Speaker Bios
Erin Reilly, Ph.D.
Dr. Erin Reilly is a creator, educator and strategist with 20 years of experience inventing new approaches, products, services, and experiences in storytelling, engagement and learning through immersive technology. Erin is the Founding Director of Texas Immersive Institute, the interactive and immersive media hub at the University of Texas at Austin focused on research, projects, and learning about the future of interactive and immersive media. In her role, she guides faculty and students in imagining where innovation meets entrepreneurship and builds university-wide initiatives, fostering relationships with other academic institutions and industry partners.
Byron Fong, Ph.D.
Dr. Byron Fong is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radio-Television-Film. His research examines the global history of computer technologies and their impact on cultures of labor and media. His current book project, Kinetic Control: Interactive Movement in Video Game Aesthetics, historicizes video game aesthetics from 1985 to 1994 through the lens of technology, animation, and industry. He also has experience in museum exhibition design and assessing archival collections.
Samuel Horewood, Ph.D.
Dr. Samuel (Sam) E. P. Horewood is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of History at the University of Texas at Austin. He is an Australian-born historian specializing in the early modern British world, digital public history, and early America. Dr. Horewood earned his Bachelor of Arts (2014) and Master of Arts (2018) in History from Monash University in Australia. He then relocated to the United States, earning his M.A. (2022) and Ph.D. in History (2025) from Duke University. His doctoral research culminated in his dissertation, Rebel Empire: Subjecthood and Rebellion in Britain's Early Empire (2025). The work analyzes late 17th-century colonial uprisings (spanning Virginia, Carolina, Maryland, St. Helena, and Bombay) to evaluate how early imperial subjects negotiated their political identities and rights. In August 2025, he joined the faculty at UT Austin. Alongside his teaching responsibilities, he serves as the Managing Editor of Not Even Past, a prominent digital public history magazine
Tobias Scholz, Ph.D.
Dr. Tobias Scholz is a prominent academic and pioneer in esports research, currently serving as an Associate Professor for Academic Esports and Company Esports at the University of Agder (UiA) in Grimstad, Norway. Often referred to as the "godfather of esports research," he has over 25 years of experience bridging competitive gaming, human resource management, and organizational behavior.
Fred White
Fred White is a veteran executive who specializes in launching and growing global game franchises. He is the founder of GameFrameworks and serves as an industry advisor and speaker. He has overseen more than 20 successful game launches. His expertise spans global marketing, go-to-market strategy, brand development, and live-service growth for AAA and indie titles across PC, console, mobile, and VR. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with major platform holders and publishers, including SEGA, Microsoft Xbox, PlayStation, Amazon, and Valve.
Rune Andersen
Rune Andersen is an Associate Professor at the University of Agder (UiA) in Norway, where he serves as the Program Leader for Europe's first Bachelor's degree in Academic Esports. He is also the center leader of FLARE (Future Lab for Research in Academic Esports), a dedicated university research hub connecting technology, gaming, pedagogy, and transferable skill development.
Tony Bergholtz
Tony Bergholtz is an engineer and researcher affiliated with the University of Agder (UiA) in Norway, where he plays a central role in its academic esports initiatives. Bergholtz is an active participant in FLARE (Future Lab for Academic Research in Esports), a specialized research group at UiA that examines academic esports, gaming, and game didactics. The lab bridges the gap between research, education, industry, and grassroots gaming communities. Alongside FLARE leadership figures like Tobias Scholz and Rune Andersen, Bergholtz handles the logistical and broadcast operations for high-profile regional academic events, including the Academic Esports Summit (AES 2026). He is frequently recognized for managing student volunteers, technical infrastructure, and live event streams to ensure smooth execution.
Austin Espinoza
Austin Espinoza is a central figure in the collegiate esports scene at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), widely recognized as "UT Austin's Esports Guy." He oversees the operations of the official video gaming spaces under the University Unions, including the Alienware Longhorn Esports Arena & Lounge. Before joining the university staff, Espinoza served as President of Longhorn Gaming, one of the largest and oldest student-led collegiate esports organizations in the country. His early career also includes work in esports media production, serving as a technical director and video editor for Dot Esports.