassian Jira, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Discord, Slack, C#, C++, Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Dart

Ailsa loves to build worlds, design monsters, and make games – often, all at the same time! She specializes in graphic and character design, animation, drawing, drag-and-drop programming, and 3D modeling and printing. She’s also a fan of Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop RPGs, but her true passion is helping her students flex their creative muscles – whether they want to make a platformer game, an art website, or a 3D masterpiece!

In her spare time, she enjoys zoology, speculative biology, and crafting with Silhouette Cameo 4.

• Graduated cum laude with a BFA in Interactive Design & Game Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
• Author of a VR (virtual reality) game
• Proficient with the Silhouette Cameo 4 machine
• An expert in Blender, Unreal Engine, Substance Painter, RPGMaker, Construct 3, Adobe Creative Suite, and Silhouette Studio, among others

Alaura obtained her B.A. in Visual Studies and 3D Modeling and her minor in Creative Writing & Fine Arts from one of the top schools in the country, where she was also awarded the Best of Faculty award in 2020 for her senior thesis. She specializes in 3D modeling, fine arts, and creative writing, but her true passion is working with her students – helping them envision and develop their ideas and bring them to brilliant reality in both games and art.

In Alaura’s spare time, she enjoys experimenting with various mixed media, playing games, and restoring old arcade machines and retro consoles back to working condition. She’s also a big fan of going to theme parks on the weekends, enjoying her Annual Pass for both Disney World and Universal Studios, and her child – arguably, she says, her grandest achievement!

• Holds a bachelor’s degree in Visual Studies with a focus in 3D Modeling, as well as a minor in Creative Writing & Fine Arts from the Ringling College of Art and Design
• Awarded the Visual Studies: Best of Ringling College of Art and Design Faculty honor (2020)
• Featured in the Crossley Gallery for Fine Arts (2020)
• Skilled in a variety of industry-standard programs, including but not limited to Maya, Blender, and Unreal Engine

Alex holds a B.S. Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Ohio State University, as well as an A.A.S. Degree in Computer Information Technology, Game Developer Track, from CSCC (Columbus State Community College). He is a talented programmer, skilled in Unity 3D, web development, and databases. Some of his previous projects include No Mercy from Multivarious Games and OSU Game Capstone – Autumn 2014, Bifocal Games. Currently, he’s working on an app called VR Patients. In his free time, Alex enjoys soccer and video games!

• Holds a B.S. Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Ohio State University
• Holds a A.A.S. Degree in Computer Information Technology, Game Developer Track, from CSCC (Columbus State Community College)
• Has worked on projects such as No Mercy from Multivarious Games and OSU Game Capstone – Autumn 2014, Bifocal Games.

Alexander, or “Alex”, is a self-taught game development professional and programmer with close to a decade of indie game making and freelance development under his belt. While he specializes in Unreal Engine 4 and 5, he can work in any game engine. More than that, however, he loves teaching and working with children of all ages and abilities, and is invested in his students’ success.

In his free time, Alex enjoys just about anything tech-related - video games, computers, and more - and makes a point to keep abreast of current and future technological developments.

• Most recent projects include the game Terminal VR (now released on Steam) and Project 9
• Worked for a children’s shelter
• Made contributions to a wide variety of PC games
• Proficient in multiple industry-standard programs and computer languages, including but not limited to Unreal Engine, Construct 3, Adobe Creative Cloud, SketchUp, Tinkercad, Piskel, CSS, and HTML

Alexander, or “Alex” as he prefers, is a multi-talented game developer, programmer, and sound designer with years of experience in a variety of technology-related fields. Making games and teaching others are both deeply held passions for him, particularly with his skill in both developing and teaching lesson plans for various programming languages and concepts. Here at GameU, Alex is not only able to combine his dual dreams, but also able to share what he loves and enjoys about games and to collaborate with others to make them even better – one of his all-time favorite pursuits!

In his spare time, Alex enjoys video games (of course!), mechanical keyboards, coffee, woodworking, and synths/music making.

• Attended Oklahoma City Community College for Computer Programming
• Graduated with honors in Computer Programming from Moore Norman Technology Center
• Senior game developer at Giant Fox Studios
• IT Technician at United States Courts
• Industrial Engineering Clerk at Hobby Lobby
• The sole author or partnering contributor of multiple completed/published game projects, including Soul Searchers, Stoked, The Automation Department, and Nema
• Familiar with a variety of applications and programming languages, such as Visual Studio, Unity, Git, Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, RobotC, and Visual Basic

Andrew is an experienced game developer and generalist with a broad range of skills and a talent for creating enjoyable experiences for all ages through the gaming medium. More than that, however, he aspires to teach those same skills to his students, and empower them to make their own stories, experiences, and dreams a reality.

Andrew’s hobbies include building model kits and playing (and winning!) a variety of video games, includingPokémon, Super Smash Bros., Animal Crossing,andMonster Hunter.

• Holds a B.A. from Bloomfield College in Game Programming & Game Design
• Obtained an associate’s degree in Game Design & Development from Camden County College
• Frequent game jam contestant
• Team participant at multiple professional exhibitions
• CTO at Turtle Summit Studios
• Skilled in a variety of software and programming languages, including but not limited to: Unity, GameMaker, Android Studio, Construct 3, Maya, Blender, Tinkercad, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Krita, Piskel, C#, C++, and Java

Anna has always aimed to share her experiences and skills with others and to make learning both profitable and enjoyable for all her students. Watching other people grow and succeed because of something she gave them is, for her, one of the most fulfilling aspects of being a teacher. At GameU, she works across a wide range of subjects with children and adults alike, both with and without special needs, to help them achieve their goals. She’s doing what she loves – and helping others do the same!

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.

• 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 and a current member of multiple honor societies, including Alpha Lambda Delta and NSCS (National Society of Collegiate Scholars)
• Commissioned freelance artist with two consecutive Honorable Mentions
• Former Art Program Leader at Gigi’s Playhouse, a non-profit center for individuals with Down syndrome
• Lesson and curriculum developer
• Published blog and newsletter author
• Professional creative and technical writer
• Familiar with a broad array of programs, including Krita, Autodesk Sketchbook, Procreate, Photopea, Canva, Piskel, FlipAnim, Bibisco, Womp3D, Tinkercad, Scratch, GDevelop 5, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Suite, among others

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.

Anthony, or “Link”, is a true multidimensional generalist, specializing in both 2D and 3D aspects of game design in addition to his engineering background. With experience with 3D modeling and printing as well as digital art and illustration, his ultimate goal is to continue to learn as much as he can, and – above all – to be able to share what he enjoys about game design with likeminded students.

In his free time, Link enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons, painting, designing costumes and armor, and – of course – making video games.

• Holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Animation & Game Design from California State University Chico
• A student of the De Montfort University’s Honors Game Art Program in Leicester, England
• Worked in the automotive industry as a CAD designer, developing 3D templates for use in performance engines
• Proficient with a wide variety of plastic and metal fabrication equipment
• Taught amateur swordsmanship and archery
• Has expertise in a broad range of applications and software, including but not limited to: Unity, Unreal Engine, Autodesk Maya, Blender, Substance Painter, ZBrush, Cura, Pepakura, Autodesk Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, and Krita

Aria is a dedicated programmer and generalist of many disciplines who specializes in game and audio design and has a history with collegiate E-Sports, marketing, and video editing. She also has experience in 3D modeling, animation, and concept work, and is in the midst of developing and releasing a personal project on Steam. Her own passion for gaming drives her desire to teach and share those skills and that inspiration with her students!

In her free time, Aria enjoys playing piano, drawing, making funny gameplay compilation videos of her and her friends, and (of course!) playing video games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and the Dark Souls trilogy.

• Pursuing a Games, Interactive Media, & Mobile Technology major at Boise State University
• Worked in a team to further develop a VR musical experience for a client
• Author of or contributor to multiple in-progress games and works, including Soulcatcher, Ecliptic Depths, 30 Minutes or Less, VARScent Cognitive Training Simulation, and more
• BSU E-Sports production employee, working in a variety of roles such as technical producer, director, graphics designer, social media marketer, and others
• Certified Microsoft Office specialist (2016) and Adobe Photoshop (2020)
• Used WordPress and other tools to build a website for a preschool as well as created various code-based websites for educational projects
• Proficient in Unity, Unreal Engine, Visual Studio, Roblox Studio, Autodesk Maya, Audacity, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Animate, Premiere Pro, XD), Media Encoder, WordPress, VCV Rack, Microsoft 365, Trello, Git, C#, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Lua

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.

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

Beatrix has nearly a decade of experience in teaching and administration across a range of subjects, serving as a Tech Program Facilitator, center supervisor, site director, program lead, and more at various after-school and educational STEAM programs. GameU provides an opportunity for her to hone her own skills as well as to combine her expertise in youth services and its passion for game design!

In its free time, Beatrix enjoys drawing, playing (and making!) tabletop role-playing games, crafting miniatures, sculpting, woodworking, soldering, and fixing anything and everything broken.

• Attended Southwestern Oregon Community College, Oregon State University, and Santa Rosa Junior College for General Education, Nuclear Engineering, and Digital Design, respectively
• Participated in the popular game jam Ludum Dare
• A game master for multiple TTRPG (tabletop role-playing games) projects
• Helped students build simple phone apps in Applab, receiving regional attention for their success
• Created a popular TTRPG game using cardboard props, suitable for ten to twenty students to play at a time
• Authored and developed A Backyard Scramble, which ranked 52nd out of over a thousand games in the humor category
• Skilled in multiple applications and programming languages, including Unity, Scratch, MATLAB, Aseprite, Piskel, Adobe Photoshop, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and C#

Benjamin is a true lifelong learner, always seeking to acquire new skills, master new programs, and develop professionally in order to best support his students. As a successful self-taught game developer and 3D modeler, he has found his calling in teaching and technology – two things GameU is known for!

In his spare time, Benjamin enjoys playing video games, going to concerts, and teaching himself guitar.

• Holds a B.A. in English and an associate’s degree in Education as well as a minor in Communications & Journalism from Rowan University
• Developed multiple RPGs
• Published several Blender projects
• Familiar with a wide variety of applications, including but not limited to Unity, Construct 3, RPG Maker, Blender, Adobe Creative Cloud and associated software, Tinkercad, Piskel, and BandLab

Benjamin is an expert game developer and programmer. He always aims high; whether it’s creating his own VR game engine using C++ or, in the future, developing an online multiplayer game in Unreal Engine, he’s eternally determined to accomplish his goals. Benjamin likewise dedicates that same determination to his teaching – with a passion for sharing his skills and knowledge, he continues to help his students along their own journeys towards their dreams.

In his free time, Benjamin enjoys gaming (of course!), animation, collectible card games, tabletop RPGs, and sports!

• Holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Full Sail University
• Built his own VR game engine using only C++ and DirectX Completed projects include the Unity first-person shooter Card Caster and the VR HTC Vive action game Dragon Duel
• Can teach and create any genre of game – from endless runners to platformers and more
• An expert in a variety of industry-standard applications and languages, such as Unity, Construct 3, Blender, GIMP, Krita, Olive, C++, and C#

A game developer, early-level programming instructor, content producer, robotics team captain, and even a real-world escape room game master, there are few hats Blaine hasn’t worn in his career to date. With multiple published works under his belt, as well as team leadership experience and mechanical skill, he is both passionate about and well-equipped to share his knowledge with the coming generation of game developers and roboticists.

• Attended NCSU (North Carolina State University), studying computer science; holds multiple Adobe certifications
• Developed multiple games using various platforms, both independently and as part of a team; finished projects include Ram War, Calculux, Aggre-Gate, Eldritch Pet Shop, and Alpha Vale, among others
• Wrote and taught custom coding curriculum
• Created and maintained a popular YouTube channel featuring entertaining and educational video content
• Specializes in Minecraft game development, utilizing Minecraft plugins and commands to great effect
• Captain of a robotics team; competed in state championships
• Proficient in a broad range of industry-standard software, platforms, and languages, including Unity, Unreal Engine, GameMaker Studio, Minecraft, Autodesk 3ds Max, Blender, Blockbench, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, etc.), Java, C#, C++, Python, HTML, Basic, and TI-Basic

Bobby is an accomplished game artist and developer specializing in 3D modeling and animation, concept art, and interactive media, among other fields. He is also an experienced teacher and instructor. Above all else, he aims to help create a safe, encouraging, and fun space for students to learn new skills and let their creativity flow.

In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, hiking, spending quality time with family and friends, playing with his dog, and – of course – video games!

• Obtained a B.S. in Games, Interactive Media, & Mobile Technology from Boise State University, where he made the Dean’s List and graduated cum laude
• Continuing his thirteen-year career in Pharmacy as a Lead Technician, working in LTC, home wellness, hospital, retail, and home infusion, among other departments
• Taught advanced pharmaceutical practices to professionals for more than five years
• Game Design and Digital Art instructor
• Currently developing a VR (virtual reality) minigame in Unity
• Winner of the 2020 Bike Lane Symbol contest where a piece he designed was paved and will remain as part of the street until 2030
• Specializes in a variety of programs and applications, including but not limited to Unity, Autodesk Maya, Nomad Sculpt, Procreate, and Adobe Illustrator

Brad is a game designer, writer, and producer with a decade’s worth of experience in console and mobile game development. He’s collaborated on tens of major and minor projects with a variety of well-known names in the field, working across genres on everything from level design and story to sound direction to programming and to art and animation, and has been recognized for his contributions with multiple awards and features. More than anything else, however, Brad aims to help the next generation learn to bring their ideas to life and ride their passion all the way to the game industry!

In his free time, Brad runs a social media account that is focused on preserving undocumented game media (out-of-print books, unposted artwork, and more). He also enjoys stories and storytelling, watching animated films, building mecha model kits, and playing with his dog!

• Holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Missouri (St. Louis)
• Former Senior Game Designer at Graphite Lab
• Worked as part of a team on multiple published games, including but not limited to: qomp2 (2024), Kombinera (2022), Bratz Total Fashion Makeover (2021), Rollercoaster Tycoon Story (2020), Craig of the Creek: Camp Cardboard (2019)
• Collaborated on over 50 commercial projects from a wide range of prominent clients such as Hasbro, MGA Entertainment, Atari, and Cartoon Network; the latter adopted his GDD (game design document) format for use as a template
• Received multiple recognitions, reviews, and features on said projects, such as the Team Choice Award PAX West (2023), Apple’s Game of the Day and Five New Games We Love, and more
• Skilled with a variety of applications and programming languages, including: Unity, GameMaker, RPG Maker, Audacity, Adobe Photoshop, Google Suite, Jira, Asana, Unity C#, C#, and C++

Bradley’s multi-discipline career history in both the technology and gaming industries has well-equipped him as an instructor, enabling him to translate complex professional skills and concepts into accessible learning experiences. He is dedicated to providing a dynamic and supportive environment for his students that helps prepare them for real-world challenges. Above all, his commitment to inclusivity and individualized learning aligns with GameU’s core philosophy, empowering all students to realize their potential and achieve their goals.

In his free time, he enjoys video games, woodworking, restoration projects, running, rowing, and playing with his pets!

• Holds three Bachelor of Science degrees from Purdue University in, respectively, Computer Graphics Technology, Game Design & Development, and Web Design & Programming
• Currently pursuing an MBA from the University of Illinois
• Obtained several certifications from Purdue University, including Scrum Master Certification, Social and Behavioral Research Certification, Agile Project Management Certification, Certified Agile Leadership (CAL), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), and a Google IT Support Professional certificate
• Helped develop AI systems to create "Floorplans" for the Fortune 500 company Zillow
• Senior Level Designer/Environmental Artist at Epoch Games
• Part of the development teams for several notable FPS games under contract with AAA companies
• Published and sold his own art pieces
• Owns a graphic design and apparel company
• Proficient in a variety of applications, software, and computer languages, including but not limited to the following: Unreal Engine, Construct 3, Scratch, Adobe Creative Cloud (specifically, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, Dreamweaver, and After Effects), | Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, Piskel, Inkscape, Nuke, Notepad++, Houdini, Character Creator 3 & 4, Roadkill, Radiant Engine, Python, Java, HTML, PHP, CSS, JavaScript, Asp.net, .Net, Perl, Ruby, Rust, C, C#, C++, SQL, custom APKs, and more

Brennan is a 3D animator and a game developer with skills in 3D modeling, UX design, and game development, and he is proficient in various software tools, such as Maya, Substance Painter, Unreal Engine, ZBrush, and Construct 3. He has worked on projects such as a Virtual Reality “nursing room” for Purdue University’s School of Nursing, and he dreams of publishing his own successful RPG title someday. In his free time, he likes to play video games, especially strategy and MMO games, play basketball, build things, and collect mechanical keyboards.

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

Brittany is an experienced instructor, mentor, curriculum developer, artist, and animator who loves being part of the GameU team. She thrives on working with students, parents, and colleagues alike, and enjoys helping others create their own inspiring stories. Above all, her ultimate goal is lifelong learning and improvement.

In her free time, Brittany enjoys modeling creepy creatures in ZBrush, painting, and helping at the animal shelter! 

• Holds a BFA in Animation from the Savannah College of Art & Design, as well as associates’ degrees in Illustration and Advertising from Mercer County Community College
• Recipient of multiple academic honors and student incentive scholarships
• Member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
• Worked as producer, animator, and modeler on the Red Dot award-winning short film Function
• Skilled in a variety of industry-standard programs, including ZBrush, Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, Photopea, Krita, Piskel, SculptGL, Womp3D, Google Docs, and more

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!

• 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.

Carlos is a multi-disciplinary generalist with a focus in music, audio, and sound design. Even beyond that, he’s a talented programmer, game designer, media and video editor, and 3D artist and animator. Above all else, however, Carlos loves to teach and to work with children! He believes GameU is the perfect place to simultaneously teach his passions and hone his own skills – all while staying “young and goofy” with his students.

In his free time, Carlos enjoys creative coding, movies, musical theater, and cooking.

• Graduated with a B.S. in Music & Technology from Carnegie Mellon University
• Made Dean’s List in Fall of 2020
• Bilingual (English and Spanish)
• Game developer and generalist for Gravity Colour and Tower Surge
• Sound Design Instructor at Carnegie Mellon Game Academy; presented a sound art installation at Carnegie Mellon’s Meeting of the Minds showcase
• Videographer and video editor for the Dalcroze Conference
• 3D modeler and animator for the animated short film Adri’s Adventure
• Lead Robotics Engineer for the Splash Photography Team in the Build18 Hackathon Triple Wavez’s Audio Programmer and the Sound Engineer for CMU Recording Studio
• Proficient with a variety of applications and languages, including but not limited to: Roblox, Unity, Blender, Autodesk Maya, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Premiere, Substance Painter, After Effects, Audition), Houdini, Tinkercad, Logic Pro, ProTools, Reaper, Dorico, Microsoft Word, Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, Slides), Python, C, C#, Max/MSP/Jitter, Pure Data, Lua, and JavaScript

An accomplished digital and traditional artist, game designer, and instructor, Cat also specializes in world and character design/development, with additional expertise in the realm of robotics. As a former GameU student himself and a veteran instructor, Cat is passionate about making and maintaining a “fun space” for their students to learn, grow, and combine their interests.

In their free time, he enjoys working on personal art projects and playing Dungeons & Dragons.

• Holds a B.A. in Interactive Multimedia from the College of New Jersey
• Created and constructed a game controller in the shape of a lyre, using it to manipulate both movement and sound by connecting each “string” to a different keyboard input
• Familiar with Construct 3, GameMaker, and Krita, among other programs

Catherin is a firm believer in lifelong learning, always interested in studying new software or acquiring new skills. She was inspired by GameU’s mission to provide young minds with opportunities to kickstart their careers; her ultimate aim is to help her students achieve (and even exceed!) their wildest dreams, and to continue to offer GameU’s dedicated support and resources in service of their goals.

In her free time, Catherin enjoys drawing, reading, hiking, teaching, and taking care of her new nephew!

• Graduated from Montclair State University with a BFA in Animation & Illustration
• Assistant editor, compositor, and 3D modeler for short film Ghosts Can’t Pay Rent
• Showcased in an independent festival company
• Experienced tutor and childcare assistant, working with children ranging from preschool-age to eighth grade
• Bilingual English/Spanish speaker
• Skilled with a variety of industry-standard applications, including Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects), Blender, Unity, Autodesk Maya, and Canva

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.

• Won award from GameU showcase

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 titledUh 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.

• 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.

Christian is a dedicated professional with more than a decade of experience across fields. Spanning game development, IT support, e-commerce, content creation, community growth and management, and more, his skills are both varied and extensive. As always throughout his broad career, he aims to make a lasting difference in people’s lives while continuing to develop professionally. Above all, he is passionate about helping others understand game design, technology, and communication, and is committed to creating positive environments where his students can thrive and reach their true potential.

In his spare time, Christian enjoys anime, manga, card games, hiking, basketball, and music composition.

