Arts
![]() Neil RandallExecutive Director, English Language and Literature |
![]() Adan Jerreat-PooleCommunication Arts |
![]() Brianna WiensEnglish Language and Literature |
![]() Colin EllardPsychology |
Cayley MacArthurStratford School of Interaction Business and Design |
![]() Daria HoHistory |
![]() Daniel HarleyStratford School of Interaction Design and Business |
![]() Ian MilliganHistory |
![]() Gerald VoorheesCommunication Arts |
![]() Jennifer Roberts-SmithDigital Media/Multimedia Storytelling |
Igor GrossmannPsychology |
![]() Karen CochraneStratford School of Interaction Business and Design |
Jennifer R. WhitsonStratford School of Interaction Business and Design |
![]() Ken HirschkopEnglish Language and Literature |
Kristina LlewellynSocial Development Studies(SDS) |
![]() Lai-Tze FanSociology and Legal Studies |
![]() Leah Zhang-KennedyStratford School of Interaction Business and Design |
![]() Lennart NackeStratford School of Interaction Business and Design |
![]() Marcel O'GormanEnglish Language and Literature |
![]() Mina MomeniCommunication Arts |
![]() Randy HarrisEnglish Language and Literature |
![]() Shana MacDonaldCommunication Arts |
Steven BednarskiHistory |
Susan RoyHistory |
Ville MäkeläStratford School of Interaction Business and Design |
![]() Will ZhaoStratford School of Interaction Business and Design |
Engineering
![]() Mark HancockAssociate Director, Management Sciences |
Catherine BurnsSystems Design Engineering |
Fue-Sang LienMechanical and Mechatronics Engineering |
![]() Jason GroveSystems Design Engineering |
Jennifer BogerSystems Design Engineering |
![]() John Edison Munoz CardonaChemical Engineering |
Shi CaoSystems Design Engineering |
![]() Oliver SchneiderManagement Sciences |
Umair ShahManagement Sciences |
Stacey ScottSystems Design Engineering |
![]() Kerstin DautenhahnElectrical and Computer Engineering |
Environment
![]() Derek T. RobinsonGeography and Environmental Management |
![]() Susan ElliottGeography and Environmental Management |
Suzanne KearnsGeography and Aviation |
Health
Clark DickersonKinesiology and Health Sciences |
James WallaceSchool of Public Health Sciences |
Kaylena Ehgoetz MartensKinesiology and Health Sciences |
Lili LiuDean of Faculty of Health |
Luke R. PotwarkaRecreation and Leisure Studies |
Michael Barnett-CowanKinesiology and Health Sciences |
Math
![]() Anita LaytonApplied Mathematics |
Ben FengStatistics and Actuarial Science |
Craig S. KaplanDavid R. Cheriton School of Computer Science |
Daniel VogelDavid R. Cheriton School of Computer Science |
Edith LawDavid R. Cheriton School of Computer Science |
Jesse HoeyDavid R. Cheriton School of Computer Science |
The School of Optometry and Vision Science
Ben ThompsonOptometry and Vision Science |
Postdoctoral Fellows
Eugene Kukshinov
Psychology
Eugene is a Post-doctoral Fellow working with Dr. Lennart E. Nacke. He focuses on media psychology research, including areas of presence and immersion studies, media psychology issues (such as media identity, and representation), and analysis of Russian hegemonic discourses. You should talk to Eugene if you want help with the conceptualization/categorization or design parts of your research projects or of you like ping pong, tabletop/video games, sports, and movies. Learn more about Eugene - eugenekukshinov.com.
Geneva Smith
Software Engineering
Geneva is a postdoctoral fellow in the HCI Games Group and TouchLab. She received her Ph.D. in Software Engineering from McMaster in 2023, where she worked in the G-ScalE Lab in the Department of Computing and Software developing methods for acknowledging and limiting subjectivity in CME development to improve their reusability, maintainability, and verifiability. The core goal of her research, funded through the Provost's Program for Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholars, is to examine the relationship between the programmed system, user interaction, and a user's perception of Interactive Digital Narratives (IDNs) to guide IDN development processes and tools for satisfying pro-social learning experiences.
Reza Hadi Mogavi
Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business
Sebastian Cmentowski
Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, Faculty of Art
Sebastian Cmentowski is a postdoctoral fellow in the HCI Games Group. His research, funded through the Provost's Program for Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholars, centers on using XR exergames to trigger behavioral change and fight sedentary lifestyles. Stay up to date with Sebastian's work by following him on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.
Community Members
AC Atienza
Experimental Digital Media
AC completed their Masters in Experimental Digital Media in 2020, and as UW Alumni continues to be a part of the Games Institute community to give game design advice and participate in events such as Coffee & Games. They currently work full-time as a board game designer for Wiggles 3D and Cloudfall Studios. Some published games include Captain's Gambit; The Golden Ticket Game; Ozark; Um, Actually; and One-Hit Heroes.
Anna Tian
Urban Planning and Urban Design
Anna is the Esports Coordinator at Athletics and Recreation - leading gaming initiatives across campus as well as collaborating with the Region of Waterloo. Holding a Bachelors in Environmental Studies, she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo in Urban Planning with a specialization in Urban Design. Aside from collegiate esports, she has professional experience working as a Franchise Operations Assistant at Toronto Ultra and Toronto Defiant. Anna was selected as one of three general managers to participate in LCS Game Changers 2023 where to built, promoted, and lead her team to win the inaugural championship in the Riot Games Arena. She is interested in growing the collegiate esports scene in Canada and continue to strive for a safe and include gaming space for all to participate in.
Emma Smith
English-Rhetoric, Media, and Professional Communications
Emma is a graduate of the undergraduate Honours Co-op English-Rhetoric, Media, and Professional Communications program at the University of Waterloo, with a special interest in Canadian Literature and Media. Her passion is in helping others communicate themselves with fluency and creativity, and encouraging confidence in their ideas.
Greg Mittler
Esports and Gaming Coordinator, Recreation and Business
Greg leads the University of Waterloo’s Esports portfolio, with specific focus on student engagement and development. He is the co-director of the University of Waterloo Interdisciplinary Network for Esports, a group which concentrates on the creation and growth of research, teaching and learning, and student engagement as it relates to esports. Greg acts as a council member on Esports Canada Postsecondary and an advisor to the Waterloo Region Esports Commission, both of which aim to enhance esports impact in Canada and in the Region of Waterloo. Greg’s background is in program development, implementation, and evaluation. He has extensive experience in community building, and grassroots programming. Greg has led the growth of the esports portfolio to include cooperative education opportunities, work integrated learning, student leadership opportunities, varsity program development, public grants, private sponsorship, and community partnerships.
![Mohamed Fouda sitting on an outside patio](/games-institute/sites/default/files/uploads/images/2023-9-11_5852_fouda-17-24.jpg)
Mohamed Fouda
Systems Design Engineering
Mohamed is currently working under the supervision of Dr. Oliver Schneider (Haptics Experience Lab), to design and build a platform to house and share haptic creations, called Haptiverse. The Haptiverse is for designers, musicians, game developers and anyone tinkering in haptic experiences and research as the main users. When he is not working, he enjoys coaching cycling, photography (in film) and sometimes acting, which helps him to recharge and satisfy his insatiable sweet tooth.
Contacts
Instagram: @foudamo