UCF Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy

05/29/2026

🎓 Quest complete: Erik Sand has officially added Ph.D. to his player stats.

Join us in congratulating our very own GameLab instructor and Director of Strategic Partnerships, Erik Sand, on earning his Ph.D. in Modeling and Simulation from UCF!

Erik participated in the doctoral hooding ceremony two weeks ago at the UCF College of Sciences commencement ceremony at Addition Financial Arena.

Already holding a B.S., M.S. in Engineering, and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Erik’s latest achievement reflects his passion for innovation, research, and education.

His dissertation explored how novice drivers with autism respond behaviorally, visually, and physiologically to game-based hazard perception training in a driving simulator. His findings revealed highly individualized learning patterns, reinforcing the importance of flexible, personalized approaches to driver training and assessment for autistic learners.

We’re proud to celebrate Erik’s accomplishment and the meaningful impact of his research. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Sand! 👏

05/05/2026

From 3D-printed wearables to immersive simulations of space and history, Cohort 22’s GameLab projects demonstrated how game development skills can translate into meaningful tools for education, research, and community engagement. Last week's showcase highlighted a window into the solar system, a projection-mapped artistic creation rooted in local history, and a role-playing experience grounded in historical event. Congrats to all the Cohort 22 students and SMEs on their prototypes!

More on all eight projects:

Eight teams demonstrated a variety of interactive prototypes at Wednesday’s final GameLab presentations in the Bridge. FIEA’s 90 students in Cohort 22 experimented with interactive tech and physical mediums to build innovative solutions in industries outside of gaming. Led by FIEA Director of St...

04/16/2026

Game Changer Files 🎮 📁 Barak Moshe ‘10 ’11MS, Technical Artist at Meta

We’re asking FIEA alumni five questions about their experiences before, during and after graduating from UCF’s top-ranking game development program.

With companies like Google, Lucasfilm, and Microsoft on his resume, Barak Moshe (Cohort 7) has made a name for himself in technical art and virtual reality thanks to his beginnings right here at FIEA. Now a guest speaker at the 2026 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, we caught up with Moshe on the West Coast at one of the biggest stages in the gaming industry.

Moshe returns to FIEA this week as an alumni guest speaker just for FIEA's Cohort 22 students closing out their third semester.

Read more about his path:

With companies like Google, Lucasfilm, and Microsoft on his resume, Barak Moshe '10 '11MS has made a name for himself in technical art and virtual reality thanks to beginnings right here at FIEA. Now a guest speaker at the 2026 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, we caught up with Moshe on....

04/15/2026

Honoring our Cohort 22 artists on World Art Day 🌎🖌️

Today, we’re sharing some of the work produced by our talented artists in Cohort 22! Our stellar team of art faculty, including Jonathan Annand, Nitin Bakshi, Cheryl Briggs, Chris Roda and Nick Zuccarello, have guided these 3D sculptors, tech artists and animators as they prepare their portfolios for industry reviews and internship applications.

View more of our current and past student work on FIEA’s ArtStation at artstation.com/ucffiea

04/13/2026

Celebrating an incredible achievement 🖤⚔️💛 Welcome to the Nicholson School of Communication and Media Hall of Fame, Nikki Roth, the first FIEA alum to be inducted!

An alumna of cohort 6, Nikki accepted the NSCM Hall of Fame Award at the UCF College of Sciences Distinguished AlumKnight Awards on March 26, 2026, surrounded by FIEA faculty, staff, alumni and family. "I hope this award shines a light on the multi-faceted talent coming out of FIEA and serves as a reminder that our roots in game development prepare us for leadership across the entire tech landscape," Roth said.

Read more about her achievements and hopes for the future:

From shaping immersive experiences at Meta and Lucasfilm to mentoring the next generation of technical artists, Nikki Roth ’10MS has left a lasting mark on both the tech industry and her alma mater, earning her a historic induction into the Nicholson School of Communication and Media Hall of Fame.

04/09/2026

It's UCF Day of Giving! 🫶 Your donations will help fund events that help strengthen the alumni network and build bonds among cohort members and alumni— recruitment, student engagement, alumni events and more.

Support FIEA: https://dayofgiving.ucf.edu/campaigns/ucf-florida-interactive-entertainment-academy

04/01/2026

Getting the most out of GDC 🔥🎮

It’s been a minute since we’ve returned from the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco and FIEA Cohort 22 students James Taubman and Jocelyn Fayola made the most of their trip with other FIEAns, which included a week’s worth of tech talks, panels, networking nights, and so much more.

Considered the world’s largest conference for game developers, GDC brings together talent from across the industry, creating opportunities for students to connect with professionals, explore career paths, and discover what’s next in game development.

03/24/2026

Tomorrow’s leading video game developers are being built today at UCF. 🎮

UCF’s graduate program, FIEA, is once again named the No. 2 program in the world and the undergraduate gaming program, GaIM, rose to No. 3 — its highest placement yet — for 2026.

Explore FIEA’s strategy for success: https://www.ucf.edu/news/ucfs-video-game-design-programs-rank-among-worlds-best-for-2026/

03/18/2026

Game Changer Files 🎮 📁 Christopher Jay Vance ’17MS, Senior Engineer at Undead Labs

We’re asking FIEA alumni five questions about their experiences before, during and after graduating from UCF’s top-ranking game development program. Starting with no prior game dev or programming experience, Christopher Jay Vance (Cohort 13) leveled up at FIEA and found his path into World Technology. Today, he’s helping build expansive systems at Undead Labs and inspiring the next generation of developers.

“The most important part of the program is learning what you’re capable of, and how to break through limitations and uncertainties,” Vance said.

Read more about his journey through FIEA:

Christopher Jay Vance ’17MS, Senior Engineer at Undead Labs and FIEA alumnus of Cohort 13. We’re asking FIEA alumni five questions about their experiences before, during and after graduating from UCF’s top-ranking game development program. On a quest for a creative atmosphere to explore progra...

03/12/2026

Bringing the FIEA to GDC 🔥🎮

We’re lighting things up at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this week!

Many of our faculty, staff, and Cohort 22 students have traveled across the country to this annual gathering. FIEA students James Taubman and Jocelyn Fayola are on the ground capturing their experiences, from inspiring talks and innovative tech to networking with devs from indie and AAA studios, leading tech companies, and more.

Considered the world’s largest conference for game developers, GDC brings together talent from across the industry, creating opportunities for students to connect with professionals, explore career paths, and discover what’s next in game development.

And tonight, we’re excited to bring the FIEA community together at our annual FIEA Alumni Party. Check out our Instagram stories tonight for more.