Carly A. Kocurek

Carly A. Kocurek is a Professor of Digital Humanities and Media Studies at Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), serving as Director of Game Design and Experiential Media, Associate Dean of Academic Programs in Lewis College of Science and Letters, and Humanities Graduate Program Director. She holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from The University of Texas at Austin.

Her research focuses on video game history, gender representation, and the intersection of technology with culture. Notable works include Coin-Operated Americans (2015), Brenda Laurel: Pioneering Games for Girls (2017), and co-authored Ultima and Worldbuilding (2024). She has received grants from the National Science Foundation and awards such as the Indiecade Climate Jam Positive Impact Award (2020).

Kocurek teaches courses on digital culture, game design, and media history, and advises students on projects blending research and design. She founded the gamebIITes student game festival and collaborates on projects like the tabletop RPG Golden Mart. Her media commentary appears in outlets like NBC News and Paste Magazine.

Her professional affiliations include the Learning Games Initiative and Popular Culture Association. Current projects include editing Historiographies of Game Studies (2025) and exploring smart glasses history and fairy-tale-based game design.