Michael C. Fay Jr.

Professional Summary - Emergent Media Theorist, Game Designer, & Esports Analyst.

EDUCATION

Champlain College, Burlington, VT
Masters of Fine Arts, Emergent Media
May 2017

 

 

Saint Michael's College, Colchester, VT
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
May 2013

SKILLS

Program Development; Project Management; Coaching; Teaching; Marketing; Inbound certified; Video editing; Google adwords & analytics certified; Adobe Creative Suite.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Program Director - Game Development & Design, Champlain College 2024-Present

  • Provided day-to-day leadership for multiple academic programs. Responsibilities include managing curriculum, hiring and managing faculty, teaching courses, guiding program marketing/recruitment, ensuring accreditation compliance, assessing student outcomes, and collaborating with admissions.

  • Ensured quality content and topical currency throughout the programs; recruited, hired, trained, and supported high-quality faculty to support students in their journey toward a certificate or degree. Responsible for content and minor revision, interaction, and collaboration with eLearning staff, course scheduling, and faculty assignment and support.

  • Advised prospective and matriculating students in the program, including academic and career advice, utilizing industry knowledge and expertise, understanding of the requirements and expectations of the current and future game workplace, and familiarity with the philosophy of the current and future program goals.

  • Utilized a strategic approach to continually monitor industry changes and direction, and reflect appropriate support of current and future game management challenges within the curricula.

Subject Matter Expert - Esports Management Curriculum and Course Development, Champlain College 2023-Present

  • Identified appropriate courses for the Esports Management Major

  • Drafted and provided feedback on the program proposal including rationale, market, description, learning outcomes and mapping to the college competencies

  • Drafted and provided feedback on new course proposals connected to the program proposal.

  • Attended Academic Leadership Team meetings for program preview and program presentation

  • Attended Academic Council meetings for program preview and program presentation

  • Supported the development of the presentation deck for the Board of Trustees

  • Crafted a comprehensive curriculum covering the fundamentals of Esports, including its history, culture, and global impact.

  • Integrated industry-specific knowledge with management principles to create a robust educational framework.

  • Developed course materials, including lectures, readings, assignments, and assessments, ensuring alignment with learning outcomes.

  • Employed diverse instructional methods to cater to varied learning styles, including interactive discussions, case studies, and project-based learning.

  • Incorporated technology and digital tools to create an engaging online learning environment.

  • Designed evaluation methods to effectively measure student understanding and progress.

  • Regularly reviewed and updated course content to maintain relevance and academic rigor.

  • Conducted ongoing research to stay abreast of the latest developments in Esports and education.

  • Ensured that the course met all institutional and accreditation standards for higher education.

Varsity Rocket League Coach, Champlain College 2022-2024

  • Coached the varsity Rocket League team for the Fall 2022 & Spring & Fall 2023, and Spring 2024 seasons.

  • Coordinated practices, scrimmages and competitive games.

  • Managed scouting, strategy development and training regiments for the team.

  • Responsible for developing student-athletes sport-specific skills, physical wellness, mental preparation, and character.

  • Served as tutor and mentor to provide academic success of student-athletes and implement successful retention strategies.

Esports Center Manager, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 2019-2021

  • Managed the development, planning, and implementation of the program and services offered at the Esports Center.

  • Oversaw the overall development and growth of the established esports program.

  • Developed and executed regular events and programs in the Center including creating intramural programs, events for the Rutgers community, and Rutgers gaming club events.

  • Developed partnerships and opportunities for collaboration with other University departments through strategic partnerships which identified academic research opportunities in areas of computer science, engineering, education, and social sciences.

Director of Esports/Head Coach, University of Akron                                  2017 - 2019

  • Conceptualized, implemented, and managed comprehensive varsity, club, and recreational gaming programs.

  • Designed 3 state-of-the-art gaming facilities totaling over 5,200 sq feet to house esports programs.

  • Coached 53 students across 5 varsity esports teams to conference, regional, and national championship wins.

  • Marketed and promoted the esports program through social media, broadcasting, video editing, and press relations.

  • Fundraised over $100,000 in sponsorship year-one contributions to the esports program from businesses such as Audiotechnica, SteelSeries, Gravity Gaming, Archon Clothing, and the Cleveland Clinic.

  • Managed a team of 2 professional staff, 9 varsity student staff, & 14 student assistants.

  • Develop curriculum for esports courses and collaborated on academic research in Communications and Sport Science.

