7 Binghamton Alumni with Awesomely Geeky Careers
Posted by John Brhel on May 24, 2023
In celebration of Geek Pride Day, we’re highlighting alumni whose work can only be described as awesomely geeky! From comics to video games to fantasy fiction, meet some Binghamton alumni who get to explore their imaginations and nerd out for a living!
Jacki Jing '08
If you’re into modern gaming, chances are you’ve seen Jacki Jing ‘08. As an esports and former IGN host, she’s hosted some of the biggest events in gaming. In 2021, she was one of the main hosts for the popular E3 gaming conference, which was broadcast worldwide to 2 million viewers! A fan of all things geeky, Jacki has also done video projects for companies like Crunchyroll, Nerdist, Funimation and more. Recently, you might have seen her as a contestant on Netflix’s The Circle or talking anime on Twitch!
Bob Greenberger ‘80
Star Trek. Batman. Planet of the Apes. These are just some of the numerous franchises that Bob Greenberger ‘80 has had a chance to write for. A member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Greenberg has served as a writer and editor on over 100 books and anthologies – everything from Aquaman comics to non-fiction books about dinosaurs. He is also the founder of Crazy 8 Press, an independent writing consortium that publishes in genres as diverse as horror, adventure, and mystery.
Erin Dyer '20
Fortnite is one of the biggest online multiplayer video games of all time, and Erin Dyer ‘20 has played a part in its success. As a game capture specialist for Epic Games, she plans and captures gameplay footage for Fortnite trailers and other Epic marketing materials. In fact, one of the Fortnite trailers she worked on became the top trending video in America on YouTube! Erin has a lifelong love for video games and she’s made it her career!
Jan Utstein ‘80
Marvel Studios has become one of the biggest powerhouses in entertainment and as part of the production finance team, Jan Utstein ‘80 has gotten to work on all the studio's films and streaming shows! That includes Black Panther, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Avengers: Endgame, some of the biggest blockbusters of all time! Jan is also CEO and editor-in-chief of Hurricane Entertainment, where she has published numerous comic book series, and partnered with the likes of Kurt Russell and Star Wars sound designer Ben Burrt.
Andrew Eiche ‘07
Imagine Conan O’Brien playing your new video game on national TV. That’s just what Andrew Eiche ‘07 got to experience in 2017, when the late night host played Job Simulator for millions of viewers. As CEO at video game studio Owlchemy Labs, Eiche is on the forefront of VR, which has become more accessible in recent years. Owlchemy was even acquired by Google in 2017! Along with Job Simulator, Andrew helped to produce Rick and Morty Simulator: Virtual Rick-ality, based on the hit animated series.
Adrianne Finlay, MA '99, PhD '05
Do you like YA sci-fi? You and millions of others! The genre has exploded in recent years and Adrianne Finlay, MA '99, PhD '05 has joined the craze. When Adrianne isn’t working as a professor of English and program director of creative writing at Upper Iowa University, she writes sci-fi books, including Your One & Only (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018), a thriller in which humankind is replaced by clones!
Rocco Passionino ‘91
Modern sci-fi/fantasy shows and movies rely upon visual effects professionals like Rocco Passionino ‘91 to create stunning and believable worlds and characters. Rocco has made his mark in visual effects in a number of science fiction and fantasy films – from hit TV shows like Firefly and Angel to blockbusters like Avengers: Age of Ultron and Spider-Man 2. He even won an Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Television Series!
Do you know other Binghamton alumni whose work is associated with geek culture? Email us at social@binghamton.edu. Happy Geek Pride Day!
John Brhel is a communications manager in the Office of Media and Public Relations. When he's not managing social media accounts or crafting press releases, you can find him doing plenty of geeky things himself: drawing spooky art, playing music, writing short stories, playing Zelda games and more.
Have questions, comments or concerns about the blog? Email us at social@binghamton.edu.