Education
May 2023
Thesis: Don’t Show. Don’t Tell. — A design-inquiry application of phenomenology as a foundation for idiomatic design of narrative devices for virtual reality, appealing to users’ embodiment to create fear in horror games
Committee Chair: Justin Johnson, Assistant Professor of Media Arts, Design, and Technology
B.A. in English (Creative Writing)
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Dec 2020
Experience
Professional Educational Positions
William Peace University, Raleigh, NC
Jul 2023 - Present
Courses Taught: Computer Programming, Simulation & Game Technology I, User Experience, Interactive Design, Programming for Everyone, Web Development, Advanced Interactive Design
Jan 2023 - May 2023
Courses Taught: Art + Design Sophomore Studio
Professional Design & Development Positions
Jun 2025 - Present
Co-founded a consultancy with a user experience designer to bridge academic insight with industry practice, offering strategic guidance, speaking engagements, workshop development/facilitation, and mentorship
Mar 2022 - May 2023
Enabled Unreal Engine 4 & 5 development for NCSU’s 360° Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery by developing custom C++ classes, creating project templates, recording setup guides, and writing documentation
Designed and implemented user comfort features to reduce disorientation and simulator sickness in the space
Created technical demonstrations exhibiting potential uses of the unique space
May 2020 - May 2023
Produced shippable builds of the Virtual Martin Luther King, Jr. Project for desktop, virtual reality, and North Carolina State University’s Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery
Wrote C# scripts to control runtime behavior in the Unity Engine
Designed and implemented features and changes promoting user comfort & immersion
Feb 2021 - Dec 2022
Designed and implemented XR mechanics and experiences, interfaces, and spaces in Unreal Engine, including a VR practice application for kendo, a modern Japanese martial art
Proposed new project directions and designs based on UX needs, technical limitations, and idiomatic approaches to design unique to creating compelling XR experiences
Conducted user testing to assess usability and receive feedback from a subject matter expert
May 2021 - Dec 2021
Designed and developed for the VR cinematography plugin, transVRse
Identified challenges faced by developers to guide future direction of development
Created public-facing media materials explaining and demonstrating plugin setup, features, and workflows
Works & Scholarship
Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters
Corvette, E., Bostian, J., & Newhouse, W. (2026). Voices that matter: Transforming learning through peer-to-peer engagement. In K. Hales, C. Borkoski, & J. Spears (Eds.), Cultivating a sense of belonging in higher education: The role fostering connectedness, support, and respect play in student success. Utah State University Press.
Invited Talks
Bostian, J. (Forthcoming, 2027, Mar. 5). Don’t play games: Educate like a game designer. Invited keynote session for Austin Community College Teaching and Learning Academy, Austin, TX (virtual).
Bostian, J. (2026, Apr. 23). Automotive interfaces. Invited session for Triangle User Experience Professionals Association Mentorship Program, Raleigh, NC (virtual).
Bostian, J. (2026, Mar. 6). Prescribed puzzles vs. personalized problems: Giving students room to show what they can do. Invited keynote session for Austin Community College Teaching and Learning Academy, Austin, TX (virtual).
Bostian, J. (2025, Feb. 14). Playing the wrong game: Toward better gamification. Invited session for NC State University Pedagogy Innovation and Technology: Supporting Tools, Open Practices Program, Raleigh, NC (virtual).
Bostian, J. (2026, Sept. 24-25). Familiar futures: Cultural artifacts as mental models for innovation [Conference presentation]. UX Y’all Conference 2026, Raleigh, NC.
Bostian, J. (2026, Aug. 10-12). Start with the start in mind to expand student ambitions [Conference presentation]. ITLC Lilly-Asheville, Asheville, NC.
Galizes, A. T., & Bostian, J. (2026, Aug. 10-12). Alternative grading as a UDL strategy for trauma-informed teaching [Conference presentation]. ITLC Lilly-Asheville, Asheville, NC.
Bostian, J. (2026, Jun. 11-13). Always the antagonist: How AI tropes create barriers to buy-in [Conference presentation]. UCF Teaching and Learning with AI Conference, Orlando, FL.
Bostian, J., & Rittby, K. (2025, Nov. 13-14). Math problems vs. math puzzles: Problem-based learning for the age of AI [Conference presentation]. NCCTM State Mathematics Conference, Winston-Salem, NC.
Bostian, J. (2025, Aug. 11-13). Playing the wrong game, or reconsidering how we gamify education [Conference presentation]. ITLC Lilly-Asheville, Asheville, NC.
Andersen, C., Vincent, R., Bostian, J., & Corvette, E. (2025, Aug. 11-13). Fostering deep learning through slow pedagogy, community building, and ungrading [Conference presentation]. ITLC Lilly-Asheville, Asheville, NC.
Bostian, J., & Corvette, E. (2025, May 28-30). The problem with puzzles: Using problem-based learning to redesign assignments for the age of AI [Conference presentation]. UCF Teaching and Learning with AI Conference, Orlando, FL.