• Holds a B.S. in Game Design from Full Sail University
• Awarded the Python Developer Certification via Mimo
• Owner, developer, and streamer for Crowic and the “Crowmunity”, a thriving online community of over 10,000 members
• E-commerce entrepreneur
• Senior IT Technician at Two Guys Pizza for over a decade
• Lead developer and designer for multiple published mobile games now available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, including Chamelo the Colorful
• Skilled with Unity, Unreal Engine, Visual Studio, Android Studio, Xcode, DaVinci Resolve, VTube Studio , Twitch, YouTube, OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), Discord, Microsoft 365, Git, GitHub, Bitbucket, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Blender,  C++, C#, Python, JavaScript, and HTML

Christopher specializes in game design, education, and music, with a focus on technical audio and adaptive soundtracks. At GameU, he can seamlessly integrate these fields, using each to inform the other and create a well-rounded, holistic, and unique experience for his students. This same philosophy, naturally, extends to his game projects, where he works both independently and with teams to create an interesting and haptically engaging experience for every player – where even the smallest sound contributes to the story. In his spare time, Christopher enjoys playing (and composing!) music

• Graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Game Design (Programming) from Indiana University
• Holds a B.A. in Instrumental Music Education (magna cum laude) from East Tennessee State University
• Worked for more than a year in a variety of roles – programmer, technical sound designer, composer, and more – within a team of twelve on a game project titled Breach of Space
• Other projects include Robin’s Quest, Codetta, Gridworld, and Scare-Away Camp
• Skilled in a variety of programming and DAW (digital audio workstation) applications, such as Unity, Construct 3, Unreal Engine, Godot Engine, Reason 11, Pro Tools, Adobe Audition, and FMOD Studio, among others

Christopher has been a part of GameU from its inception onward – first as a student, and then graduating to an instructor in his own right! An avid game developer, designer, and teacher, he also holds a deep interest in all aspects of science, including astronomy and genetic studies.

• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Drexel University
• Former Amazon Certified Cloud practitioner
• Part of the team that developed a prototype for the procedurally-generated online multiplayer game Spacetomb<
• Experienced with a variety of programs such as Scratch, Construct 3, MCreator, GameMaker 2, Unity, Blockbench, Krita, Roblox, and Unreal Engine

Colin is a game development generalist, 3D modeler, and sprite designer. He thrives on constant challenge, viewing it as an opportunity to improve his skills and expand his horizons. Even more than that, however, he hopes to make an impact on the next generation of students. Having an educational mentor of his own in the past encouraged him to pursue his dreams – and Colin wants nothing more than to provide that same experience and satisfaction to others.

When he’s not developing new mechanics or exploring different ways to best accommodate players in-game, Colin enjoys video games, bodybuilding, and vehicles.

• Attended CG Spectrum College of Digital Art and Animation and obtained certificates in Unreal Engine, 3D modeling, and C++
• Listed Google Play developer (ESRB rated)
• Multiple published and in-progress projects, including DinoSmash!, Potion Popper, Hex of the Hell Beast, and more
• Developer and designer at Sleepless Studios
• Skilled in Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, Autodesk Maya, Aseprite, Piskel, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, C#, and C++, among others

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.

Corey is a freelance Roblox developer, a contract game developer, and a software and senior game systems engineer who is now bringing that expertise to the field of education! He aims to spread the joy and fun of game development to the next generation through project-based learning. Above all, he hopes to mentor and guide interested students to help them be curious and explore.

In his free time, Corey enjoys cooking, gaming, and reading.

• Graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a B.S. and an M.S. in Computer Science at age twenty-two
• Worked with a variety of brands to create unique and fun Roblox experiences, gathering over 12 million visits
• Created multiple client-driven, effective, and unique in-game systems for both live and developing games (Crown Wars, Dragonball Online Generations, and Shinobi Tension)
• Developed (solely or as part of a team) multiple projects, including CurioCity, PACWORLD: PacSun Mall Tycoon, and George Ezra’s Gold Rush Kid Experience
• Has extensive experience in a variety of applications, IDEs, and languages, such as Roblox Studio, Eclipse IDE, Spyder IDE, Visual Studio, NetBeans, Adobe Photoshop, Audacity, GitHub Desktop, Microsoft 365, Trello, Monday.com, Lua, Luau, JavaScript, C++, Java, Python, SQL, HTML5, CSS3, and PHP 5

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!

• 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.

Courtney is a concept artist and an art lead. He has worked on UNDR [H2O] as a concept/texture artist and as an illustrator for the Disney Imagineering Competition in 2016. He is always learning and improving his skills in various fields of game design. He joined GameU to share his knowledge and passion with the younger generations. He also likes to play games such as League of Legends and Yu-Gi-Oh!, listen to K-R&B music, and dance in his free time.

• 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

Courtney, or Court, has loved video games ever since he was able to hold a controller. Designing games, writing stories, and making art all hold a special appeal for him as a way to connect with others and express oneself without limitations. Throughout his varied and extensive career, from machine technician to character creator to lead game designer and more, Court’s goal has been to engage people and bring them together – and, ultimately, to share his passion and skills with his students and touch lives around the world.

In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, watching movies, making art, and spending time with family.

• Holds a Bachelor of Science in Game Design from Full Sail University
• Published an ebook titled “Divine Intervention” on Amazon Kindle
• Worked as Lead Game Designer for VIP Games
• Game Design and Level Designer for Wicked Pixels LLC
• Level Design Assembler/Tester, ESS Specialist, and Crew Trainer for Leonardo DRS
• Skilled in a variety of software and programming languages, including but not limited to: Unreal Engine, Unity, GameMaker, JavaScript, ActionScript 2.0, HTML5, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and others), and Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

A professional 3D artist and game developer with multiple published titles on Steam, Daniel is always keen to not only hone his many skills, but also to share them with others. He’s an accomplished team player and teacher, often taking on roles and peer mentoring as needed on his own group endeavors – to great success. One of these, in fact, titled Whisker Witchery, in whose development Daniel played a significant part with multiple character models, animations, blend spaces, and more, holds the Master’s Rank in Apex Legends and made it to the #1 slot on the New and Free Game Category on Steam – with over 30,000 adds from interested gamers! Another team project(F.I.D.O.), likewise available on Steam, features Daniel’s sound design work, animations, story sequences, and cutscenes.

In his free time, he’s an avid video gamer (of course!), film enthusiast, video creator, and even exercise aficionado.

• Holds a B.S. in Games (Entertainment Arts & Engineering) from the University of Utah
• Awarded the Crimson Crew Scholarship, the highest award possible in that department, for producing tangible results and positive contributions
• Lead Developer of multiple fully shipped and playable titles on Steam, with more to come
• Proficient in a broad range of industry-standard programs, including Maya, Blender, Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Substance Painter, among others
• Specializes in 3D animation, rigging, modeling, and all aspects of the game development pipeline
• Accomplished video editor and sound designer

Daniel, or “Dan”, is an experienced game designer and programmer with a versatile background in audio, graphic design, podcasting, and more. An avid cross-genre fan of game development, Dan is dedicated to personal improvement as well. His ultimate aim? To use his skills and experience to make the world a better, more fun place while continuing to learn and grow himself!

In his spare time, Dan enjoys playing games (of course!), learning Japanese, being a WWE nerd, reading comics, listening to (and making) music, drinking coffee, and spending time with his family.  

• Graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Game Software Development from Baker College, as well as a certificate in Sound Recording Technology and an associate degree in Fine Arts from Schoolcraft College
• Lead Game Designer at WolverineSoft Studio
• Lead or contributed to multiple published games and shipped titles available on Itch or Steam, including but not limited to Corrupt Eldritch Order, Tails of War, Cellosseum, Curse of the Corsair, and Subtension, among others
• Host of the top gaming series Worth it or Worthless: A Retro Game Podcast
• Familiar with a variety of industry-standard applications and languages, including Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, Adobe Photoshop, Figma, Final Cut Pro, Wordpress, Pro Tools, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, Atlassian Suite (i.e., Trello, Jira, Confluence), GitHub, Bitbucket, C++, C#, and Lua

Daniel is an animator and a game developer. He has created and showcased several games such as Blade-erang, a 2D project where the player uses a boomerang blade, and various game jams for events like Global Game Jam, Extra Credits Game Jam, GMTK Game Jam, and Ludum Dare. He has also helped students release games for iPhone and PC since he joined GameU in 2018. He enjoys playing video games and board games with friends in his spare time.

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

Desiree is a true 3D generalist. She specializes in animating, modeling, texturing, and lighting, among other strengths, and has extensive experience with many of Adobe Creative Suite’s applications. Her goal, as both an artist and an instructor, is to continue to develop professionally while working towards establishing herself and striving to make artwork that can inspire and bring joy to other people’s lives. Above all, she enjoys sharing her knowledge with students and being a source of encouragement in whatever course they pursue.

In her free time, Desiree enjoys drawing, crafting, sewing, playing video games, and more!

• Holds a B.F.A. in Computer Art & Animation and Visual Effects from the School of Visual Arts in NYC via Silas H. Rhodes Scholarship
• Director and creator of laurel-winning thesis film Stone Age: The Delivery, including “Film of Distinction” by SVA and “Official Selection” from the ASIFA-East Animation Festival
• Worked as a freelance animator for various companies
• Bilingual
• Specializes in a variety of industry-standard applications, including Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere, and Illustrator), Substance Painter, and Storyboarder, among others

Destin is a Python instructor and a programmer. He has taught children of all ages how to make games and websites using Python, HTML, and Javascript, as well as IBM certificate training. He is also proficient in Unity, Scratch, MagicaVoxel, Sound Trap, Beep Box, Microsoft’s Make Code Arcade, and more. He joined GameU to share his passion and expertise with the students. He is also a musician who has written and recorded an instrumental EP on Spotify. He likes gardening, cooking, and playing the piano.

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

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.

• 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

Dionna, or “D.”, is a talented freelance 2D/3D artist and game developer, specializing in 3D prop and environment modeling, animation, texturing, and lighting. A previous instructor at GameU and still determined to be the teacher they themself needed when they were dreaming of becoming an artist, D. is happy to continue working towards their ultimate goal here – helping feed the imaginations of underrepresented communities and showing them that they can truly achieve anything they set their minds to!

In their free time, D. enjoys playing guitar, skateboarding, and weightlifting!

• Holds a BFA in Animation and 3D Modeling from the Columbus College of Art & Design
• Runs an online collective where artists share resources and career/job-seeking knowledge
• Served as the 3D Environment/Prop Artist on Wanderstop, The Mother 3 Tribute, and Rolling Rascal by Ivy Road Games and Curiomatic, respectively
• Volunteer at GDex
• Specializing in a wide range of industry-standard applications, including Autodesk Maya, Substance 3D Painter, Substance 3D Designer, Unreal Engine, and ZBrush; likewise familiar with Adobe Photoshop, Krita, Inkscape, Photopea, Google Suite, Notion, and Airtable

Domenic – or, as he prefers, “Dom” – is a skilled programmer, instructor, writer, and level designer with multiple award-winning games. His professional experience ranges from years as a peer writing consultant to level designer and gameplay programmer all the way to a virtual game development instructor. But Dom has never been one to rest on his laurels – dedicated to professional development and lifelong learning, he is always expanding his skills into different arenas. His ultimate aim? To work with GameU to help others find and succeed in some of his own greatest passions – game development, level design, and writing.

• Graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a concentration in Game Design & Development
• Played a significant role in developing multiple games and projects, including Rise and Chime and Golfella, the latter of which peaked at #77 in Itch.io’s Popular category
• Won Best Gameplay and Audience Favorite awards at multiple Stout Game Expos as well as 2D Con
• Participated in M+Dev
• Skilled in Microsoft Word, Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, JavaScript, C++, C#, HTML, and Python, in addition to MySQL, SQL, Portainer, Proxmox, Github, Git, and SVN

Dominic is a skilled game developer, play tester, and researcher with multiple published works and projects. He’s worked with a variety of teams and companies to design, produce, research, analyze, test, and otherwise transform games. His chief aim, however, remains the same – to share the joy of games and the process of creativity with the next generation!

In his free time, Dominic loves playing all kinds of games – video, card, and tabletop! – as well as reading books and watching anime.

• Holds a bachelor’s degree in Interactive Media & Design (with a concentration in Purposeful Game Design) from the Harrisburg University of Science & Technology
• Worked variously as lead designer, engineer, developer, and researcher with a variety of companies and game projects, including Cygnus Entertainment, Game User Research, Inc., Digital Nomad Entertainment, Odin’s Eye, Colossal Cascade, and Poccade
• Showcased at PAX Unplugged
• Graphic and logo design
• Skilled with Unity, C#, Autodesk Maya, and Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; familiar with visual coding, heuristics analysis, UX research, platform porting, A/B testing, system and level design, and more

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 GameU, 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 GameU!

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

Eric specializes in robotics and game design, but continues to develop his skills in all directions – everything from 2D pixel art to 3D modeling and more. A dedicated teacher with his own passion for continuous learning, Eric’s motto doubles as his goal: always be improving! He joined GameU in 2020 for the opportunity to grow alongside his students, and he’s never looked back.

In his spare time, Eric enjoys jogging, baking, and playingMagic: The Gathering!

• Holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University
• Twice awarded the title of GameU Game Jam Champion
• Won the Game Design Award from DFA (Design from America)
• Achieved “Most Creative Design” at a Hackathon in Madison, Wisconsin
• Proficient in a variety of applications and platforms, including but not limited to Arduino, Unity, Construct 3, Roblox, Piskel, Aseprite, and Blender

While Erin specializes in 3D art and level design, her skillset extends much further – into digital art, character concept creation, UI design, and even creative writing! She’s helped develop multiple games spanning all types of genres, including a zombie-themed tower defense project, a roguelike adventure, and even an archery-oriented puzzler. Her ultimate aim, however, is to share her love of games and art with other like minds and give them the tools they need to bring their own creative dreams to life.

• Holds a B.S. in Computer Animation and Game Development from CSU Chico
• Worked on multiple now-published games (Guilded Fletching, Dew Da Zeds, and Archania) in various roles as part of a team, including 3D artist and modeler, character concept creator, and UI element designer
• Proficient in multiple programs and applications, including Blender, Substance Painter, Maya, ZBrush, Mega Man Maker, Unity, Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, and Clip Studio Paint, among others

Harry is a specialist in art and game design, continually honing his skills across a wide range of disciplines, from 2D pixel art to 3D modeling and beyond. A devoted teacher with a passion for lifelong learning, Harry joined GameU at the end of 2020 to grow alongside his students, a journey he finds immensely rewarding.

In his spare time, Harry enjoys reading comics, creating concept art, and engaging in all things creative.

• 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
• Designed for Lucasfilm, Disney, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Warner Brothers, Nickelodeon, NASA, Funimation, Toei Animation, and Atari

Hernani is both an experienced instructor and a dedicated game designer, 3D modeler, printer, and artist. He is likewise committed to lifelong learning and continuous professional development, studying different programs and applications to be able to incorporate them in his work. Above all, Hernani views this career as an opportunity to share his skills and help others where he himself struggled!

In his free time, Hernani enjoys making (and painting!) 3D figurine prints, collecting cards, exercising, playing sports, modifying or customizing cosmetics for hardware, and repairing old retro games.

• Holds a B.A. in Game Design from Bloomfield College
• Developed The 8th Sin and the Holy Daemon, respectively, solely or with a team
• Researched and built a PC from scratch
• Varsity wrestler
• Created a replica helmet from Digimon and had it signed by the voice actor
• Skilled in a variety of applications, including Construct 3, Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, Tinkercad, UltiMaker Cura, CHITUBOX, PrusaSlicer, Krita, and Clip Studio

Dr. Naarttijarvi has a wealth of experience in a variety of professional, medical, educational, and career-oriented fields. Prior to her career at GameU, she served as a counselor, educator, curriculum designer, health and safety lecturer, lead science instructor, program director, and more, for prestigious institutions and companies such as Grayson College, Virginia College, HigherInside, American Red Cross, Preventure Inc., and Carrington College, among others. Committed to excellence and innovation and skilled at tailoring her instruction to her students’ needs, Dr. Naarttijarvi was drawn to GameU because of its reputation for producing high-quality, immersive, and fun learning experiences! Her ultimate goal is to continue to create and develop more such next-level experiences for her students.

In her free time, Dr. Naarttijarvi enjoys going to movies with family, hiking, and taking spontaneous road trips to who-knows-where!

• Holds a BHS from the Medical University of South Carolina, where she graduated magna cum laude, as well as a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the University of Bridgeport
• Expert career advisor and navigator
• Offers and develops curriculum for a wide range of professionally-oriented applications and skills, including Microsoft 365 (all releases), SharePoint, Teams, PowerPoint, Access, Computer Literacy, Publisher, Windows, Keyboarding, Project, InfoPath, Web Design, and Workplace Digital Literacy
• Maintains First Aid, CPR, and BLS (Basic Life Support) certifications
• Skilled in a variety of software, skills, and programming languages, including but not limited to Microsoft 365, Tableau, Sage, Workday, foundational Python, Zendesk, Salesforce, SEO, Google Docs, Adobe Express, Canva, Piskel, and Womp3D

Jack is a versatile, skilled, project-based instructor with almost two decades’ worth of experience teaching STEM skills and subjects! He prefers to use an open problem-solving strategy with students, working with them to create and build anything from a functional solar car constructed from base materials all the way to 3D modeling atoms in Blender. Ultimately, Jack finds the most meaning in helping others in whatever way he can – whether it’s building affirming teacher-student relationships or employing science to help bring sustainable food production to the hungry of the world.

In his free time, Jack enjoys science, technology, and the practical, eco-friendly application of the two.

• Holds a B.A. in Science Education from Wichita State University, as well as an M.A. in Technology Education from Missouri University
• Currently studying for his doctoral degree in Social Emotional Learning (Character Education) from Reagent University
• Builds aquaponic systems and greenhouses (with and without Arduino automation)
• Experienced in computational systems modeling using NSF-promoted software
• Familiar with a variety of applications, including Blender, MagicaVoxel, Arduino, Construct 3, Scratch, Roblox, Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace

James is a well-rounded, adaptable generalist and former professor with almost a decade’s worth of experience in everything from concept art to web design, 3D modeling and animation, and VFX. He’s worked with hundreds of students of all ages, cultures, and abilities, and is firmly of the belief that learning is a lifelong process. Likewise, as a proponent of GameU’s STEAM-based methodology, James is convinced that game development is something that anyone can learn – as well as a field that will benefit from a wider range of creative voices. This same approach has enabled him to contribute to and collaborate with a variety of projects and other stellar artists and designers. Ultimately, however, his goal is to help his students make things that they are proud of!

In his free time, James enjoys cooking, rewatching old anime, and playing video games with his wife and friends.

• Graduated summa cum laude from Morehead University with a B.A. in Studio Art and an M.A. in Studio Art (Interactive Design Focus)
• Holds an M.F.A. in 3D Character Modeling for Game Development from Academy of Art University
• Adobe-certified professional in both Visual Design, Graphic Design & Illustration, and Print & Digital Media Publication (Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign)
• Adobe-certified Visual Design Specialist as well as Adobe-certified associate in Rich Media Communication (Flash CS6) and Adobe-certified Web Design Specialist (CS6)
• Creative Director and co-founder of House Raven Studios
• Professor at Morehead State University, teaching Graphic Design, Web Design, and Illustration and Digital Foundations
• Elective Instructor at the Upward Bound program
• Familiar with a wide variety of software and applications, including but not limited to the following: Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and Dreamweaver), Krita, GIMP, Autodesk Maya, Blender, ZBrush, Substance Painter, xNormal, Marmoset Toolbag, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Wix

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.

• Has a bachelor's degree in Computer Animation

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.

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

Joseph – better and affectionately known as “Mr. Joe” to virtually every student of GameU – was personally recruited by co-founder Mike Kawas shortly after the company’s opening. He then proceeded to bring the same energy, passion, and experience to a decade of GameU’s students that he did (and still does!) to his public school students for more than twenty years as a technology education professional, a robotics coach, and a team mentor. He’s worked with thousands of students over his career, and loves teaching others and helping them bring their dreams to life just as much as he did when he started.

In his free time, Mr. Joe enjoys water and board sports like free diving, swimming, wind surfing, and even skating.

• Holds a B.S. in Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, as well as an M.A. in Teaching from the College of New Jersey
• Technology Education Public School teacher and robotics coach and team mentor for more than twenty years
• Former project manager, site supervisor, and building inspector in the construction industry
• Recently celebrated thirty-three years of marriage to his beloved wife, Debi
• Ordained minister
• Robotics expert
• Proud owner of the much-celebrated Pig of GameU class fame
• Skilled with a variety of programs and platforms, including Arduino, OnShape, Scratch, Construct 3, Tinkercad, Roblox Studio, Piskel, iMovie, OpenShot, Google Suite, and more

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

• Holds a B.S. in Physics & Theatre from Hampden-Sydney College
• Obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Technologies from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
• Expert in Blender, Unity, Maya, Tinkercad, Construct 3, Premiere Pro, and After Effects, among others
• Specializes in 3D modeling, traditional art, and character design

Not just a skilled game designer, Joe also specializes in UI/UX, prototyping, drones/drone programming, and teaching STEAM-based skills. He boasts an extensive and varied professional experience, starting out as a visual and data designer in the financial sector, then later transitioning to the well-known Electronic Arts (EA) firm. There, he worked 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. A self-confessed “game jam addict”, Joe 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.

Beyond his skills and passions, Joe was drawn to GameU by virtue of a shared mission. There are very 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.

• Obtained a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs as well as a dual minor in Economics & Political Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology
• Co-owner of a toys and collectibles shop based in Florida
• More than two decades of hobbyist-level experience in music and music-related technology, with two albums published on Spotify and other streaming services
• Expert in a vast array of software and applications, including Unreal Engine, Core, Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Adobe XD, Twinmotion, Minecraft, Reaktor, VCV Rack, Ableton Live, and more

Jonathon, or “J”, specializes in all kinds of robotics and design, but has an especial affinity for the mechanical aspects. He possesses an array of STEM skills (including CAD, CAM, and fabrication) and has developed many projects – both as the sole author and in concert with a local tech club – involving hydraulics, autonomous robotics, and game design. He also enjoys melding music and technology, going so far as to create music and film content with a variety of DAWs (digital audio workstations). Ultimately, J aims to encourage students to take joy in all kinds of creativity, helping them discover and cultivate their unique talents and provide them with the tools and social connections they need to realize their full potential.

