Maxwell Foxman

Maxwell Foxman is an Assistant Professor of Media Studies and Game Studies at the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication. His research focuses on the intersection of games, play, and non-game contexts including journalism, politics, and social media. Foxman examines how games and play interact with media professions across several overlapping realms: immersive media (Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality/XR), Game Journalism, Esports, and Game Production.

• University of Oregon, School of Journalism and Communication
• Ph.D. in Communications from Columbia University (2018)
• Co-director of the Esports and Games Research (EGR) Lab
• $1.5 million NSF grant recipient for virtual meetings research
• Co-author of 'Mainstreaming and Game Journalism' (MIT Press, 2023)

Foxman's educational background includes a Ph.D. in Communications from Columbia University (2018), where his dissertation was titled 'Playing with Virtual Reality: Early Adopters of Commercial Immersive Technology.' He also holds an M.Phil. in Communications from Columbia (2015), an M.A. in Media, Culture and Communication from NYU (2012), and a B.A. in American Studies, Music, and Creative Writing from Columbia University (2007).

His research interests span Game Studies, Game Journalism, Esports, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Immersive Media, and Gamification. Foxman's work explores how games and playful elements are integrated into mainstream media and society, with particular attention to how play shapes digital media adoption and influences non-game contexts like journalism and politics. His recent work has examined early adopters of VR technology, game journalism's evolution, and the mainstreaming of games as a cultural medium.

Foxman's 15 most recent publications reveal a consistent focus on how play intersects with digital media and culture. His research trajectory shows movement from examining specific game applications (like Foursquare and MTV's Fantasy Election) to broader investigations of how game mechanics shape workplace interactions. The articles collectively demonstrate expertise in virtual reality adoption, game journalism history, esports culture, and the application of play theory to non-game contexts.

• $1.5 million NSF grant for virtual meetings equity research
• Co-director of the Esports and Games Research Lab
• Collaborations with researchers at Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Singapore institutions
• Featured in major media outlets including Washington Post, USA Today, and Polygon

Foxman actively collaborates with graduate students and faculty across disciplines. His current NSF-funded project involves multiple institutions studying how videoconferencing affects workplace equity. As co-director of the Esports and Games Research Lab, he oversees research on collegiate esports ecosystems, diversity in gaming, and professionalization pathways. Foxman also previously worked as an adjunct professor at Marymount Manhattan College and NYU before joining the University of Oregon faculty.

Foxman's research has practical implications for understanding how play and games are becoming integrated into everyday digital life. From newsrooms to workplaces to social interactions, his work helps explain how game mechanics shape non-game contexts and how these integrations affect individuals and society. His current focus on Zoom fatigue and virtual meeting equity addresses pressing concerns about how digital technologies reproduce and amplify social inequalities.