driving Engagement through curiosity and the power of play.

Founder & Creative Director, Ratskill Games
Freelancer, SciComm & Games
Program & Brand Manager, Code Coven
Founder & Organizer, DisCo Devs Game Jam

My Story

I’m Fen, a game developer and storyteller who believes curiosity is the key to engagement and that adventures shouldn't be limited by circumstances.

At an early age, and thanks to a particularly captivating National Geographic story about Jane Goodall, I pursued the sciences, honing my ability to conduct research and translate complex ideas into engaging narratives. My curiosity led me on countless adventures from wrangling raccoons to chasing white sharks.

Life's circumstances may limit our ability to explore, but not our curiosity. When my disabilities threatened my ability to participate in fieldwork, I turned to games to satisfy the itch of stepping into the unknown. I founded Ratskill Games to empower players to live many lives from the comfort of their homes. Inspired by the fantastic experiences I had in the sciences, I create atmospheric games that encourage people to explore worlds both real and imagined.

My commitment to empowering others extends beyond development. As the Program and Brand Manager at Code Coven, I create programs and experiences that ignite curiosity and inspire tech learners to build their own adventures. I also enjoy hosting workshops, mentoring, and teaching, as I think that learning is an adventure in and of itself.

By cultivating curiosity, we can not only engage with our audience but also inspire adventures that transcend circumstance.

EXPERIENCE

  • Degree:
    B.S. Biology, Certificate in Coastal and Marine Science

    Graduate Coursework:
    Ichthyology, Mammalogy, Population Genetics, Evolutionary Developmental Biology, Comparative Physiology.

    With undergraduate and experiential knowledge in biology, zoology, fish and wildlife sciences, marine science, earth science, and more!

    Research Experience:
    Research Assistant at the Marine Biological Laboratory (Coastal Ecology)
    Independent Study at UMass (Paleoceanography)
    Research Assistant at UMass (Ecology, Anthropology)
    Intern at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (Fisheries)

  • Experience:
    Visitor Educator at the New England Aquarium
    Writer at Massive Science
    Social Media Manager at Massive Science
    Intern at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy
    Instagram Manager at Society for Women in Marine Science

    Skills:
    Science Writing, Course & Activity Development, Presentation Development, Public Speaking.

  • Experience:
    Founder and Developer at Ratskill Games
    Solstice Program Participant (accelerator)
    Certified APX Practitioner (accessible design)

    Skills:
    Game Design
    Level Design
    Narrative Design
    Writing
    Unreal Engine, Blueprints
    Unity, C#
    Ren’Py
    Jira

  • Experience:
    Program and Brand Manager at Code Coven
    Social Media Manager at Massive Science
    Instagram Manager at SWMS

    Skills:
    Product Management
    Brand Management
    Social Media Marketing
    Communications Strategy
    Visual Identity Development
    Content Marketing

  • Experience:
    Teaching Assistant at Code Coven
    Course Instructor at REI
    Department Trainer at REI
    Peer Mentor at UMass
    Mentor at Letters to a Pre-Scientist
    Mentor at Disabled In STEM

    Skills:
    Training Program Development
    Curriculum Development
    Teaching
    Training
    Mentoring (1:1 and group)
    Coaching

work with me

for researchers & science institutions

  • I specialize in creating interactive media that brings science to life. From budget-friendly zines to more complex interactive fiction, I'll tailor games to effectively communicate your research and engage audiences of all ages.

    • TTSCG (tabletop roleplaying games…for science!)

    • Text-Based Video Games

    • Video Games

  • I specialize in guiding scientists in the art of using games for learning and effective communication.

    • Make Your First TTSCG

    • Game Development for Scientists

    • Science Engagement Through Play

    • Custom Workshops (Reach out!)

  • I offer bespoke consulting services to help you bridge the gap between science and play.

    • Science Engagement Strategy

    • Game Jam Organizing

    • Game Development

For game studios

  • As a science consultant, I specialize in ensuring that your game's scientific content is both accurate and engaging. From fact-checking to building comprehensive databases, I'll provide expert guidance to help you create immersive and authentic experiences.

  • From marketing strategies to product development, I craft scalable strategies that align your brand's story with the needs and desires of your target audience. This is a bespoke service that may include an audit, proposal, and working with your team to effectively implement the strategy.

  • As a Certified APX Practitioner, I can help your team design a game with accessibility in mind. I also enjoy giving talks about accommodations for solo developers and small teams.

FOR CREATIVES

  • As a workshop facilitator, I specialize in guiding individuals in the art of game development and interactive storytelling. Through hands-on sessions, you'll discover how to create engaging narratives, design immersive worlds, and bring your creative visions to life.

Contact me at fen@ratskillgames.com
for more information

humble brag

REPRESENTATION AWARD WINNER, GAMING OHNE GRENZEN
Awarded the Representation Award from Gaming Ohne Grenzen for the DisCo Devs Game Jam, an event where disabled developers tell disabled stories.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT, CODE COVEN
Scholarship recipient for Code Coven’s Introduction to Game Making in Unity course.

SOLSTICE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT
Participated in Code Coven’s Solstice Program and was awarded $10,000 from Epic Games to prototype a 3D science edutainment game in Unreal Engine.

MENTEE, WOMEN IN GAMES INTERNATIONAL
Mentee in Women in Games International’s Mentorship Program.

GRANT AWARDEE, AWESOME FOUNDATION
Awarded a grant from the Awesome Foundation’s Disability Chapter to host the DisCo Devs Game Jam during Disability Pride Month.

DPAD INITIATIVE, ABLEGAMERS
Certified APX Practitioner through AbleGamers Charity’s DPAD Initiative.

MEDIA, TALKS & APPEARANCES

PANELIST, FUN AND GAMES IN SCICOMM
Featured speaker at No Coast Scicomm 2024, speaking about the potential for video games to communicate science.

CONTRIBUTOR, UNCHARTED ANTHOLOGY
Wrote a chapter about my experience as a disabled scientist for the Uncharted anthology, published by Columbia University Press.

SESSION FACILITATOR, GAMELOOP 2022
Facilitator for Gameloop’s session on how to uplift marginalized game developers remotely.

PANELIST, DISABILITY IN BIOLOGY AND STEM
Featured speaker on the Disability in Biology and STEM panel at the Bio-Diverse Festival.