In his free time, J loves making videos, composing music, and hanging out with his two cats, Nyx and Artemis!

• Pursuing a B.S. in Engineering from Ohio State University
• Certified in CAD Design by Dassault Systèmes
• Worked on multiple personal and professional design and engineering teams, including OSU’s current Motorcycle Racing group
• Combat roboticist
• Brought a servowalker robot sponsored by GameU (the first of its kind) to NHRL’s Robot Combat Broadcast
• Familiar with a variety of fields and software, including Arduino, Fusion 360, Excel, Tinkercad, OBS Studio, DaVinci Resolve, Lightworks, Audacity, Unreal Engine, and GameMaker

Jorey, a well-rounded game designer and teacher, specializes in 3D work (including rigging, modeling, and more), game design, art, and scripting. In his spare time, he enjoys making (and playing) video games, checking out new board games, and seeing what’s happening in the technology and AR/VR worlds!

• Holds a bachelor’s degree in Animation & Game Design from Utah Valley University
• Obtained two associate degrees in Applied Science (Visual Art & Design) and Science (Visual Art & Design), respectively, from Salt Lake Community College
• Developed a variety of professional freelance projects, including Tank VR (a virtual-reality multi-user tank simulator) and Rhythm Beatdown, a pattern-based brawler game
• Proficient in multiple applications and programming languages such as Unity, Unreal Engine, Maya, Adobe Photoshop, C#, and Python, among others

Joseph is a GameU graduate himself, now returning the favor and teaching other interested students how to learn and have fun with video games at the same time! He specializes in 3D modeling, worldbuilding, and environmental art, using texturing, lighting, and set dressing skills to create fantastical settings and props for gaming worlds. Above all else, he aims to be adaptable, flexible, and innovative – both as a teacher and a lifelong learner!

In his free time, Joseph enjoys playing games like Terraria and The Finals. He’s also a Pokémon fan!

• Holds a B.F.A. in Interactive Game Design & Development from SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design)
• Attended GameU for extracurricular game design classes, with a focus in game coding and 3D modeling
• Participated in the Global Game Jam in two consecutive years, winning “Best Use of Theme” and “Best Game Design”; also nominated for GGD
• Part of the teams that created Taxes on Virtue, Beneath the Badlands, and Carved in Stone
• Freelance commission 3D modeler with more than a decade’s experience
• Skilled with a variety of software, including Autodesk Maya, Blender, Substance Painter/Substance Designer, Unreal Engine, Unity, Scratch, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, and SpeedTree

Joseph or “Chudi” is a true generalist and jack of all trades: a multimedia electronic artist, game designer, writer, and programmer with a passion for exploring the nuances of intersection between culture, art, and computer science. He wants to create in all forms - whether it be film, software, or games! - and share his experiences and skills with others. A committed and lifelong learner himself, he came to GameU for its creative and impactful space in which he could both teach others and continue his own studies.

In his free time, Chudi enjoys writing, concerts, playing instruments, and dance. He’s always ready to have a conversation about the creative process, and invariably has multiple projects and designs of his own in the works.

• B.S. in Business & Information Systems from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (2022)
• Worked a series of internships and apprenticeships and gained both technical expertise and practical experience in a vast array of fields: videography and video compositing, simulations, GLSL, real-time animation, VFX, game design and development, graphic design, motion graphics, website design, software development, and procedural modeling, among others
• Skilled in a variety of programs, languages, and applications, including Scratch, Java, JavaScript, C++, React, HTML/CSS, Python, OpenGL, Flask, Blender, Cinema4D, Houdini, and TouchDesigner
• Led a team of fellow developers to create a game and document the process of production
• Taught computer science to students of various ages, studying variables, loops, methods/functions, sorting algorithms, recursion, logic, API calls, Object-Oriented Coding, and more
• Professional web designer and audiovisual artist

Joshua, or “Josh”, is a professional with extensive experience in game development, level design, pixel art, and more. As the owner and founder of Static City Games, he has published (commercially and otherwise) more than forty games on multiple platforms, including World of Grimm, Chronicle: Unit Eight, Life & Debt: A Real Life Simulator, Knightfall, and more. Above all, Josh loves developing games and has a true passion for teaching and helping others!

In his free time, Josh enjoys video games (of course!), comedy movies, LEGOs, baseball, football, and time with his children.

• Earned a B.S. in Media Communications & Technology from East Stroudsburg University
• Awarded the Media Communication Technology Scholarship
• Vice President of TV Club and treasurer of Local University Radio Station
• Owner of Static City Games (LLC) from 2017 onward
• Independent publisher of multiple cross-platform works; his game World of Grimm was a successfully-funded kickstarter and another project made Top 100 Overall in Ludum Dare 48
• Partnered with SteelSeries
• Proficient with a wide range of applications and languages, including Unity, RPG Maker VX Ace, Pyxel Edit, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere), Microsoft Office, HTML, XML, and C#

A skilled environment artist, texturer, Unreal developer, and 3D foliage enthusiast, Jovan specializes in virtual reality (VR), 3D modeling, and art, with an impressive resume of accomplishments and roles under her belt. More than that, however, Jovan loves making people smile and helping support her students as they grow! She’s passionate about inclusion and diversity, and believes that art is a language through which everyone can connect. In her free time, Jovan enjoys baking, reading, ceramics, writing, and – of course – games!

• Graduated with a BFA in animation from the Columbus College of Art & Design
• Took lead roles in developing multiple professional projects, including Flora’s Gate (a VR horror experience) and Paranormal Party
• Frequent game jam participant and asset producer for virtual model libraries, such as the Global Game Jam, the GDEX 2020 Game Jam, and the Open Source Afro Hair Library

With years of experience in the 3D/Video Games/VFX industries, Justin is a skilled 3D artist, game designer, and modeler with a particular ability for UV unwrapping and 3D “baking”. Despite his current expertise, he’s still always open and eager to learn (and teach!) new tools and applications, happy to share his knowledge and skills with others and inspire them to reach ever higher. GameU gives him an opportunity to pass on those skills and make an impact in others’ lives!

In Justin’s free time, he enjoys astronomy, hiking, and spending time with his family.

• Attended the Academy of Arts University
• Studied Environmental Art at CG Master Academy
• Specializes in industry-standard programs such as Maya, Zbrush, Adobe Photoshop, Substance Painter, Marmoset (Toolbag 4), and more
• Mentored students in 3D software

Justin is an experienced instructor, IT professional, and 2D game developer. Love for video games and a passion for the skills behind them brought him to GameU, where he now works with a wide range of students, staff, and parents alike – both to help them bring their visions to life and to remove any technical obstacles that stand in their way!

In his spare time, Justin loves to (of course!) play video games.

• Holds an associate’s degree in Information Technology from Raritan Valley Community College
• Studied for a bachelor’s degree in the same at NJIT (New Jersey Institute of Technology)  
• Author of the mobile rhythm game Sub-Beat, with more games in progress
• Game Manager for the DotA 2 team for NJIT
• Ran a Twitch stream
• Former lifeguard
• Skilled in a variety of applications and computer languages, including but not limited to Unity, GameMaker, Piskel, Minecraft, Clideo, C#, Java, and more 

Justin is a former and returning GameU instructor with a record of more than 500 STEAM-based classes taught under his belt. With extensive experience across multiple disciplines – including game design and development, project management, animation, music, 2D art, and more – Justin is truly a generalist at heart and in practice. He has always enjoyed further honing his skills and exploring new directions, but his overriding goal remains the same: to give more people the knowledge and power to create!

In his free time, Justin enjoys writing and illustrating, experimenting with new instruments, and diving into new technologies to find ways to accomplish both mechanical and creative goals.

• Attended Middlesex County College for a major in Computer Software Engineering
• Awarded multiple certifications, including but not limited to “Modern Web Development” from W3Schools and the University of Michigan’s “Programming For Everybody” (Python)
• Returning GameU instructor of four years
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) speaker
• Authored a variety of projects, including Soothsayer Luna, Life & Dev, multiple Game Jam submissions, and an inventory management system; other works in progress include collaboration-oriented tools that focus on document management and music production
• Global Game Jam Organizer for GameU
• Unity-certified developer
• Developed multiple games and projects in collaboration with other GameU instructors
• Proficient in a wide range of applications, computer languages, and frameworks, including Unity, Blender, Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Substance Designer/Painter, Photoshop), Clip Studio, C#, VS Code, Python, Tailwind CSS, React, HTML, Github, Rider AI, Ableton, MuseScore, and Audacity

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.

• Current student at California State University Chico

Keith, or “Luck”, is a creative video game designer and motion graphic artist with an incredibly versatile range of experience, combining artistic talent with code to achieve new heights of colorful and digital expression. While he is exceptionally proud of his unique skill set and enjoys mastering new digital tools as the technology evolves, Keith’s highest goal is to teach, aiming to impart his knowledge and assist and guide the creation of new interactive experiences that last generations.

In his free time, Keith enjoys sports and gaming!

• Holds a B.F.A. in Digital Media from Southern Illinois University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Game Design from Full Sail University
• Former creative director and lead designer at Extendo Media
• Multimedia professional with experience across fields, designing for a variety of prestigious clients – including popular clothing brands, large events, and more
• Specializes in a variety of programs and tools, including but not limited to Unreal Engine 5, Roblox, Blueprint Visual Scripting, Blender, CapCut, and Adobe Suite (i.e., Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects)

Klein is a dedicated programmer and design generalist with a strong passion for both game creation and continual professional development. He is well versed in a wide array of game design disciplines and has professional experience in a variety of fields. This same versatility and range is what allows him to constantly adapt to and overcome new challenges – and even see them as opportunities for further learning. Klein brings that same philosophy to the classroom and to his students as well, helping them meet their own challenges and find their own passions!

When he’s not developing new skills, making games, or teaching the next generation of game designers, Klein enjoys cooking, sculpting, and exercising.

• Holds a B.S. in Game Design from Fitchburg State University, where he graduated with honors
• Former Game Programming Intern at Rockstar
• Catalogue Designer at Fitchburg Art Museum
• Skilled in a variety of software and programming languages, including Unity, Unreal, Full-Stack Web Development, Git, Linux, Bash, Java, JavaScript, Lua, C, C#, Lua, Python, Autodesk Maya, Adobe Suite, and Excel

Kyara, or “Cort” as she prefers, is by trade an educator, game artist, and video editor, and by philosophy a lifelong learner. In order to better work with her students and help them achieve their goals, she has dedicated herself to continuing to learn and master new skills and applications. With an impressive skill set already under her belt as well as a wide range of experience in multiple fields – including language learning, all forms of art, competitive video gaming, private tutoring, and even Minecraft modding and video editing for YouTube and Twitch streaming – she is a credit to both her profession and her learning philosophy.

When she’s not exploring new software or further developing her areas of expertise, Cort enjoys drawing, crocheting, rock collecting, gardening, and dancing!

