George Cox is the SGD instructor at the Vernon Malone College and Career Academy. He teaches Introduction to Simulation and Game Development (SGD 111), Graphic Design Tools (SGD 116), and Art for Games (SGD 117) to the high school juniors and SG Design I (SGD 112) and SG Design II (SGD 212) to the seniors. Besides earning an Associate’s in Simulation and Game Development in 2014, George also has a Master’s degree in English and over a dozen years’ experience teaching on the college level. While he works hard to pave the way for the Vernon Malone students to enter Wake Tech’s SGD program, he is also pursuing an Associate’s Degree in computer programming at Wake Tech.

Brandon Crews teaches art classes in the Simulation and Game Development program, including 3D Modeling, Character Development, and Animation. He developed a portfolio design course and is contemplating the development of an animation course for spring 2015. After receiving a BFA with a concentration in Animation/Interactive Design from East Carolina University, Brandon created models and animations for ECU’s virtual classroom before becoming an instructor at Wake Tech. He has worked with Lab Rats Studio as a quality assurance tester and character animator and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in New Media and Animation from North Carolina State University.

Aisha Eskandari is the lead instructor for SG Design I and II in the Simulation and Game Development Department at Wake Tech. As a student, she founded Wake Tech’s Game Development Club while earning an A.A.S. in Simulation and Game Development and a Certificate in SG Production Management. She went on to earn a B.S. in Accounting and Finance at Meredith College. Aisha’s past work with conferences includes helping to plan and execute the Digital Game Xpo, as well as serving as a volunteer coordinator for the East Coast Game Conference. She also served as department liaison for a grant-funded simulation project for the pharmaceutical industry. Now, in addition to teaching, she serves as coordinator for the Applied Technologies Exploration Camps program, which offers instruction to 6th-12th graders in areas such as engineering, robotics, video game design, programming, animation for video games, and building computers.

Cindy Foster is an instructor and department head for Simulation and Game Development. She began her Wake Tech career teaching computer programming. She helped prepare the NSF ATE grant that funded the start-up of the SGD program, with colleagues Kai Wang (former department head) and CSC/DBA Program Chair Walter Rotenberry. Her responsibilities under the grant included the development of the original 23 courses for the degree program along with teaching a variety of the curriculum courses and was awarded the 2016 Excellence in Teaching Award. Cindy earned her B.S. in Computer Science with minors in Mathematics and Industrial Administration from Iowa State University. She enjoys casual games, hunts dead people in her free time, and has published four books about genealogy.

Amber Johnson worked in the game industry for 7 years as an artist and a designer before coming to Wake Tech to teach art classes in the Simulation and Game Development program. She received her Bachelors of Science from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in Media Arts and Animation. She primarily teaches classes in Photoshop, 3d Modeling, and AV tools. She uses her experience in the industry to help gear student work in class towards standards used in games. She still creates games in her free time at home and has a pet chicken.

Brad Swearingen teaches 3D modeling and animation, level and game design. He began his digital 3D career in 1997 in the Virtual Reality Department at Research Triangle Institute, where he created simulations, 3D worlds, and graphics. He also worked with a team of forensic engineers, creating 3D accident re-creations and 2D graphics, and building websites. As a freelancer, he has worked on animating electrical sub-station simulations and cell phone ads for clients. Brad earned a bachelor’s degree in Art from East Carolina University, a Certificate in Computer Art and Animation from the School of Communication Arts, and a master’s in Business Administration.

Ken Turner is a consummate game professional. He has held a variety of positions within QA, from contract tester to QA Manager, and has worked in a producer capacity on several simulations. Ken is known as a knowledgeable and easy-to-talk-to person who has lectured and addressed conferences about how to get into the industry. With a career that spans more than 14 years and a master’s degree in Business Management, he brings knowledge and experience to his students. He has worked on more than a dozen AAA titles and has credits on more than 40 titles and simulations.

Aurore Wold is a programming instructor in the Simulation and Game Development at Wake Tech. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Sciences at the French Military Academy of Saint Cyr. After moving to the United States, she taught French to Special Forces soldiers and later Mathematics in Middle School. Her interests in education have led her to earn an A.A.S. in Simulation and Game Development at Fayetteville Technical Community College where she taught SGD courses after graduation. She wants to create educational games, and is currently working on an adventure/action game involving math.