Ashlyn Sparrow is a multidisciplinary game designer, educator, and Senior Research Assistant at the University of Chicago. Her work sits at the intersection of play, learning, and social impact. With a background in information technology and security risk analysis, she blends technical expertise and artistic sensibility with a deep commitment to community. 

She believes that games and education are fundamentally intertwined, viewing learning as a kind of exploratory gameplay. This foundation informs her efforts to design experiences that use game mechanics to explore social issues and open pathways into technical careers. Notably, she led a team of students that designed the Gaming Skill Tree, which allows students to explore various skills required to work in the game industry. 

Professionally, Sparrow thrives in the experimental environment of academia, where she collaborates with researchers and artists to push boundaries and improve cultural authenticity in gaming. Through her work, she continues to expand what games can be and who they are for.