On Feb. 18 and Feb. 19, Florida Citrus Sports hosted a free virtual symposium focused on the growth and development of collegiate esports programs.
The event was presented in partnership with Full Sail University with additional support from Esports at UCF and featured over 20 speakers who shared insights in sessions spanning two days during the Symposium.
If you missed any discussions or want to watch any of the sessions again, full recordings are available below.
Event Rewind
You can still join the conversation through the FCSE Collegiate Esports Symposium community on Discord by clicking the button below.
The State of Collegiate Esports
New eFuse Chief Revenue Officer Neil Duffy sits down with eFuse CEO Matthew Benson for a ‘fireside chat’ to discuss the state of collegiate esports and opportunities ahead for discovery, monetization and infrastructure. The two leaders discuss the challenges they see facing the industry, possible solutions and growth opportunities.
Panelists
Neil Duffy: Chief Revenue Officer, eFuse
Matthew Benson: Co-Founder & CEO, eFuse
Planning and Running Collegiate Esports Events
Live gaming events were on the rise before COVID-19 turned the world on its ear. Esports has continued to grow through online events in the interim. As in-person gatherings return, we heard from industry leaders on the future of successful events — live and virtual — in the esports world.
Panelists
Duran Parsi: Director of Collegiate Esports, FaceIt
Victoria Horsely: Esports Events
Erin Eberhardt: Lead Project Manager, Blizzard Entertainment
John Kracum: Vice President, Misfits Gaming Group
Moderator
Sari Kitelyn: Executive Director of Esports, Full Sail University
Preparing for Careers in Esports After College
The growing esports industry has a myriad of career options beyond player. How can students develop the skills to set themselves up for success after graduation? Hear tips and best practices from the largest esports and gaming industry job platform as well as a training and growth specialist for one of the biggest organizations in the gaming world.
Panelists
Richard Huggan: Managing Director, Hitmarker
Anthony Scala: Collegiate Lead, Evil Geniuses
Moderator
Annabel Zinn: Co-Founder & VP of Esports, UCF
Spotlight: UCI Esports
Take a look inside one of the standout programs in all of collegiate esports, the University of California Irvine. Find out how the program developed and the opportunities that its leadership sees for the future of the industry.
Panelists
Mark Deppe: Director, UCI Esports
Kathy Chiang: Assistant Director. UCI Esports
Moderator
Jess Reider: Esports Staff Writer, Full Sail University
Evolving Education with Esports
For decades, most of the education ecosystem has viewed video games as a distraction for students. Today, esports is quickly becoming a necessity for high schools, colleges, and universities around the world. This insightful discussion lays out how forward-thinking institutions can use esports to evolve their students’ educational and social experiences.
Panelists
Derek Watford: Co-Founder, High Point Gamer
Marcus Howard: Chief Executive Officer, MetArena
Moderator
Dr. Marc Williams: Global Scholar Practitioner, Florida Memorial University
Building & Growing a Collegiate Esports Program
Running an esports program is hard work, whether you are starting from scratch or trying to reach the next level of success. Learn some best practices, potential roadblocks and areas of opportunity from top leaders in the collegiate world.
Panelists
Kevin Hoang: Scholastic PM, Twitch
Dana Hustedt: Director of Esports, Grand View University
Moderator
Bennett Newsome: Esports Strategist, Full Sail University
Health, Wellness and Resources for College Esports Players
Like traditional sports, competitive success in esports requires a commitment to athlete well-being, physically and mentally. Unlike traditional sports, esports programs and individual athletes may not have health and wellness resources readily available. Find out how gamers can take control of their own personal wellness, why it matters and how coaches, administrators and other partners can help.
Panelists
Bubba Gaedhart: Executive Director, Varsity Esports Foundation
Dr. Lindsey Migliore: Physician, GamerDoc
Moderator
RaeLynn McAfee: Sports Marketing and Media Program Director, Full Sail University
Spotlight: Mountain West/Boise State
The Mountain West Conference is an early adopter among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision athletics. After launching their first event in 2018, the conference has been at the forefront of collegiate esports.
Panelists
Carolayne Henry: Senior Associate Commissioner, Mountain West Conference
Doc Haskell: Head Coach & Director of Esports, Boise State University
David Saphirstein: Founder, Venue Edge