Joey Gawrysiak, PhD
Executive Director of Esports
Dr. Joey Gawrysiak serves as the executive director of esports and as a professor of practice. He oversees all aspects of esports at the university and teaches within the Esports Communications and Management degree program. Prior to joining Syracuse University, Gawrysiak was a professor and director of esports at Shenandoah University from 2011–2023.
Travis Yang, MEd
Director of Esports Competition
Travis Yang is the first director of esports competition. Yang comes to Syracuse after serving as the director of esports for Wichita State. Prior to Wichita, Yang held positions as the head esports coach for Texas A&M University-San Antonio and the assistant esports coach for Ashland University.
Sean Kelly
Director of Production and Outreach
Sean Kelly is is a leader in collegiate esports broadcast production. Kelly has led major projects such as Activision Blizzard’s Calling All Heroes, Behaviour’s Dead by Daylight Mobile: Nights of Terror, and Boost on the Beach, an annual award-winning event.
Nikita Bair, MBA
Esports Program Manager
Nikita Bair helped found the first varsity esports program in New England at Northeastern University. Bair also led one of the oldest esports degree programs at Shenandoah University, where he was a full-time faculty and coordinator of esports. At Syracuse, Bair focuses on academic endeavors, securing partnerships, internships, and travel abroad.
Meg Danaher, MFA
Assistant Director of Esports
Meg Danaher comes to Syracuse after serving at Butler University as a senior esports coordinator and adjunct professor. Danaher oversees the recreational side of the esports program including facility management and community engagement.
Lauren Wiener, MA
Esports Coordinator
Lauren Wiener (She/Her) is a long-time advocate for esports & gaming at Syracuse University. She has been advancing program & facility development on campus since 2016, co-creating the Esports Club as a freshman student and later joining Syracuse University‘s staff as Esports Coordinator. Lauren has a strong love for interactive programming, and hopes to continuously provide new and exciting offerings.
Grady Henick
Esports Coordinator
Robert Grady Henick is one of the Esports Coordinators at Syracuse University. Henick graduated from Rutgers University-New Brunswick, where he worked with the Rutgers Esports Club to help host some of the largest collegiate esports events on the east coast.