• Holds a bachelor's degree in Human Development & Family Science from East Carolina University, with an accompanying certificate in Education and the Community Resiliency Model (CRM)
• Worked with parent educators in non-profit organizations, offering Spanish-to-English interpretation and translation services
• Freelance graphic designer
• Placed highly in multiple game jams for her menu UI, storyboard, background, and concept art
• Art educator for more than two years
• Former competitive video game player (Apex Legends, Gears of War) participating in amateur-level tournaments; coached other prospective players after retiring
• Proficient in a variety of programs, including Procreate, Piskel, Construct 3, Clipchamp, iMovie, and Minecraft

Kyle is a game designer and developer. He has also studied Computer Science and Graphic Design at Seminole State College. He is an indie developer and studio owner who has worked for ChronoShade and E Squared. He is also one of the youngest and fastest firefighters (EMT & AEMT) and an animal behaviorist. He likes photography, gaming, designing, sketching, and more in his free time.

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

A natural educator with an extensive background in childcare, Lex has been teaching in the classroom since university onward. They have years of experience and cherish a long-time passion to grow, learn, and share that knowledge and the joy of learning with others. In addition to their skills as a teacher, Lex is an enthusiastic 3D artist and VR coder/developer, specializing in but not limited to environment art, game design, procedural texturing, and modeling. They’re always looking to learn something new and help others achieve their creative dreams!
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In Lex’s free time, they enjoy painting and watching documentaries about (and being inspired by!) the natural world.

• Holds two Udacity-certified nanodegrees in VR Foundations and High Immersion VR, as well as a B.A in English from CUNY Brooklyn College
• Paraeducator for BOCES Summer School
• ESL & Literature professional
• Skilled visual designer
• Familiar with a wide range of popular and industry-standard software, including Blender, Construct 3, Krita, Clip Studio, Unity 2D & 3D, Godot, and DaVinci Resolve, among others

Luke is an innovative game developer and software engineer who has built an extensive portfolio of both indie and AAA projects. While he specializes in games, his past career, foundational knowledge, and interests range from roles in graphics and engine systems to gameplay programming, data analytics, 2D/3D art and illustration, and even sound design and DAWs. Above all, however, he has a passion for leadership and teaching. It’s this same passion that led him to GameU, where he can share his skills and help bring others into a lifelong hobby, career, and creative outlet.

While he is a game developer by trade and spirit, Luke also enjoys making electronic music, performing in Chicago-area Open Decks, delving into 2D and 3D art, and participating in game jams in creative roles!

• Obtained a B.S. in Computer Science from DePaul University
• Served two summers as a volunteer mentor and game design instructor for DePaul’s summer CHA program
• Proven track record of building high-retention games
• Programmer for Disbelief, Playmake, SomaSim, and other studios to develop a variety of features and games, including Days of Doom: Heroes United, City of Gangsters, and the Minecraft RenderDragon release
• Worked as a software engineer, Unity developer, and research assistant on Mortal Kombat 11, and American Medina (a Chicago History Museum exhibit)
  Developed and published an extensive list of personal and school game projects
• Regional Winner of Chicago Youth Entrepreneurial Academy Competition
• Skilled in a broad array of applications and programming languages, including Unity, Unreal Engine, Roblox, GameMaker, Visual Studio, Eclipse, Android Studio, Jira, Trello, Taiga, Perforce, Git, Plastic SCM/Unity Version Control, C++, C#, Python, Lua, Typescript, GLSL/HLSL, Aseprite, Ableton, Audacity, and Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Premiere, and After Effects)

Madeleine is a game and interaction designer. She has skills in 3D modeling, 2D animation, concept art, UI design/implementation, C#, and C++. She has worked as a 2D Art Supervisor for Drop Bear Games, a Prop and Environment Artist for Before It’s Too Late, a Concept & UI Artist for Last Man Standing, a Texture Artist for Savannah Game Jam, and a video game tester and a game design intern for Tiling Games. She joined GameU to challenge herself and help others achieve their creative goals. She loves playing and making cute video games, watching anime, and designing spooky things.

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

While Marco specializes in game design and development, he has extensive experience in multiple professional arenas and has worked with and taught a variety of subjects both locally and internationally. Despite his myriad accomplishments, however, Marco finds his best joy and fulfillment as both a teacher and a lifelong student himself. He aims to inspire students, foster their own love of learning, and share his passion for meaningful game design with others.

When he’s not writing curriculum, designing community-oriented games, or exploring new horizons, Marco enjoys drawing, exercising, spending time with friends, and (of course!) playing video games.

• Holds a B.F.A. in Game Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art
• Previously served as a lead coding instructor, teaching game development and C# programming using Unity Engine and his own original curriculum
• Ran multiple remote coding and game development classes for children of all ages
• Freelance game developer for Legends of Learning
• Worked as a designer with MICA’s Game Lab, collaborating with the Baltimore Police Department and the Mayor’s Office of Innovation to create a recruitment and community outreach-themed card game titled Dispatch
• Helped develop and create an original VR game prototype (Quadcade) for recovering quadriplegics at the University of Maryland Medical Center, which went on to win the 2021 Games for Change Award
• Expert in a variety of applications and programming languages, including but not limited to Unity, Visual Studio, Construct 3, Scratch, Adobe Creative Cloud, Krita, Clip Studio Paint, Piskel, Tinkercad, Womp3D, and C#

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!

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.

• Studied Interactive Digital Media and Animation at Drexel University

A professional programmer, developer, producer, Unity expert, and VR specialist, Matthew has designed and published games and applications for a variety of purposes, including entertainment media, healthcare training solutions, VR projects for military and industrial use, and more.

Matthew joined GameU to reinforce his own learning through teaching. His ultimate aim, however, is to foster a positive and encouraging environment for his students, where they can learn, grow, and come away from their classes with accomplishments they can feel proud of and hold onto. In his leisure time, Matthew enjoys reading, gardening, meditation, and guitar, as well as playing with his dogs and taking them for walks or romps in the yard!

• Holds a BFA in Game Design & Development from Quinnipiac University
• Minored in Small Business & Entrepreneurship
• Skilled in a variety of programs, computer languages, and fields intended for all aspects of game development, including Unity, Unreal Engine, Phaser, Gamemaker, Blender, Maya, Substance Painter, Ableton, FL Studio, Github, VS (Virtual Studio) Code, Krita, Draw.io, P5.JS, CSS, C++, JavaScript, and HTML, among others
• Lead Producer/Developer at Pearson Education for an unannounced Unity VR project
• VR Game Developer and Multiplayer/Gameplay Programmer at King Crow Studios and Embodied Labs
• Helped program Unlit Games’ MMORPG Redemption’s Guild
• Presenter at the 2019 NYC Game Expo in Times Square

Melina’s passion for teaching is only matched by her love of game design and development. With years of experience as a private tutor and consultant alongside the various published games and Android apps she’s authored, Melina is well-equipped to share her knowledge and skills in GameU’s trademark fun and engaging style. Being able to help others achieve their game design goals was, in her own words, a dream come true!

In her free time, Melina enjoys singing, baking, gaming, gardening, and streaming on Twitch.

• Graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a B.S. in Game Programming & Development
• Private tutor teaching K-12 Math, Science, and English
• Author of multiple published games and applications, available either on her website or on Google Playstore
• Specializes in a variety of programs and tools, including C#, Unity, and Blender
• Hosts a website where she offers tutoring, crafting, consulting, and technical services
• Skilled in Unity, Construct 3, Blender, Krita, Medibang Paint, Tinkercad, and C#, among other languages and applications

Michael specializes in technical art and game development. He is in his element when building various systems and games, and is extensively familiar with multiple industry-standard programs– including nearly every application in Adobe’s Creative Cloud. He’s also an accomplished hard-surface and organic modeler with significant texturing and rigging experience. Michael is not content to merely rest on his laurels, however; he aims to continually expand his skill set and learn more about the ecosystem of game design and development. Above all, he loves sharing everything he has learned with others who share his passion for the field!

In his free time, Michael enjoys exploring nature, watching anime, and working with video games and technology.

• Obtained a bachelor’s degree in Computer Animation from Full Sail University, as well as an associate’s degree in Biological Science
• Won the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival Award for his photography
• Experienced game and asset developer with a comprehensive understanding of pre- and post-production pipelines
• Skilled in a variety of programs, applications, and programming languages, including Unity, C#, the .NET Framework, Autodesk Maya, Blender, and Adobe’s Creative Cloud (i.e., Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.)
• Expert in a variety of applications and programming languages, including but not limited to Unity, Visual Studio, Construct 3, Scratch, Adobe Creative Cloud, Krita, Clip Studio Paint, Piskel, Tinkercad, Womp3D, and C#

Michael is a game developer who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Rutgers. He was part of the team behind Antipole, a Nintendo DSiWare game that was a semifinalist at a Global Game Jam. He is a pixel artist and a 2D animator who also does level design using Java, Game Maker Studio, and Unity. He likes writing, science fiction, anime, comics, movies, and web programming in his free time.

• Published a game on Xbox Live Arcade and Nintendo DsiWare

Michael’s skills span a wide range of fields, including but not limited to game design and development, 3D modeling and animation, 2D art and animation, creative writing, and PC building. He loves to make cool games and finds great satisfaction in sharing his passion with the next generation of game designers. Above all, he enjoys the rewarding feeling of watching his pupils make their ideas and dreams a reality!

 In his free time, Michael enjoys playing video games, making art, and developing 3D models.

• Graduated from Bloomfield College with a B.F.A. in Creative Arts & Technology – Game Design
• Proficient in a variety of industry-standard software, including Autodesk Maya, Blender, Tinkercad, Substance Painter, ZBrush, Krita, Piskel, Adobe Animate, Unity, Construct 3, Adobe Animate, and Audacity

Michael is a professional game developer and consummate team member who brings energy and enthusiasm to all he does. Always looking for an opportunity to share his knowledge with others and to help them, he believes that it’s vital to help fuel his students’ creativity and self-expression as they design something amazing that the world can interact with and learn from!

When he isn’t honing his skills or developing games as an art form, Michael enjoys digital sculpting, kit bash game designing, and worldbuilding for Dungeons & Dragons.

• Holds a B.A. in Visual Studies (Game Art & Design) from the Ringling College of Art and Design and the State College of Florida
• Won the “Best of Ringling Faculty Award” for his senior thesis
• Professional 3D Artist for a real estate/urban design company
• Specializes in a variety of industry-standard 2D/3D software and game engines, including but not limited to Autodesk Maya, Unreal Engine, Substance Painter, Adobe Premiere Pro, Procreate, Photoshop, Twine, Scratch, and Construct 3

Michael, or “Mike” as he prefers, is a multi-disciplinary instructor, engineer, and artist of both media and music. He was drawn to GameU by the value we place on our students’ open-ended creative expressions as the core every class is structured around. This philosophy and practice accords neatly with his own ultimate goal – helping others find their creative drive, realize their inventive potential, and bring their dreams to life!

