About Us

What does GDA do?

A lot! We make one game every year, pitched by student volunteers in the Fall.  We also run weekly workshops for aspiring game developers (covering topics like audio, narrative, game design, etc), and host game jams. Overall, we do things that give students opportunities to get game-making experience, learn game development disciplines, and find friends who also enjoy games.

How do I join/become a member?

You just have to be a UCSC student and join our Discord community. There you will find out about any upcoming events, and meet fellow game devs!

Discord invite: https://discord.com/invite/gNkQJm5X6P

When does GDA meet?

Our weekly meetings are always on Fridays from 6-8 pm, either in-person at DARC 308 or online through Zoom. We will always announce the topic and location of our general meetings on our Discord beforehand.


We also have weekly department meeting times that can be found in this Google Calendar! https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/2?cid=MWZ1b2IwcG43dDRjMzYxNTVmZzI3cGs3MG9AZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ

I have more questions!

Please post any other questions in the #general-chat in the GDA Discord server, or private message anyone with the ‘Admin’ or ‘Officer’ roles on there and they will be happy to help!

Jonah Ryan (he/him)

President

Ivy Dudzik (she/her)

Vice President, Mock Studio Coordinator

Alex Medina (she/her)

Vice President, Design Officer

Dylan Mahler (any/all)

Shadow Officer

John Sai (he/him)

Treasurer

Emily Tran (they/them)

Events Coordinator

Kim Wu (she/her)

Webmaster

Savannah Burch

Art Officer

Ethan Yoshino (he/him)

Design Officer

Juno Cheng

Production Officer

Evan Lake (he/they)

Programming Officer

Gabe Ahrens (he/him)

Sound Officer

Joe Gibson (he/they)

Writing Officer

Juliana Luu (she/her)

Community Manager

Saira Hamid (she/any)

Outreach Officer

Sammy Chang (she/they)

Mock Studio Coordinator

Mandy Xie (she/they)

Art Officer

Ronan Tsoi (he/him)

Production Officer

Garrett Blake (he/him)

Programming Officer

Sam Spivey (he/they)

Sound Officer

Parker Ehlers (he/him)

Writing Officer

Previous Officers

Alyssa: 2014-17 President

Andrew Dunne: 2020-22 Vice President, 2020-23 Art Officer, 2022-23 Writing Officer

Annalivia Martin Straw: 2022-23 Vice President/Outreach Officer

Annie Zhang: 2021-23 Art Officer, 2022-23 Vice President

Athena Patronas: 2023-24 Art Officer

Aubrey Issacman: 2017-18 Outreach

Autumn Moulios: 2021-23 Sound Officer

Calex Raffield: 2022-23 Programming Officer

Cameron Beattie: 2021-22 Design Officer

Celine Lafosse: 2023-24 Writing Officer

Charles Miller: 2019-20 Production Lead/Archivist/Outreach Coordinator

Christopher Paz: 2017-18 Outreach

Dallas Truong: 2020-21 Production Officer/Outreach Coordinator/Event Coordinator

Daniel C: Webmaster

Edmond Le: 2017-18 Treasurer

Enrico Widodo: 2020-21 Sound Officer

Eric Long: 2020-21 Production Officer/Outreach Coordinator/Event Coordinator, 2021-22 President

Eric Mitchell: 2018-19 Archivist/Webmaster

Fernando Zamora: 2017-18 Sound Lead

Gian Paredes: 2017-18 Outreach, 2018-19 Art Lead/Treasurer

Gigi Bachtel: 2019-20 Design Lead

Gloria Chim: 2023-24 Vice President/Art Officer

Herman Wu: 2020-21 Art Officer

Holly Cheng: 2019-21 Art Lead/Officer

Ian Rapoport: 2017-18 Event Coordinator

Jane Grantham: 2023-24 Vice President/Production Officer, 2022-23 Mock Studio Coordinator

Jessica Yoon: 2023-24 Design Officer

Jeven Zarate-McCoy: 2019-20 Vice President/Writing Lead, 2020-21 President/Writing Officer

Jon Alancantara: 2017-18 Archivist

Joshua Augenstein: 2021-22 Programming Officer

Justin Hammer: 2019-21 Treasurer, 2020-21 Archivist

Kyle Oppenheim: 2017-18 Vice President

Liam Dugard: 2017-18 Event Coordinator, 2018-19 President

Linda Nguyen: 2017-18 Art Lead

Madeleine Glenn: 2018-21 Sound Lead/Officer

Molly Thompson: 2020-22 Writing Officer

Muhammad Al-Suwaidi: 2018-19 Art Lead

Naman Bushan: 2021-22 Logistics Officer/Treasurer

Neo Zhang: 2022-23 Design Officer

Nicholas Ho: 2017-18 Event Coordinator

Nicholas Schetman: 2023-24 Treasurer

Nicole Maines: 2017-18 President

Nik Thomas: 2021-23 Design Officer

Niko Sanchez: 2020-21 Design Officer/Community Manager

Parmpreet Gill: 2021-23 Sound Officer, 2022-23 Vice President

Ricky Chavez: 2020-21 Design Officer

Robert Newlin: 2021-22 Mock Studio Coordinator, 2022-23 President

Rohan Venkatapuram: 2023-24 Webmaster

Ryan McCarty: 2022-23 Writing Officer

Ryoma Marta-Sugawara: 2020-21 Webmaster, 2021-22 Vice President/Production Officer

Seiji Emery: 2019-20 Programming Lead

Seren Becker: 2023-24 Writing Officer

Sophie Martin: 2022-23 Community Manager

Stevie Rodriguez: 2020-22 Writing Officer

Tatiana Lucero: 2023-24 Mock Studio Coordinator

Thomas Applewhite: 2019-20 Webmaster, 2020-21 Programming Officer

Tiana Chamsi: 2023-24 President

Tori Moore: 2023-24 Design Officer

Tyler Knowlton: 2023-24 Chief Operating Officer

Valentino Abate: 2018-19 Vice President, 2019-20 President/Programming Lead

Vinh Ta: 2023-24 Sound Officer

Zane Gregorian: 2017 Sound Lead

Zoey Laytart: 2021-23 Production Officer