UC gamer powers up for the future

A Forbes article reported that 41% of all gamers in the United States are women, which is on the rise.

The growing presence and participation of females in esports brings a range of industry-wide benefits as well as a sense of community. University of Cincinnati student Fiona Harrell-Duchaine, a fourth-year digital media collaborative major with a minor in information technology, shares her experiences with esports.

I've been gaming for as long as I can remember and got my start in esports when I was in high school. Gaming gave me a way to make friends online at a time when my social anxiety made it very hard to do so in person. Overwatch was my first introduction to gaming before picking up League of Legends, now my favorite esports title.

As a Cincinnati native, UC was a perfect fit for me in terms of proximity. Also, I wouldn't be here without the support UC provided through its financial aid programs.

No. Before working at the Esports Lab, I was a digital media student worker for the marketing department in the 1819 Innovation Hub. In that role, my responsibilities included graphic design, photography, videography and editing. 

Yes. I was the vice president of the Esports Club here on campus. When we learned about the Esports Lab, we couldn't wait to have our own space at the university. Last summer, I was hired full-time in the lab, and it has been a bit of a dream come true. It allowed me the opportunity to contribute to all the event planning leading up to the grand opening of the new UC Esports Lab. 

With the popularity of online gaming and streaming platforms like Twitch, I plan to have a career in video game design or marketing and production for a professional esports organization. Currently, I’m designing the 2023 UC Esports Fall Invitational for the marketing team, which I am excited about.

The Intel Corporation published a blog recognizing esports as a thriving industry in academia, fostering skills in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) while welcoming engagement and inclusion opportunities.

Esports, at UC specifically, is a community where you really can just be yourself and connect with other students on campus. The UC Esports Club has been my home for the past four years, and I could not recommend it enough to new UC students. By far, my favorite non-academic part of attending UC. Also, career options for gamers have expanded to so many other technologies like video/audio production, livestreaming and broadcasting, to name a few. 

Sure. A fun fact about myself is that my love of gaming extends into tabletop and card games. I love playing Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons when I'm not at my computer.