Instructor Q&A: Nicki Quinn, Esports Management

Q. Why did you decide to become an instructor?

A. I've always had a passion for sharing my knowledge with others. I find that one of the best ways to “pay it forward” for the opportunities I received as a student, is to go back and create opportunities that would have been helpful for me. I try to think of activities, projects, or tools that would have made my life easier as a student, and find a way to assist in providing these. When I was offered the opportunity to work with UCI on creating and teaching a class, it was an obvious yes. I can't imagine a better way to share my knowledge with those who want to learn more about Esports and get into the industry. Selfishly, I've also found that I learn a lot about myself, as well as the content, through the act of teaching. Learning and growing through a class like this is reciprocal for both the instructor and the student, and I'm honored to be part of that experience.

Q. What's unique about your teaching style?

A. While I wouldn't call my style unique, I will say my primary focus is to provide as many resources as I can for my students to take something away from the class. I want them to create tangible portfolios or skills that they can immediately apply to personal projects and use to earn a job in the industry. All of the assignments in my class are structured around documents or templates I deploy in my field and are applicable to real-life scenarios. I think in some ways the class will feel more like an internship, where students learn by doing, instead of just listening to or reading course content. I'm really excited to see what students think of this approach.

Q. What's your favorite lesson to teach and why?

A. Picking a favorite lesson in the course is difficult. Each week we focus on a different phase of the project plan as it relates to Esports, so these are all items that I enjoy doing every day. However, I'm eager to see how creative students are in their approach to the assignments in the class. There is a very open environment for them to create something really unique and build the tools and supporting documents required to execute on their project proposals. It will be great to see what students are able to produce, take away from the class, and execute on from start to finish.

Q. What do you find most rewarding about being an instructor?

A. I'm really happy to bring content that is relevant and topical to the students based on my experience and exposure to industry projects. It can be difficult to create a course with compelling content, design it, and release it to students with the pace at which our industry is growing. For Esports and technology in general, we are constantly shifting and adapting to growth opportunities. Being able to take experiences from day-to-day in the industry, and share them with students in preparation of their future, is truly an epic feeling. I'm confident that the students who go through our Esports specialized studies program will have a significant advantage in their understanding and knowledge of the industry when they apply for Esports positions. Ensuring our students have the potential for success is the reward of being part of this process.