Project Management Fellow, Champlain College                                          2015 - 2017

  • Responsibilities included communication with stakeholders, developing budget proposals, contract negotiation, schedule & risk management, as well as execution of each of the following projects along with team members:

BREAKAWAY!- Led a cross discipline team of designers, artists, writers, and programmers in the creation of a narrative based mobile game that uses soccer as a universal language to address issues of gender equity & violence against women with children in impoverished third world communities.

University of Vermont Medical Center, Palliative Care Division- Managed a team of researchers and designers in the research, design, prototyping, and proposing of applications for virtual reality technology in the administration of palliative care for doctors in the UVM Palliative Care network.

Director of Production, Softlocke                                                                       2016 - 2017

  • Led a team of casters, technical directors, and graphic designers in the regular broadcast of competitive Overwatch tournaments; managed staff schedule; conducted workshops for casting talent.

  • Administered the Competitive Overwatch Discord server; built a community of over 12,000 members; enforced server rules and mediated user issues; provided customer service.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Associate Faculty in Gaming & Esports, Post University 2022-Present

Taught the course Introduction to Epsorts Management EGM102; a course introducing the history of Esports in the world, specifically the current state of the multi-billion-dollar industry, the emerging trends in the market, and the current state of competitive play. 

Esports Adjunct Faculty, Rowan University 2022-Present

Taught the course: Introduction to Esports SPRT09201; a course that covers the historical development of several of the most popular esports games as well as the cultural and economic implications of those games on the videogame industry. Advised on syllabus design and course structure.

Intersession Instructor, Amherst College 2019

Taught a five-day lecture series called “Critical Topics in Esports” which included lectures on topics such as: History of Esports, Business of Esports, From Game to Esport, Esports and Society, & the Esports Opportunity.

Guest Lecturer, The University of Akron 2018

Offered a lecture called “Introduction to Esports” for the class Business of Sport (Graduate) 5550-630. Facilitated the observation of varsity student-esports players in-training.

Guest Lecturer, The University of Akron 2018

Gave a lecture on Esports Broadcasting for the class Topics in Media Production: Esports Broadcasting 7600:317; Advised on syllabus design; Assisted in production and evaluation of final capstone broadcast for the course.



CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Fay, M. (2020) Esports: The Impact on Community Development in K-12 and Higher Education. NJ Edge. EdgeCon 2020, Long Branch, NJ

Fay, M., Lynn, T., Smith, B., Smith, D. (2019) The Current and Future of eSports. Ohio Higher Education Computing Counsel. OARnet Annual Membership Meeting, Perrysburg, OH

Fay, M., Meeker, N., (2019) Getting to know eSports. Ohio Department of Higher Education, Ohio Educational Technology Conference, Columbus, OH

Fay, M., Hyland, M., Roy, T., Giglio, S., & Kirshenbaum, A. (2013) Nicotine-induced amotivation: A result of conditioned inhibition? . Eastern Psychological Association , 84 th annual conference, New York, NY

Giglio, S., Fay, M., Hyland, M., Roy, T., & Kirshenbaum, A. (2013) Social hierarchy and PR schedule performance in rats. Eastern Psychological Association, 84th annual conference, New York, NY

Hyland, M., Fay, M., Roy, T., Giglio, S., & Kirshenbaum, A. (2013) Pharmacological manipulation of reconsolidation: Conditioned placed preference in rats. Eastern Psychological Association, 84th annual conference, New York, NY

Roy, T., Fay, M., Hyland, M., Giglio, S., & Kirshenbaum, A. (2013) Nicotine-induced amotivation is related AChR activation. Eastern Psychological Association, 84th annual conference, New York, NY

Kirshenbaum, A., Hyland, M., Giglio, S., Roy, T., & Fay, M. (2012). Evidence for cholinergic enhancement of memory reconsolidation using a tickle-induced CPP. Society for Neurosciences, annual conference, New Orleans, LA.

Kirshenbaum, A., Fay, M., Giglio, S., Hyland, M., & Roy, T. (2012) Nicotine-induced amotivation: A model of tobacco withdrawal. Vermont Genetics Network, annual retreat, Burlington, VT.

Autori, S., Fay, M., Linnell, M., Longchamp, S., Cronise, K. & Kirshenbaum, A. (2012) Conditioned Place Preference In Rats: Tickle as the Unconditioned Stimulus and the Effects of a Consolidation Interval. Eastern Psychological Association , 82nd annual conference, Cambridge, MA.