ABOUT US
Incubated in Stanford and funded by the National Science Foundation, UniVirtual Academy is a pioneer of live STEM instruction in Virtual Reality. Our mission is to prepare students for future success by helping them become savvy technology users, strong communicators, effective collaborators, and creative and critical thinkers.
Our immersive science quests provide students with engaging and fun interactive learning experiences. Through these game-based classes, students not only enhance their knowledge and enthusiasm for science but also develop important skills such as collaboration and storytelling.
OUR TEACHERS
- Alex StolyarikAlex Stolyarik, MS. Stanford Graduate School of Education, MS from MIT. Alex is a space exploration enthusiast. He has been teaching for UniVirtual Academy since 2019.
- Stephanie WymanStephanie Wyman, a middle school science teacher for over 10 years. Her passion is space exploration. She has been with UniVirtual Academy since 2021.
- Masaki NakamuraMasaki Nakamura, MS. Stanford Graduate School of Education.
Taught middle school students for 4 years. He has been with UniVirtual Academy since spring 2022. - Rachel GarmonRachel Garmon has been an Improv kids teacher and a coach for the last 8 years. She has been with UniVirtual Academy since 2021.
- Jeff KramerJeff has been an Improv teacher for kids and adults for the last 20 years. He is a science enthusiast, an actor, and an adjunct university professor. He has been with UniVirtual Academy since 2020.
TEAM
- Alex StolyarikCo-founder, CEOAlex spent nearly a decade implementing project-based experiential education internationally. In 2011, as a member of the Democracy and Art nonprofit, he organized and directed a dual degree program with London Metropolitan University’s MARCH and the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Alex is an ex-CEO of the $7.4Bn public company on LSE and is a participant of the cross-registration emerging markets program at HBS.He has an MS from MIT.
- Aoki KunitakeChief Product OfficerAoki is an experienced Art Director/Game Developer who spent more than 28 years working for SEGA and Nintendo. He is a key contributor to their multi-million sales figure titles, including their Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Sonic the Hedgehog series. His passion gears toward making fun and educational software for all ages. He always stays positive, looks for new challenges, and enjoys solving problems.
- Ronit FuhrmannVP, Social ImpactRonit Fuhrmann has broad technological, management, and business experience in leading, forming, and executing on business plans, product-roadmap plans, and customer success strategies. With both a BSc. in math and computer science and an MBA, she connects business, customers, and engineering.
- Oleksandr LevtiekhovHead of EngineeringAside from developing web, 3D graphics, GPU-based simulations and scalable server-side applications for 15 years, GoS has been studying cognitive science and optimization methods for the last five years. Applied machine learning in cyber-security and led an R&D project unifying evolutionary methods with neural networks.
- Ari SnyderInternAri is an aspiring engineer because of his interest in gaming, robotics, coding, and computer building. He has built his own gaming computer and has worked on his high school robotics team.
EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORS
- Bruce HomerAssociate Professor of Educational Psychology, CUNY; Director of the Child Interactive Learning and Development LabDr. Homer has been researching the use of computer-based multimedia environments for learning. His work investigates how cognitive abilities and prior knowledge affects students’ interactions with and learning from multimedia environments. Bruce Homer holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Applied Psychology.
- Jan PlassPaulette Goddard Professor in Digital Media and Learning Sciences, NYUDr. Plass is the Founding Director of CREATE, the Consortium for Research and Evaluation of Advanced Technologies in Education. As Co-director of the Games for Learning Institute, Dr. Plass focuses on social, cognitive and emotional aspects of the design of simulations and games for learning and on game-based assessment of learning.
- Dr. Li JiangDirector of AIRE (AI, Robotics and Future Education) Lab at Stanford UniversityDr. Jiang brings 15+ years of AI, robotics, product development experience and research in applying advanced technologies in education. Recipient of many innovation awards including “Best of the Program Award” winner of National Lincoln Design Competition, He holds a Master's Degree on Design Innovation and a Ph.D on Robotics from Stanford University.
- Steven SnyderAdvisor, Business lawyerSteven Snyder has extensive experience in M&A, investing, intellectual property, technology, joint ventures, governance, compliance, and non-profit. Steve is part of an in-house legal team for a private investment firm. Previously, a Deputy General Counsel at Ziff Brothers Investments and a partner at Goulston & Storrs, Steve is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College.