Shira Chess, who just published her second book, "Ready Player Two: Women Gamers and Designed Identity," is profiled by the University of Georgia (Photo: Dorothy Kozlowski)
Shira Chess: Focus on Faculty
Shira Chess, assistant professor of entertainment and media studies, focuses her research on what a lot of people enjoy in their spare time: video games and digital culture. In her Focus on Faculty interview, Chess talks about her research, teaching and her new book on the subject called “Ready Player Two: Women Gamers and Designed Identity.”
“I love to teach courses that mix theory and practice, particularly when those practices are creative,” Chess said in her profile. “For example, one of my favorite classes is “The Elements of Narrative,” where students learn narrative theory, but then get to play by constructing what I like to think of as storytelling experiments during class.”
Her course work with Turner Entertainment Networks is one of the highlights of her teaching at Grady College. “I have collaborated with Turner Entertainment Networks to create an annual class where students get to pitch projects and concepts to the TV network based on emerging innovations. It is so satisfying seeing students work on a single project over the course of the semester, and then get to show it off to TV executives.”
Tapping into student creativity is the main objective for Chess. “My goal for them is that they will learn to brainstorm and prototype ideas rapidly, and push the edges of their own creative abilities. I want them to go out into the world with the ability to tell amazing stories in complicated ways.”
Allison Ausband continues to use skills she learned when she was a Grady College journalism student. “I use my education and the skills that I learned at Grady on a daily basis in my 35 year career at Delta,” Ausband said. “From the writing skills, to presenting in front of large audiences, to communicating more […] learn more
Students attend the 2020 PRSSA D.C. Agency Tour
Editor’s note: MG Coffee, the Yarbrough-Grady Public Relations Fellow for the spring 2020 semester, attended the annual PRSSA D.C. Agency Tour with other PRSSA members. During the last week of January, 12 Grady students and PRSSA members, including myself traveled to Washington, D.C., for the annual PRSSA D.C. Agency Tour. The tour, led by Grady […] learn more
#GradyGrit: Meet Mikaela Cohen
Why did you choose Grady? I chose Grady when I was freshman in college because I had a dream of becoming a news anchor on Good Morning America. Grady taught me that journalism is a much wider field than I had initially imagined. Even though I don’t want to be a news anchor anymore, Grady […] learn more
Faculty profile: Joseph Watson, Jr.
According to Joseph Watson, Jr., to understand a person, one has to understand who his heroes are and who he admires. Watson, who spends his days teaching about public advocacy, issues management and shaping public opinion in political contexts, focuses on the ideals of individuals who have helped guide his professional path. “Encouraging civility and […] learn more
Giving Voice to the Voiceless grant provides storytelling platform for black graduates
To add your support for future projects like this, please visit the Giving Voice to the Voiceless commitment webpage. Looking back on history of the first black students at the University of Georgia will bring up names like Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Hunter Holmes and Mary Frances Early. While these trailblazers built the foundation for integration at […] learn more
