Sang Nam

Professor Sang Nam is a distinguished faculty member at George Mason University, specializing in technology-intensive courses within the Computer Game Design Program. He holds an MFA in Electronic Integrated Arts from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, as well as a BA in Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts, and a BS in Molecular Biology from the University of California, San Diego.

Professor Nam's scholarly work intricately explores the intersection of technology and art, examining how technological advancements influence various art forms and the public's perception of these art products. His innovative projects have been showcased globally, including exhibitions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Korea, Hungary, China, and Tunisia. As a dedicated teacher-scholar, Professor Nam has conducted extensive research in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. His exceptional contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the 2010 National Teaching Scholar Award (Carnegie Foundation/Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning), the Elon Teaching Scholar Award (2010-2021), and the 2008 Wisconsin Teaching Fellow Award (University of Wisconsin Systems).

In 2018, Professor Nam founded Nam ER Technology LLC, a software company focused on developing serious games and training applications for clients such as the US Army, USAID, and the US Department of Defense, among other government and private entities. In collaboration with ThunderCat Technology, LLC, his company became a US Army Information Technology Enterprise Solutions Software 2 (ITES-SW2) contract holder in 2020, being one of only 31 contractors on this $13 billion, 10-year award.

Professor Nam's international collaborations underscore his global influence. As a Fulbright Specialist (US Department of State), he has worked with Tunisian government agencies on projects aimed at empowering Tunisian youth with game development and virtual reality production skills (2022) and providing gamification and serious game solutions for the historical site, Dar Sebastian in Hammamet, Tunisia (2024-2025). He also has ongoing initiatives in the United Arab Emirates, focusing on game development and extended reality (XR) education for young Emiratis. Additionally, he is leading the development of an AI framework to address climate change and promote local interest group engagement, funded by the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In 2024, he secured further funding to initiate a game design and development capacity-building project for youth in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Professor Nam is a sought-after speaker, frequently invited to present at conferences and events beyond the university. He was the guest of honor at the AETEX 2024, Ajman International Fair for Education and Training, in the UAE. His keynote and guest speaking engagements include appearances at the 2023 Dublin Learning City Festival, the 2022 International Conference on Global Trends in Gaming (ICGTG 2022), the 2022 International Symposium on Digital Therapeutics (DTx), and the 2021 5th UNESCO International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC) Special College Session.

In addition to his teaching and entrepreneurial endeavors, Professor Nam has made significant contributions to research in game design and development. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of eSports Multidisciplinary Research (IJER) published by IGI Global and as an Associate Editor of Entertainment Computing, a peer-reviewed scholarly research journal.

For further information on his editorial work, please visit:

• International Journal of eSports Multidisciplinary Research (IJER)
• Entertainment Computing

Degrees

• MFA, Electronic Integrated Arts, NYSCC at Alfred University
• BA in Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts, University of California, San Diego
• BS in Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego