Academic/Staff Leadership Team

The strategic activities of the network are facilitated and led by Dr. Luke Potwarka (Associate Professor; Director, Spectator Experience and Technology Laboratory; Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies; Faculty of Health) and Greg Mittler (Esports Coordinator, Department of Athletics and Recreation). Additionally Greg supports the administration of the network and leads the portfolio for student experience, and partnership development.

Support and leadership on esports scholarship and teaching/learning activities of the network are supported by the following Faculty Champions:

  • Dr. Michael Barnett-Cowan (Associate Professor; Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences);
  • Dr. Neil Randall (Associate Professor; Department of English Language and Literature; Executive Director, The Games Institute; Chair, Council for Responsible Innovation and Technology);
  • Agata Antkiewicz (Associate Director, Strategic Planning and Administration; Games Institute);
  • Dr. Kate Larson (Professor; Cheriton School Computer Science);
  • Dr. James Wallace (Associate Professor; School of Public Health Sciences);
  • Dr. Roxane Itier (Associate Professor, Psychology);
  • Dr. Shi Cao (Systems Design Engineering).


Members of the leadership team facilitate meetings of the Community of Practice, contribute to collaborative discussions with researchers, staff, and industry professionals about esports-related topics of interest (research or teaching-oriented), and collaborate on the development of interdisciplinary TriCouncil or CFI grant proposals.