It is Becker’s master’s in fine arts program that houses the school’s renowned video game design program, and it’s Amanda Theinert who helped build the curriculum and get the new academic program running.
Theinert has been actively involved, teaching more than 200 credit-hours of classes and developing 15 new courses since being hired at Becker full-time in 2012. Even once the MFA program was up and running, Theinert helped design marketing strategies, organized recruitment events, and reached out to potential students. Despite the program’s small size, it earned a 10th-in-the-world ranking by the Princeton Review of the school’s master of fine arts in interactive media degree for graduate game design. As a fairly rare female authority figure in gaming, Theinert has used her role to encourage younger students to find interest in the so-called STEAM subjects: science, technology, engineering, arts and math. This would seem more than enough to keep anyone busy, but then there’s her side hustle. Last year, she began selling handmade art and home decor made from crystals and natural materials.
What four people would you choose to travel for a year with? Leslie Knope, Carrie Fisher, Cleopatra, Margo Hanson; powerful, self-assured women who I could learn from and have a good time with.
What is your favorite activity since the pandemic began? Spending more time with my cats!
What is your immediate next goal in life? Growing my nonprofit organization and opening a holistic wellness center. I always listen to my intuition, and this is where my path leads.
