As we move closer to the end of Fall 2022, we’d like to recognize and welcome the latest full-time faculty and academic affairs staff who joined DigiPen for this semester. Read on for a closer look at their diverse fields of study and backgrounds in the world of games, education, and more.
We also want to thank the following faculty members, listed below, who received promotions or accepted the position of department chair. Be sure to congratulate them as you see them around campus!
New Full-Time Faculty and Academic Affairs Staff
Amber Davies-Sloan
Amber Davies-Sloan began teaching at DigiPen this fall as a new member of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. After completing her MA in communication from The University of New Mexico, Davies-Sloan taught as a professor at Yavapai College with a narrative-centric teaching style with diverse student populations and first generation students. Her experiences as a Korean adoptee, combined with the desire to elevate transracial adoptee voices, lent to her personal research involving biracial identity among transracial adoptees and how that affects interpersonal relationships.
Andrea Ellinger
Andrea Ellinger is no stranger to DigiPen, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Sound Design (now offered as the BS in Computer Science and Digital Audio) in 2016. She then worked in DigiPen’s research and development department as a member of the Zero Engine development team. Her work on DigiPen’s advanced 3D game creation tool included the development of a robust 3D audio engine. She currently teaches first-year game project courses as a member of the Department of Game Development and Production.
Ebae Kim
Ebae Kim is now a full-time lecturer in the Department of Animation and Production. Her focus on visual storytelling stems from her involvement in a variety of industries including comics, video games, corporate consulting, animation, live-action film, and board games. This includes her time at Webtoon, where she launched an original series of comics titled The Masked Fables. Kim previously taught as an adjunct professor at DigiPen.
Joshua Savage
Joshua Savage has worked as a writer, editor, narrative designer, game preservationist, and more. He holds a BA in psychology and East Asian studies from Harvard University and an MA in digital humanities from Maynooth University in Ireland. As a product of his research on diversity and inclusion in digital game cultures, Savage has worked extensively to help foster a healthier games industry. As a member of the Department of Design, Savage currently focuses on user research and introducing students to the brand new DigiPen user research lab.
Lyssa Chartrand
Having worked as a contractor with DigiPen since 2010, Lyssa Chartrand began her new role this semester as the full-time assistant for the Department of Academic Affairs. She comes to DigiPen with a background in modeling and fashion design. As an entrepreneur, Chartrand previously founded and managed her own clothing company. She also helped create and manage events like GearCon and SteamCon while modeling for various gaming studios like Valve and Bungie, as well as other art studios and colleges. These different roles helped develop her skills in planning and organization that she regularly makes use of in her work at DigiPen.
Race Roberson
Dr. Race Roberson holds a Ph.D. in earth and space sciences from the University of Washington. His extensive background in plasma physics is a welcome fit for his new role in the Department of Physics at DigiPen, where he helps students dive deeper into a range of introductory and advanced topics involving force, motion, momentum, electricity, and more. Previously, Dr. Roberson worked with both undergraduate and graduate students on creating hands-on projects involving propulsion systems, flight communication systems, and other designs involving space and high-altitude research.
Suzannah Calvery
Suzannah Calvery joined the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences this semester as an assistant professor of English, as well as DigiPen’s Assistant Dean of Online and Distance Education. She holds an MAT and Ph.D. from Seattle Pacific University in the field of curriculum and has helped provide guidance for school districts across the country with their technology integration efforts. In addition to her responsibilities as assistant dean, she currently teaches storytelling and College 101 courses.