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Millions of people worldwide participate in the growing phenomenon of esports, the activity where video games are played competitively, much like traditional sports. Thousands of students nationwide are participating in esports, both in K-12 and the collegiate scene. Yet how esports is fitted into educational environments varies. Esports in education can range from treating it as part of the athletics program, an extracurricular activity, a community-based effort, or aligning it to core curriculums.
What remains consistent is the lack of diversity for both those who play esports and the spaces in which esports occurs. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are trying to change this by supporting the growth of clubs and teams on their campuses; creating curriculums around esports and promoting academic success; and reaching beyond their campus to support young K-12 students.
This programming will focus on how HBCUs are engaging with esports: What does it mean to “do” esports today for HBCUs? What is informing the shape of esports programming on HBCU campuses, and what does the future hold for esports? How can we make esports more diverse? In doing so, we hope to highlight ways to build capacity by showing what is needed to launch an esports program.
Agenda
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12 PM | Welcome
- Ambassador Mark Green, President, Director & CEO, The Wilson Center
12:15 PM | Esports in Education: Overview
- Elizabeth M H Newbury, PhD, Director, The Serious Games Initiative, The Wilson Center
12:30 PM | No One Way To Build Esports Programs on HBCU Campuses
Panel:
- Dr. Kevin James, President, Morris Brown College
- Dr. Laura Colson, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Bennett College
- Julian Waddell, Assistant Professor, Management Information Systems; Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Center, OU Launchpad; Oakwood University
- Sedika Franklin, MBA, Associate Director, White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- Moderator: Elizabeth M H Newbury, PhD, Director, The Serious Games Initiative, The Wilson Center
1:30 PM | Play Session: NBA2K Presented by Cxmmunity
2:00 PM | Crafting Esports and Gaming Programs for Academic Success
Panel:
- Dr. BerNadette Lawson-Williams, Professor of Sport Management; Advisor of Esports and Gaming Management Program, Johnson C. Smith University
- Dr. Robbie Melton, Associate Vice President - SMART Global Technology Innovation Center; Dean - Graduate School - Graduate Professional Studies; Tennessee State University
- Christopher Turner, GM & Head Esports Coach, Southern University
- Moderator: John Cash, Associate Professor, Johnson C. Smith University; Chief Business Development & Education Officer, Cxmmunity
3 PM | Play Session: Minecraft EDU HBCU Esports Hackathon: Building Community Through Connection
Prior to the ED Games Expo, HBCU teams participated in a competition to build their school’s “Yard” as the arena within Minecraft. The most liked arena will be played by students at selected DCPS schools and shown at the event.
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