In his free time, Mike enjoys hiking, making traditional sculpture and mixed media works, playing piano and guitar, studying the natural world, and – above all – learning.

• Holds a B.S. in Intelligent Systems Engineering (ISE) with a concentration in Biology and a Master’s in Environmental Engineering
• Holds two minors (Mathematics and Astronomy & Astrophysics) from Indiana University
• Made the Dean’s List while attending the Luddy School of Computing and Engineering
• Distinguished Collins LLC alumni
• Instructor at the Collins Living Learning Center
• Developer of both the Zebra Fish Stripe Formation Simulation Tool and WeDi, a midi-animation software
• Served as manager of the Cheshire Café as well as the coordinator for the Collins darkroom studio
• Cover design artist for two published literary journals
• Author and artist of “The Form of It”
• Recipient of award for Best Community Building Organization for M.U.S.H. Club (mycology-oriented hiking group), of which he was the co-founder and co-president
• Skilled in a variety of industry-standard applications and languages, including: Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft 365, Krita, GIMP, Blender, Cakewalk, Python, C, C+, C#, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

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!

• 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

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.

• 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

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.

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

Mitchell is an experienced game designer and developer with multiple professional projects under his belt. He’s well versed in game design and quality assurance testing, routinely contracted to “block out” levels, draft gameplay plans in extensive detail, build sprawling electronic tabletop strategy games, review mechanics and offer solutions to potential issues, and more. His true passion, however, is to share his knowledge and skills with others – emulating his own teachers and “paying forward” the inspiration, vision, and opportunities they provided him in order to help him realize his dreams.

In his spare time, Mitchell enjoys gaming, exercising, bike riding, and spending time with his family.

• Holds a bachelor’s degree in Interactive Media & Game Development from Daniel Webster College
• Obtained a master’s degree in Interactive Media & Game Development from Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Titles worked on, both shipped and otherwise, include: Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed; Arcadegeddon; Predator: Hunting Grounds; Ultimate Rivals: The Court; Rhythm Mage VR; Cosmic Heroes; Gold Hunter Multiplayer; Cogflicts; and Project Life RPG
• Years of professional experience in multiple types of game development roles, including lead level designer and quality assurance tester
• Skilled in a variety of fields and programs, including Unreal Engine and its Blueprints function, Unity, Torque 3D, Agile/Scrum, Microsoft Suite, Trello, Confluence, XRAY, Jira, level design, and game design, among others

Natasha Mahrya Hope, or “Hope”, was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. An intrepid mother of four, former Girl Scout troop leader, and dedicated learner, she blazed her own path through remote college in order to live her dreams, pursue her gifts and career, help others reach their own goals, and be an example to her children – all at the same time.

Hope also somehow finds the time to enjoy her own hobbies, which include painting miniatures, playing Dungeons & Dragons, reading, fishing, and romping with her corgis.

• Obtained a B.S. in Video Game Design from Full Sail University
• Was part of the team that worked on S.C.R.A.P.S., a project that used Unity to take an exploratory in-depth look at a post-apocalyptic world
• More than a decade of experience with children
• Experienced with a variety of applications, including Unity, Photon Workshop, Adobe Photoshop, Blender, Daz 3D, Maya, UltiMaker Cura, OBS Studio, and Virtual Studio

Ndubisi is a game developer and instructor. He has developed games such as ZigZagEngine and DreaMEscape using DirectX/C++ and Unity. He has also worked as a Service Engineer with Energy Management Controls Corps and as a robotics instructor at Steam Works Studio. He joined GameU to seek a more professional opportunity in the game industry and improve his skills and programming. He likes reading manga, gaming, reading forums, and writing articles in his free time.

• 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

Nicholas, or “Nick”, has been a dedicated student of GameU for the past six years, learning a wide range of skills – from video editing to coding to game design and more – and now he’s bringing his well-earned expertise to the table as an instructor himself! He hopes to help others realize their own potential and develop confidence in their abilities just as he did in his own GameU journey.

In his free time, Nick enjoys video editing and basketball.

• Earned an advanced Regents diploma
• Graduated the NYC Spring Youth Employment Program and NYC Summer Youth Employment Program in 2021 and 2022
• Undertook a six-year tutoring course in multiple subjects from GameU
• Developed a personal YouTube channel and portfolio with original videos
• Studied a variety of programs, including but not limited to DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, Photopea, Final Cut Pro, CapCut, BandLab, Unity, Construct 3, Roblox Studio, Google Workspace, and more

Games and fun have always been an essential and inextricable part of Nicholas’ life. From his first hand of Go Fish at four to his recently published and immediate hit indie gameYour Average Bearin May 2023, he’s never wanted to look back. With his knack for thinking outside the box, as well as his passion for creativity, design, teaching, and – of course! – games, Nicholas (otherwise known as “Nick”) fits GameU’s values to a tee.

When he’s not developing games likeYour Average Bearfor the indie community or mentoring other fledgling game designers, Nick enjoys playing sports and going to the gym.

• Holds a bachelor’s degree in Games (Entertainment Arts & Engineering) from the University of Utah
• Graduated with honors in the top ten percent of engineering students
• Created and developed an indie game, published on Steam, which became an instant hit
• Served as an integral member of the development team on multiple game projects
• Professional Unreal Engine Instructor and Game Tester
• Familiar with a variety of industry-standard programs and computer languages, including Unreal Engine, Autodesk Maya, Python, and others

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!

Nick is a game designer and developer. He has worked for User Experience Studios and Delve Studios, creating games such as Cosmic Cannon, Mobius Mania, The Testing Floor, and Caribbean Invasion for mobile and PC platforms. He has skills in C# programming, 3D modeling, and animation. He loves everything tech and nerdy. He also likes working out, cooking, visiting museums and art galleries, playing and building games with friends, and rock climbing.

• Attended Full Sail University

A skilled graphic designer, filmmaker, photographer, and painter of many years, Noah is nonetheless most proud to be considered a teacher and lifelong learner. He values being able to integrate his love for art and technology and share them with others; in line with that philosophy, his ultimate aim is to continually improve his skills and work with a like-minded team of creatives where he can both teach and learn himself. He’s found that here at GameU!

In his free time, Noah enjoys film, art, robotics, 2D animation, science fiction, and – of course! – games.

• Holds a B.S. in Graphic Design from Florida A & M University
• Art teacher for five years
• Computer science instructor for seven years
• Graphic designer for fifteen years, specializing in web and print design for small businesses
• Independent filmmaker with two short festival film productions
• Placed second for “Painting” in the ArtServe Red Eye exhibition
• Won second place in photography in the Broward County African World Artist Collective exhibition as well as the Wynwood “Through the Eyes of Love” art exhibition in 2010
• Placed first in the 2014 Raw Artists’ Miami Film Awards
• Skilled in a long list of applications and other software, including the following: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Animate, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Premiere, Final Cut, Canvas, Clipchamp, iMovie, Arduino IDE, Tynker, Scratch, WeDo Lego, and EV3 for Mindstorms, among others

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!

• Has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science from Lincoln University which is where he 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

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!

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

Bio Coming Soon!

Quincy, or “Q”, is both a dedicated game developer with an impressive list of achievements and a talented teacher with extensive experience, ranging from supplemental instructor to production intern all the way to lead teacher in varying STEM camps at the Tech Academy. Combining their commitment to gaming and their love of teaching, Quincy hopes to mentor the next generation of game designers.

In spare moments, Quincy enjoys collecting and running TTRPGs and making (and playing!) video and board games.

• Holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design & Development from University of Wisconsin – Stout
• Supplemental instructor in the university’s game design department
• Production intern at Leder Games and Lead Teacher at Tech Academy’s STEM camps
• Checkmight, a project Quincy authored, became #6 on Itch.io the day it was released and was featured at M-DEV 2023 as the conference Mystery Tournament Game
• Participated in the UW-Stout Game Jam and was awarded multiple honors, including Best Art, Most Innovative Game, and Best Overall Game
• Won Best Game (Individual) as well as Best Game (Team) in Code Day Minneapolis
• Proud Dungeons & Dragons™ Game Master
• Familiar with a variety of applications and programming languages, including Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, MCreator, Construct 3, Scratch, Blender, Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Adobe Suite programs (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Aseprite, GIMP, Microsoft 365, GDScript, Python, and C#

Rachel is a dedicated 2D and 3D artist and modeler who specializes in game design, pixel art, animation, and more. Prior to her career at GameU, she worked at Sleepless Studios, partnering with other designers to develop a variety of now-published games.

Above all else, Rachel values self-determination, diligence, and continual, lifelong learning. She is proud to be able to see how far she has come in her journey, and plans to continue to learn and build her skills every single day – even as she helps her students do the same.

In her free time, she enjoys playing games, making adorable pixel art and animations, and living a healthy, active lifestyle!

• Obtained a certificate in 3D Modeling: Foundations from the well-known CG Spectrum
• Former game designer and artist for Sleepless Studios
• Previous projects include Potion Popper, Hex of the Hellbeast, and Monster Arcade
• Proficient in Autodesk Maya, Blender, Aseprite, Piskel, Krita, GIMP, Substance Designer and Painter, and more

Rebeca is an accomplished generalist. While her primary skills lie in UI and game art and design, she is also an experienced animator, graphic designer, and STEAM instructor with an extensive history in visual programming software. Rebeca credits her wide-ranging skills and passion to the joy she takes in bringing ideas of all kinds to life with her art. She aims to help foster and extend GameU’s supportive, encouraging environment to her students while teaching them how to follow their dreams in fields that they love – just like she has!

In her spare time, Rebeca loves to play and review video games with friends, create digital and traditional illustrations, and solve puzzles.

• Holds both bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in Game Design from Bloomfield College and Camden Country College, respectively
• Google Certification in Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
• Has served in a variety of professional roles, including that of Graphic Production Designer, Lead Artist, Graphic Design tutor, and camp instructor
• Developed and redesigned multiple indie games, icon sets, buttons, and more for a variety of clients
• Taught multiple digital art workshops
• Was the secretary for a Game Design Club
• Proud older sister
• Bilingual (English and Spanish/Latin American)
• Has expertise with a wide range of software and applications, such as Figma, Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign, Clip Studio Paint, Piskel, Blender, Construct 3, Google Workspace, Trello, Slack, Jira, Confluence, and Microsoft 365

Red, an independent game artist, 3D modeler, and character designer as well as a self-confessed lifelong learner, is proud to be able to share what she knows with others. Never one to rest on laurels, she believes no one can “win” at creative disciplines like art and game design  - improvement is always possible! - and she came to GameU to continue to sharpen their own skills, broaden their horizons, and be challenged.

In their free time, Red enjoys modeling characters from concept to completion, sketching, and playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Pokémon.

