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Esports

Esports

BEYOND GAMING

The mission of the Shenandoah University Esports program is to go beyond gaming and provide students with an opportunity to develop academically, competitively, and professionally in order to become innovators and leaders in the esports ecosystem.

Our vision is to set the standard for professionalism in the esports ecosystem.
esports competition team

WHY ESPORTS?

It’s a field exploding with opportunity.

The worldwide esports audience is massive, at 532 million, and there are more than 8 million active streamers on Twitch. Discord, also popular among gamers, Discord has over 150 million active monthly users and 390 million registered accounts and is valued at $15 billion.

While the esports industry as a whole is already a billion-dollar business, it is expected to continue to grow, with an anticipated 2024 value of $1.6 billion, according to Statista.com.

According to Indeed.com, a gaming manager for Blizzard Entertainment, a division of esports juggernaut Activision Blizzard, can earn up to $155,000, while a freelance esports and video game writer can earn an average salary of $60,985, according to ZipRecruiter.

Also, major esports competitions are multifaceted endeavors with worldwide audiences and multimillion-dollar prize pools.

Shenandoah’s Esports Team

Shenandoah’s esports team competes through the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC), with over 40 varsity team members playing eight esports titles against players at colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada. The team’s on-campus home is in the Esports Arena adjacent to the HIVE and has a private varsity practice space in Halpin-Harrison Hall. Shenandoah has one of the first esports arenas on the East Coast and the first collegiate, spectator esports arena in Virginia! The competitive team and students in the degree programs work hand-in-hand, allowing both groups to have the best esport experience possible, which will help them in college and long after.

A Growing Esports Workforce

esports competition team

The esports field is perfect for anyone interested in event management, communications, gameplay, coaching, exercise science, or being part of a field that promises to grow more prominent and engaging with every passing year. For example, from 2018 to 2019, paid esports positions increased by over 110%.

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As noted on CNBC by Peter Guber, a co-owner of the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Dodgers and the professional esports organization Team Liquid, being able to fill a particular place isn’t necessary for esports.

You'll see that it's everywhere, and it isn't bound by geography. You don't use a stick or a bat to play, and you can play alone or with a whole group of people, play against the best."

Peter Guber | Co-owner of Team Liquid

esports competition team
esports competition team

A new world has arrived, right at your fingertips.

We’re ready to pick up the controller and play.

Are You?

Esports News

Read More Esports News

ESPORTS PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Alyssa Duran

Alyssa studied at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA, where she was involved with the university’s varsity esports program. Her experience as an esports competitor and coach led her to her former position at Shenandoah University as Coordinator of Esports Competition. Now, Alyssa leads the program as the Esports Director and assists with teaching various esports courses.
Additionally, Alyssa sits on the Competition Council as Chair-Elect for the National Association of Collegiate Esports. She has been recognized for her work as an advocate for collegiate esports through multiple awards, including NACE Esports Awards - Emerging Director of the Year (2023-2024) and 2025 Scholastic Esports Awards - Director of the Year. She has also received the NAIA Champions of Character (2021) and Outstanding Leader of the Year (2020) awards.
Alyssa Duran

Zander Merle-Smith

ESPORTS LECTURER

Zander Merle-Smith

Zander Merle-Smith received his Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Tech and an MBA with a focus in Esports Management from Shenandoah University. He has plans to continue his education with an EdD in the future.

His previous experience as a broadcast production lead, esports commentator, and event operations specialist has given him the background knowledge to prepare the next generation for the esports industry. Merle-Smith has also performed as on-camera talent for high school, collegiate, and professional esports events.

His contributions to esports education were recognized with the 2025 Scholastic Esports Awards - Educator of the Year.

ESPORTS LECTURER

Chase Neukam

Chase Neukam is a grassroots-oriented esports professional who received his undergraduate degree in Business Management at Ball State University and Masters in Organizational Leadership at St. Ambrose University. He has worked in collegiate esports roles including serving as St. Ambrose University and St. Cloud State’s Director of Esports. In addition to his collegiate work experience, Chase has volunteered his service as an elected and appointed official in various esports organizations including the National Association of Collegiate Esports, the National Esports Collegiate Conference, the Iowa High School Esports Association, the Indiana Esports Network, the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup, and the National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors.
Chase is a proud Midwesterner with a rhetorical focus on application of classroom topics in experiential learning environments.
Chase Neukam, ESPORTS lecturer

COORDINATOR OF ESPORTS COMPETITION

Fernando Preciado-Leal

Fernando’s experience playing on professional teams, collegiate teams, and coaching at multiple universities prepares him well for the position of Coordinator of Competition. As the Coordinator of Esports Competition he oversees the competitive esports teams and the development of the coaches for the varsity program. His background in private security tactics help him elevate student communication and in-game decision making.

COORDINATOR OF ESPORTS PRODUCTION

Ian Burnett

Current student in the esports program studying Esports Management as well as Esports Media and Communications, graduating May 2024. Competed for Shenandoah’s Rocket League, Call of Duty, Valorant, and Counter Strike: Global Offensive teams between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. Currently one of the coaches of the Rocket League team. Served as an SEP under the esports program since 2022 focusing on Broadcast Production and Content Creation initiatives. Accepted the role of Student Esports Production Coordinator in January 2024.

Ian Burnett headshot

esports