Our Staff
YOONHEE LEE, CREATOR
Dr. Yoonhee Lee, with a Ph.D. in Education from Arizona State University and noted for her research in game-based literacy learning, teaches pre-service educators at ASU's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and founded Playful Digital Learning (PDL). Her extensive teaching experience in diverse K-12 and adult settings in Korea and the US fuels her advocacy for integrating technology to boost active learning and engagement. At PDL, she merges digital gaming with learning, demonstrating the powerful combination of play and education.
ASHTYN DIAL, LEAD LEARNING COACH
Ashtyn Dial graduated from Arizona State University with a Master's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She has worked with children for over seven years and has taught several subjects, including swimming, music, coding, and writing. She loves streaming video games and writing fictional stories in her spare time.
TANNER ORR, LEARNING COACH
Tanner Orr graduated from Kenyon College with a Bachelors in Religious Studies. Tanner has worked with kids in tutoring programs in athletics, academics, and esports. He loves spending his time streaming games and practicing for tournaments.
Maya Oum, LEARNING COACH
Maya Oum is a Computer Science major at the University of Central Florida with a passion for games and technology. She has been playing Minecraft since she was 9 years old, and her love for the game sparked her interest in computer science with the dream of creating her own Minecraft mods. Maya is excited to help students explore the world of Minecraft, teaching them how to bring their ideas to life through both play and technology
JOSHUA DANA, LEARNING COACH
Joshua Dana is a film student at Santa Monica College and a part-time genealogist. He met his first friends through Minecraft after moving to a new town in 2012, and they still connect through the game to this day. Joshua enjoys sharing his passion for learning and exploration with others through a love for creativity.
CHRISTOPHER GONZALEZ, LEARNING COACH
Christopher Gonzalez is a senior Game Design student from Fitchburg State University. When he was 5 years old, He was filled with wonder with how video games could bring stories to life. He became a game designer to help pass that wonder down to the next generation.
DAVID CONNELLY, LEARNING COACH
David Connelly studied Software Engineering at Arizona State University and is passionate about using his knowledge to help others. Coming from a large family that enjoys playing Minecraft together, David has always loved learning through doing. Inspired by his parents, who taught him to find joy in using his talents to serve others, he is now sharing that love of hands-on learning by helping kids use Minecraft to explore real-world concepts.