Corvette, E., & Bostian, J. (2025, May 28-30). Beyond barriers: How AI is reshaping PDF accessibility [Conference presentation]. UCF Teaching and Learning with AI Conference, Orlando, FL.
Bostian, J. (2024, Sep. 20). Beyond gamification: How game design thinking can make you better at UX [Conference presentation]. UX Y’all Conference 2024, Raleigh, NC.
Bostian, J., & Corvette, E. (2024, Jul. 25). Generating productivity: Using generative AI in the workplace [Conference presentation]. Cooperating Raleigh Colleges Staff Professional Development Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Creative Works
Sleepy Shoops (2026, July). Design, Programming, SFX, UI. Unity Engine (Web).
https://josephvdasilva.itch.io/sleepy-shoops
A puzzle platformer in which players must use items to help sheep reach the goal where they can be counted to help someone fall asleep, but beware the wolves in sheep’s clothing. I designed and programmed the character controllers and visibility logic for the echolocation and photography mechanics. Placed in the top 500 of 10,557 entries in 4/5 categories in the GMTK Game Jam 2026
Wanna play mermaids? (2026, April). 3Cs Design and Programming. Godot (Web).
https://josephvdasilva.itch.io/wanna-play-mermaids
An asymmetric multiplayer scavenger hunt game in which one team sees a world of color and the other sees only outlines in the dark. I designed and programmed the character controllers and visibility logic for the echolocation and photography mechanics
Virtual Martin Luther King, Jr. Project (vMLK). (2020-2023). Design, Programming, and Animation. Unity Engine (PC, Desktop VR, Standalone VR, Other). https://vmlk.chass.ncsu.edu/
Part of a larger research project, I worked specifically on the virtual reality recreation of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous speech entitled, “A Creative Protest.” I designed, animated, and implemented audience behaviors, programmed player controls and audio management scripts, and prepared builds for a wide variety of mediums and spaces, the 360° Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery at NC State University
Fostr. (2022). UX Research and Design. Figma and Google Apps Script.
A mobile app that pairs foster parents with mentors, mentees, and buddies in their area as well as helping them organize, plan, and prepare for responsibilities related to fostering. Designed for the Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina in collaboration with IBM. I was responsible for co-planning and conducting user research through user and stakeholder interviews, developing relationship maps, creating personas, and programming a prototype proof-of-concept for the matching system
Kendo VR. (2021-2022). Design and Programming. Unreal Engine 4 (SteamVR).
A VR project that features practice exercises for the modern Japanese martial art, kendo. Reactive feedback helps users improve technique as a complement to traditional training and practice. I was responsible for designing and implementing a system for analyzing the technique of player swings and dynamically providing feedback to players, implementing inverse kinematics for the arm visualizations, ensuring cross-platform compatibility, beautifying the scene, overseeing play-testing, and iterating based on user feedback
transVRse 2.0. (2022). Lead Design and Development. Unreal Engine 4 (Plugin).
A developer-facing plugin for Unreal Engine 4 that provides assets and tools designed to facilitate cinematography-focused work. The plugin empowers developers to set up camera locations, behaviors, and settings within UE4’s VR Preview Play Mode. I was the primary developer on this project, responsible for the design and development of editor utilities, user-friendly custom assets, and step-by-step onboarding tutorials for developers
White Papers
Bostian, J., Blush, J., & Corvette, E. (2025). Establishing benchmarks for undergraduate research: Methodologies, opportunities, and strategic insights [White paper]. Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, William Peace University.
Student-Led Research Projects
Bryant, C., Bostian, J., Rittby, K., & Blush, J. (2025-2026). Playing with chance: Tuning artificial probability to affect player engagement. Independent research project presented at the 2026 National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
Becker, S., Close, J., Waddell-Lallana, C., & Bostian, J. (2025-2026). Just-in-time outreach: A User Experience Design Strategy for Connecting Students with University Services. Research project presented at the 2026 National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
Internal Talks, Panels, & Workshops
Bostian, J., Bentley, B., Andersen, C., Corvette, E., Rittby, K., Laskowski, E., & McElreath, S. (2026, Mar.). Designing for the Opposite of Cheating. Faculty development session for William Peace University.
Bostian, J. (2025, Oct.). Alternative grading. Faculty development session for William Peace University.
Bostian, J., Bentley, B., Andersen, C., & Corvette, E. (2025, Sep.). Reading Group: 33 Simple Strategies for Faculty by Lisa Nunn, Ph.D. Faculty development session for William Peace University.
Bostian, J. (2025, Aug.). From puzzles to problems. Faculty opening session for William Peace University.
Bostian, J., Corvette, E., Laskowski, E., Rittby, K., & McElreath, S. (2025, Mar.). Exploring AI Assignments. Faculty development session for William Peace University, led by AI Task Force.
