Faculty Fellow in Computing Technology

Andrew Wheeland (he/him) is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Interactive Games and Media (IGM) at Rochester Institute of Technology, where he channels his background in digital media, public broadcasting, and game design into courses on web design and implementation, game design and development, and user experience design. Guided by a lifelong passion for connecting people through interactive experiences—whether on a screen, around a table, or in the classroom—he helps students explore the intersection of creativity, technology, and play.

Andrew’s connection to RIT began in 1989 as an undergraduate student and deepened during his graduate studies, when he taught Multimedia Development within the now-defunct RIT Center for Digital Media. In 1999, he became a Visiting Instructor in the Information Technology program, a role he held until 2006. He then spent the next 13 years as Director of Interactive Services for WXXI, Rochester’s Public Broadcasting Stations, where he led the creation and management of the organization’s websites, streaming platforms, on-demand video services, and social media presence. In 2018, Andrew returned to IGM, where he brings his industry and academic experience to mentoring future interactive media professionals.

Outside of the classroom, Andrew co-runs Crashtest Games, a collaborative playtesting group that brings students and community members together to develop, test, and refine both tabletop and digital games. A lifelong tabletop game enthusiast, he is deeply involved in collecting, playtesting, playing, and advocating for the medium—often bringing that passion into his teaching to inspire students to explore game design from multiple perspectives.

Andrew earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Information Technology from RIT. If he’s not in the classroom or hosting a playtest, you might find him chatting about board games with students in the IGM hallway or browsing local thrift store shelves for his next quirky game component.

Key areas of expertise:
instruction in game design, user experience, web development, and interactive media; playtesting facilitation; tabletop game design and advocacy; in-class critique; learning management systems/myCourses utilization; AI usage in instruction; Camtasia/video lecture creation; creative pedagogy; course design.

Contact Andrew Wheeland to discuss your teaching.