Hailing from sunny Miami, Florida, Ian Escalante comes to SCAD with a wealth of knowledge and experience in both the sports and eSports industry. While studying for his Master’s degree at Florida State University, he led an independent study on collegiate eSports as a whole, with a focus on grassroots growth in eSports as an athletic program, which soon became the focus of his masters. Taking this research and elevating it to new heights, he became the President of the eSport board at Florida State University, an organization that spearheaded eSports research and leadership at the university. Uniting eSports/gaming club leadership across the university, Florida State eSports was soon able to unite under one organization to compete at one of the most inclusive and comprehensive student run eSports programs in the south.
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With these experiences in hand, he became an eSports consultant for emerging eSports programs at universities across the country. Blending his education and background in traditional sports, with his passion and research for eSports, he was able to guide a multitude of colleges and universities through the process of starting new eSports Varsity teams and clubs, and advise gamer centric institutions to take their eSport programs to new heights.
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He now comes to SCAD to be its Director of eSports, and with an eye towards the future, is excited to turn SCAD into one of the top eSports programs in the nation.
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Ian Escalante graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s in Recreation and Sport Management, and from Florida State University with a Master’s in Sport Management.
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