Meet the GIMM Faculty and Staff

Anthony has been working with interactive media, games, and mobile devices for the majority of the last 20 years. His dissertation centered on an eportfolio project using the Rich Internet Application model long before that term was widely used.

Prior to coming to Boise State he worked at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He created the first game development class at UWSP and taught serious and casual gaming for both the Web browser and mobile devices. In 2010, the WDMD program was placed in the Top 50 Game Design programs in the country by the Princeton Review and Game Pro. In 2015, he was a co-recipient of the WOW award from WCET for a virtual reality project for training nursing students on medical procedures.

Damle received a BA in Fine Arts from Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai and a master’s in Industrial Design and a Ph.D. in Human Factors Engineering from Ohio State University. His research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals such as Human Factors and Design Studies. In 2001, The British Broadcasting Corporation published a feature—Artist to Watch—on Damle’s creative work. In 2015, Damle received the national WCET Outstanding Work Award for innovative, educational application of virtual reality. In 2017, his animated film, Bleached, was screened at the Oscar-qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival. Currently, Damle teaches 3D animation and visual design in GIMM.

Karen Doty received both a BFA in visual communication and a BA in journalism from Truman State University. After undergrad, she worked as a graphic designer, illustrator and muralist in Des Moines, Iowa. She returned to graduate school at Iowa State University where she received an MFA in graphic design and a Ph.D. in Human Computer Interaction. Her research focused on user experience practices in evolving technologies including eBooks, wearable mixed reality and virtual user interfaces. Previously she taught as an instructor at Grand View University teaching interactive media and mobile app development. Since arriving at Boise State in 2017, Doty has taught animation, game development, user experience and senior capstone courses for the GIMM department. Additionally, she acts as faculty advisor for the Boise State NASA-SUITS program, a student-led group focusing on development and design for mixed reality applications using the Microsoft HoloLens.

Jack Polifka earned his Ph.D. in Human Computer Interaction at Iowa State University studying how technology can be used to better understand how students use pictures and representations in college science classrooms. Jack also holds a Bachelor of Science in Web and Digital Media Development from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point and his M.S. in Human Computer Interaction from Iowa State University. In addition, he has 10+ years of experience as a software developer.  He teaches classes related to web development, the Internet of Things, and Senior Portfolio.

Jeanne Hansen is the GIMM Program Coordinator, aka “GIMM Mom”. She is always ready to be a student advocate, go-to person for help, and social director to remind students and faculty to have some fun! Jeanne is responsible for the GIMM budget, manages a multi-million dollar inventory of computer equipment, class schedules, supervisor of 30+ student employees, faculty purchases and classroom needs. Jeanne is a proud military veteran who served 22 years in the Air Force, completed her BA in Business Administration w/minor in Health Care Administration from Wayland Baptist University, and earned her MBA w/minor in Marketing.

Brilynne Funderburg joined the College of Innovation and Design as an Academic Advisor for the GIMM program in Summer 2022. Bri has lived in the Treasure Valley her entire life and joined the Games, Interactive Media and Mobile Technology program in Fall 2018. As a student she was a peer mentor for GIMM, an artist on the GIMMWorks student development team, and did academic advising as a peer advisor. Bri graduated from Boise State in Spring 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Games, Interactive Media and Mobile Technology, along with a Minor in Information Technology Management. She plans on applying to graduate school to pursue a Masters in Animation. In her downtime she enjoys adding to her duck collection, reading web comics, illustrating, and playing The Sims 4.

Amanda Ryan started with the College of Innovation and Design at Boise State in Spring 2018. Amanda holds a Ph.D. in General Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition and Instruction. She earned both a Bachelor of General Studies (now Multidisciplinary Studies) and a Master of Arts in Technical Communication from Boise State. When not helping support the GIMM program, she helps with special CI+D initiatives and is an adjunct professor.