THINKING ABOUT A CAREER IN ESPORTS?
Students come to UCI with the goal of using their experience to prepare for a fruitful and meaningful career and future. Our students have a graduation rate of over 90% and go into career fields in and out of games. Our alumni are pharmacists, engineers, computer scientists, in marketing, community building, social media, content creation, product management and everything else under the sun. Below we have some stories of a few of our alums who are doing big things!
If you are a former alumni and wish to participate on this page, please send us an email at esports@uci.edu
MEET OUR ALUMNI
Gianeen Almaria
Gaming Project Coordinator
Red Bull
“You’d be surprised to learn that esports-related jobs can be found outside of just esports orgs! I’m so grateful to have gotten a job on Red Bull’s gaming team. My work allows me help out in all sorts of gaming and esports matters. I cherish every second getting to do what my younger self dreamed of!”
“UCI Esports was my first professional experience in the gaming and esports space, where I worked with the program’s corporate sponsors to create and execute marketing plans and activations. This foundational opportunity allowed me to find a job helping bring AT&T’s gaming and esports sponsorships to life. I’m so thankful I had a chance to be part of UCI Esports as a graduate student!”
Tracey Tran
Manager, Brands
Wasserman
Brennan Mafi
Associate Business Developer
Humble Bundle
“The UCI Esports program was the foundation of my career in gaming, giving me the opportunity to develop my management and partnership skills in a dynamic and passionate ecosystem. I truly cherished my time in the program, working with amazing like-minded people and learning how to drive innovation and growth in the esports and gaming industries.”
“I’m incredibly thankful for my time at UCI Esports where I got to grow as a graphic designer and work alongside so many talented individuals. What I loved most about my experience was getting to contribute to the organization through combining my love for video games with my passion for design.”
Ariane Keona
Graphic Designer
Freelance
Phillip Rodriguez
Esports Coordinator
UC Berkeley
“As the Esports Coordinator at UC Berkeley, I oversee the daily operations and strategic goals of the Esports department. In collaboration with colleagues from the Recreation and Well-being department, my role is to provide stability and support for the creation and development of esports initiatives at the university. I work to engage students by connecting with their interests and passions for gaming, while also managing and supporting our competitive esports teams. Through these efforts, I aim to foster a vibrant and inclusive gaming community that enhances student life and promotes personal growth. Prior to my role at UC Berkeley, I worked at UCI Esports, where I served as the Team Manager for the Overwatch team. Before that, I was a scholarship player for UCI Esports’ Overwatch team for two years, gaining firsthand experience as a competitive collegiate athlete.”
“As the Creative Director at FlyQuest, my role is to blend competition, artistry, and well-being into our team‘s identity. I spend my days developing our brand strategy, leading creative projects, and ensuring our content reflects our core values. My journey in esports began at UC Irvine in 2016, where I was assisted in the launch of the esports program on campus, returning in 2017 as a Video Coordinator. These experiences sharpened my skills and got me introduced to key contacts in the esports world, leading to video production roles with notable teams like Team Liquid and 100 Thieves. In 2023, I continued my journey at FlyQuest, where I now strive to push what being creative in esports feels like.”
Marc Urbino
Creative Director
Flyquest