• Holds a B.A.S. from Ferris State University in Digital Animation & Game Design
• Skilled in Blender, ZBrush, Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio, Maya, Autodesk 3dsMax, and more
• 3D asset producer (characters, props, etc.) for independent teams and mobile games
• Experienced traditional and digital artist
• Hosted multiple Global Game Jam sites
• Pitched, developed, and led Ferris State University’s first VR Lab and classrooms

Rich is a media arts educator and storyteller. He has taught a variety of students in Brooklyn for ten years, many of whom had special cognitive or emotional needs. He has also worked as a video journalist and a professional videographer, and he studied 3D modeling, animation, compositing, and game development using various tools and platforms. He is currently developing a 3D-animated film based on his life experiences. Rich loves GameU because it allows him to keep learning and expanding his skills in both logic and art.

• Was a Philosophy major

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.

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

Ryan, or “Rayne”, has a diverse professional background – ranging from musical engineering to technology to game development to instruction to graphic design and more! With additional experience in programming, web development, and 3D printing, Rayne still most enjoys helping others find their style and meld technology and creativity in unique ways – just like he has.

In his free time, Rayne enjoys producing music, practicing martial arts, building LEGOs,  and designing new interactions between the digital world and the imagination.

• Holds an associate’s degree in Fine Arts from the Community College of Philadelphia
• Awarded the City Year Americorps Completion Certificate as well as the Apple, Inc. Mobile Repair Certification and the 2022 BSD Online Care Award
• Technology Cohort Leader at Liguori Academy High School
• Instructor and creator at Flowlab.io
• Skilled in a wide range of applications, subjects, and computer languages, including FL Studio, Adobe Creative Suite, Flowlab.io, Unreal Engine, Blender, Arduino IDE, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and more
• Bilingual (Spanish and English)

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.

• 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

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.

• Has a Bachelor of Computer Science degree in Game Design from Full Sail University
• Former Creative Director at Serfworks Studios LLC

Always committed to learning and further developing his skills, Sean is a dedicated teacher and prolific creator with multiple personal, professional, and freelance projects in progress at any given time. Sean loves to make games and have fun - and help others find the same joy. Teaching game design and development and making his lifelong passion more accessible to all is an endeavor that he’s more than happy to be part of here at GameU!

• Holds certificates in CSS and HTML from the University of Scranton
• Pursuing a B.S. in IST (Information Sciences & Technology) from Penn State University
• QA Testing - Spirit Hunters: Infinite Horde (Credited)
• Lead Developer/Designer at Bad Health Games
• Placed in the top 100 in Ludum Dare 51
• Winner of Egg Jam 4
• Musician with 18 years of experience in electric bass

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.

Shaun is a seasoned educator, roboticist, producer, and engineer. In addition to his three-year role as a Games and Technology Instructor at the Einstein School of Plano, his fifteen years of PC and console game testing, and his experience as a quality assurance technician, he is also the co-founder and manager of a gaming community boasting more than a thousand members. He joined GameU in order to find fulfillment in his career – and to help others prepare for their own! Check out his extensive virtual resume and project list here.  

In his spare time, Shaun enjoys all things science, robotics, anime, or video game related!

• Pursuing a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas
• Holds an A.S. in General Science from Collin College
• Obtained a Google Project Management Professional Certificate
• Elected Secretary of Collin College Robotics
• Selected for ASEE Design Challenge for two consecutive years
• Chosen for Collin College’s CASMNs Undergrad Research program
• Extensive work with and multiple awards from NASA as a NASA CAS alumni, Micro-G NXT finalist, and SHAC finalist
• Private high school teacher specializing in Physics, Calculus, Algebra 2, Chemistry, and Robotics
• Familiar with a variety of software, applications, platforms, and languages, including Arduino MCU, SolidWorks, Unreal Engine 5, Python, C++, and Discord

Shaw, a generalist, game designer, teacher, and artist, is always looking to hone his craft and share his skills with others. With his trademark engaging teaching style and past instruction experience, as well as his work as both a solo developer and a producer for his own indie game studio, Shaw is well suited for his role at GameU -- always adaptable, dynamic, and ready to meet whatever challenge is in his path.

In Shaw’s spare time, he enjoys playing video games and table-top RPGs, painting, and (of course!) game design. Check out some of his work here!

• Holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Game Design from George Mason University
• Instructor at an after-school STEM program, helping students of various ages develop games on Scratch, use LEGO robotics kits, and conduct a variety of scientific experiments
• Producer of multiple game development projects, including Major Major Mayhem, Benevolence, Village Vindication, and Somnia
• Specializes in experimental games mechanics, project management, and game documentation
• Skilled in C#, Unreal Engine and its Blueprints system, Unity, Blender, Autodesk 3ds Max, Construct 3, Adobe Photoshop, and Aseprite

Stephen is a game developer and teacher. He loves to explore the details of game design and use programming as a creative outlet. He also likes to join game jams such as Ludum Dare and share the fun of game development with others. When he is not making or teaching games, he enjoys digital art, movies, and outdoor activities.

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

Ever since Stephen discovered video games as a child, playing through RPGs, exploring platformers, and more on a used SNES, he’s been fascinated with creating similar experiences for others. He specializes in game systems, programming, and development, and has plenty of opportunity to practice – with his own indie game studio and habitual participation in various game jams! Above all, however, he believes that the ability to take an idea in one’s head and bring it to life on a screen is an amazing thing, and one he wants to be able to teach to others so that they, too, can experience that fulfillment.

In his leisure time, Stephen enjoysDungeons & Dragons(as a player and as a Dungeon Master!), game jams, spending time with friends, and – of course – making games!

• Holds a dual major in Games & Simulation Arts and Sciences as well as Computer Sciences from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, graduating magna cum laude
• Began and continues to manage his own independent game studio, Ironsilk Games
• Part of the team that developed the game Auricle, a finalist for the Innovation Award for RPI’s 2020 Gamefest
• Familiar with a variety of industry-standard computer languages, game engines, 2D and 3D art editors, and more, including: C#, C, C++, JavaScript, Python, Java, Git, GitHub, Unity, Unreal Engine, Phaser, Flash Develop, Tiled Map Editor, and DazStudio 3D

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.

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

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.

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

Thomas specializes in programming and music, with additional experience in 3D modeling and animation. With more than a decade of experience in those fields and accompanying software, he as a teacher provides a uniquely holistic view of game development. His ultimate aim is to create immersive stories for people to experience – and to help his students be able to tell and create their own stories! Check out some of his work here.

In his free time, Thomas enjoys developing indie games, reading, biking, composing music, and trying new foods.

• Holds a B.F.A. in Computer Game Design from George Mason University
• Programmer at the Virginia Serious Games Institute
• Lead Programmer, sound designer, and composer for the 2D fighter Friendly Fire: Weekend Warriors
• Part of the team that developed the state-standard educational chemistry sandbox game Chemileon
• Won second place in the 2019 mobile game pitch competition at George Mason University
• Expert in Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, Construct 3, Autodesk 3ds Max, GIMP, MagicaVoxel, Reason, and many other applications

Trent is a game designer, artist, and teacher. He has worked as a game designer for Phantom Hound Studio and as a teacher at MAD Science of Austin and San Antonio. He has also won several awards for his game jam projects, both solo and team-based. He is proficient in various programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Substance Painter, Blender, Maya, 3D Studio Max, Unity, Unreal, and Construct 3. Trent loves teaching at GameU because it combines his two passions: game design and education. He also enjoys video games, tabletop games, and art in his free time.

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

Tyler is a game designer, programmer, and teacher. He has won several awards and competitions for his game design skills and has worked as a game designer for a start-up company before joining GameU. He also runs his own game development company. He is experienced in using various software such as Maya, Photoshop, Unity, Unreal, Motionbuilder, Adobe Premiere, and MagicaVoxel. He loves to create and teach memorable experiences that people can enjoy and treasure. He also likes to paint miniature models for Warhammer 40k, play D&D as a DM, and play competitive online games in his free time.

• 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

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.

William, or “Will”, is an experienced game developer and programmer who specializes in Roblox but has likewise mastered cloud technologies and social media marketing. His primary goal is to make fun games, teach brand new game developers how to make those fun games, and learn as many new (and fun!) things as he can!

In his free time, Will enjoys watching movies, playing with cats, and reading non-fiction.

• Earned an Advanced Diploma in Professional Game Development & Game Programming from the Academy of Interactive Entertainment
• Developed major parts of AIMBLOX’s gameplay mechanics and design and implemented player progression systems, among others
• Roblox Software Engineer at Statespace Labs
• Developer and Team Lead at AWP Gaming
• Support Specialist at AWS
• Associate Consultant at Neudesic
• Social Media Manager at Rising Storm Team/TripWire Interactive
• Proficient in a variety of applications and languages, including Roblox, Unity, Unreal Engine, Construct 3, C#, Lua, C++, Python, JavaScript, Adobe Photoshop, and others

Xavier, or “Xavi”, is an accomplished software developer and game designer who specializes in team leadership and production. Beyond that, he is an expert artist and experienced tutor, having assisted multiple students of all ages, grade levels, needs, and abilities with mathematics and coding skills. Above all else, Xavi wants to grow as a developer, programmer, and artist while working together with like-minded professionals and encouraging his students along their own journey of growth!

In his free time, Xavi enjoys playing guitar, going for walks, and spending time with friends.

• Holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Drexel University with concentrations in Human Computer Interaction & Video Game Development and Programming
• Guitarist and singer in a local punk band with tours from PA to CT
• Lead Developer and Producer for Juicy Pulp Games, designing an upcoming action FPS in Unity
• Senior Full Stack Developer and Lead App Developer for Medtrak, Inc.; helped produce the cross-platform mobile CareSense app
• Lead Game Programmer for Imagination Vent LLC
• Specializes in a variety of programs and computer languages, including but not limited to: Unity, Unreal Engine 5, Visual Studio, Mono, XCode, Android Studio, Sequel Pro, Postman, Jest, C#, React Native, C++, Java, PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, Python, CSS, Audacity, Reaper, Aseprite, and Krita

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!

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

Zachery, a skilled 3D artist, modeler, animator, and sound designer, specializes in game design and interactive multimedia experiences, with a particular focus on environment and asset creation. He believes that video games are one of the most diverse and multi-faceted forms of art in existence, and loves to explore those various aspects and mediums using a variety of skills and software, telling stories and crafting unique imagery for true immersion into new worlds. His biggest passion, however, is helping others to nurture and cultivate their passions from a young age – giving them the tools and knowledge they need to become what they want to be!

In his free time, Zachery exercises that drive to design – whether it’s writing music, sculpting and painting organic 3D models, or working on his upcoming webcomic, he’s always creating.

• Pursuing a BFA in Animation at Arizona State University
• Studied abroad in Melbourne, Australia for a semester in the MAGI (Masters of Animation, Games, & Interactivity) program while an undergraduate
• Modeler and animator at FutureWorks Studio from Arizona State University
• Nominated for Best in Show at the 2022 RMIT MAGI Expo for his game Opulence
• Other published works include ASUniverse, an interactive digital twin of the ASU campus that prospective students can explore digitally
• Skilled in Blender, Maya, Substance Suite, Photoshop, Unity, Unreal Engine, Ableton Live 11, and other game and sound design applications