Mitu Khandaker

Glow Up Games, CEO

Dr Mitu Khandaker is a game designer, engineer, scholar, and entrepreneur. She is CEO and co-founder at Glow Up Games, unlocking the future of play by centering diverse voices. She is an Associate Arts Professor at the NYU Game Center, and holds a PhD in VR and AR for games. She has a background in computer engineering, and was one of the founding team of Spirit AI, acquired by Twitch in 2022.

Melissa Mercado

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Lead Behavioral Scientist

Melissa C Mercado, PhD, MSc, MA, is a lead behavioral scientist in the Division of Violence Prevention at CDC’s Injury Center. As an expert in youth and community violence and bullying prevention, she is part of the federal inter-agency StopBullying.gov editorial board, oversees the CDC Youth Violence Prevention Centers network, and leads gaming/online communities research for violence prevention.

Susan Rivers

iThrive Games, Exec Director

Susan Rivers, PhD, a psychologist and expert in emotional intelligence, is Executive Director and Chief Scientist of iThrive Games. She pioneers immersive environments and programs for social emotional learning. Susan is renowned for her award-winning games and influential scholarly publications, making her a sought-after collaborator for federal agencies, nonprofits, researchers, and schools.

Derek Snyder

Senior Director for Science Partnerships and Outreach, APA

Derek Snyder, PhD is Senior Director for Science Partnerships at the American Psychological Association, where he promotes the use of behavioral science to meet the challenges of our time. Trained in neuroscience and consumer testing, Derek was a researcher and teacher before joining APA to share psychology’s pivotal role in everyday life. He is a noted writer, speaker, and advocate for his field.