Bostian, J., Corvette, E., Laskowski, E., Rittby, K., & McElreath, S. (2025, Jan.). AI syllabus statements and usage disclosure guidelines. Faculty opening session for William Peace University, led by AI Task Force.
Bostian, J., & Corvette, E. (2024, Sep.). Facilitating student use of AI. Faculty development session for William Peace University.
Invited by Corvette, E. (2024, Aug.). Full-time faculty panel for new faculty orientation. Junior faculty panelist for a meeting and Q&A session during New Faculty Orientation 2024 at William Peace University.
Service
University Committees & Task Forces
Aug 2026 - Present
Aug 2023 - Present
2025-2026 Committee Chair
Aug 2024 - May 2026
Led efforts to guide institutional strategy; coordinate programming; provide resources to faculty and staff; and share best practices regarding ethics, privacy, and effective use of AI technologies
Created adaptable syllabus statements to help faculty clearly communicate and personalize AI use policies for their courses (presented at January Faculty Opening 2025)
Developed sample AI assignments to support faculty in integrating AI tools into coursework across disciplines
Contributed to the development of AI tool usage disclosure and citation guidelines
Aug 2024 - May 2025
Institutional Service
Jan 2025 - July 2026
Peace Research and Explorative Inquiry (PRAXI) led initiatives and efforts to increase and support undergraduate research activity across campus
Organized and facilitated the PRAXI Speaker Series, which invited faculty and students to join discussions about topics including different types of undergraduate research and IRB purpose and procedures
Conducted a benchmarking study of existing undergraduate research programs to identify potential strategies, challenges, and opportunities for developing Peace’s own program
Reviewed and provided feedback on drafts of student research abstracts for submission to NCUR 2026
May 2026
Co-developed and co-led an intensive two-week research program in which students developed foundational research skills and planned individualized research projects
Apr 2024 - Apr 2025
Co-wrote an application for institutional participation in the year-long AAC&U Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum
Worked with a team of other faculty, staff, and administration—and collaborated with teams from other universities—to develop and implement an action plan to foster AI literacy and thoughtfully accommodate and integrate AI technologies across campus
2025 & 2026
Accompanied students to the National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in 2025 & 2026
Departmental Service
Aug 2023 - Present
Academic Advisor to students in the User Experience Design and Simulation & Game Design programs
Sep 2024 - May 2025
Led an effort to rename the Interactive Design program to User Experience Design, to make major updates to the User Experience major curriculum, and to create a new minor of User Experience Design
Met with industry subject matter experts alongside departmental and administrative colleagues to present and invite feedback on the proposed curricular modifications, ensuring industry relevance
Proposed course additions and modifications for the revised major curriculum as well as the new minor of User Experience Design
Professional Service
Sep 2026
Served as an invited mentor for students of widely varying levels of proficiency and experience as they competed in a 66-hour interdisciplinary game development competition, offering guidance on scope, design, and development in the Unreal, Unity, and Godot engines.
Aug 2025 - Dec 2025
Established new and helped coordinate existing mentorship-centric events and activities (e.g. portfolio reviews) for students and professionals wishing to transition to UX roles
Served as a resource to help foster networking and connections between membership and working professionals through events and collaborative teaching projects
Managed and maintained the TriUXPA Slack channel, coordinating with other TriUXPA members and teams to support events (e.g. AMAs) and other activities, and ensuring a healthy, inclusive, and safe digital space
Jul 2025
Served as a faculty panelist for the NC State Graduate School’s Professor Pathways program, offering perspectives and advice for graduate students and postdocs looking to enter the field of academia
Apr 2025
Served as guest reviewer for advancement presentations delivered by NC State’s Master of Art & Design students
Certifications / Courses
Sep 2025
IRB Protocol Review
Sep 2025
Sep 2025
May 2024
Grants
Internal
Good Ideas Grant for UE4/UE5 Templates for Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery
Awarded through NC State University Libraries
2022
Conference Registration for ITLC Lilly-Asheville
Awarded by the Faculty Advancement Committee at William Peace University
Complete.
Apr 2026
Awarded by the Center for Immersive Learning at William Peace University
Complete.
Mar 2026
ChatGPT Plus Subscription Fee
Awarded by the Faculty Advancement Committee at William Peace University
Complete.
Jul 2025
Awarded by the Faculty Advancement Committee at William Peace University
Complete.
Mar 2025
Awarded by the Faculty Advancement Committee at William Peace University
Complete.
Feb 2025
TurboScribe AI Transcription Subscription
Awarded by the Center for Immersive Learning at William Peace University
Complete.
Aug 2024
ChatGPT Plus Subscription Fee
Awarded by the Faculty Advancement Committee at William Peace University
Complete.
Jun 2024
Apr 2024
Professional
2025 - Present
Former Co-Director of Community, Mentorship, and Students (See Professional Service for details)