Miles Vilke, XR Specialist

Miles Vilke sitting and smiling near the water
Miles VIlke smiling by the water

Miles Vilke (’24) is an XR Specialist for Studio X. As a Digital Media Studies major pursuing a UX Certificate, he has grown a passion for multi-medial projects through UX design, 3D modeling, sound design, and more. In his free time, Miles enjoys playing video games with his friends, reading, watching movies and TV, and video editing

Rachel Smith, Marketing Assistant

Rachel standing in front of chicago bean

Hey there, my name is Rachel and I earned my degree in Film and Media Studies at UC Santa Barbara. Currently, I’m a first-year student in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at UR. I’ve always been passionate about channeling my creativity, whether it’s through contributions to campus magazines or crafting vibrant display boards at Trader Joe’s. During my free time, you can often find me running along the river, walking my dog around campus, or transforming an ordinary class presentation into a creative masterpiece

Gayatri Shetty, XR Specialist

Gayatri in grey Sweater

Gayatri Shetty is an XR Specialist for Studio X. She is majoring in digital media studies and computer science and is from New Jersey. She is interested in pursuing HCI and exploring XR technologies. She usually spends her free time reading, hiking, and watching sitcoms.

Emily Sherwood, Director

Emily with headset and using hands with VR

Emily Sherwood is the Director of Digital Scholarship and Studio X. Previously, she was the Assistant Director of Digital Pedagogy and Scholarship at Bucknell University. Emily has attended CLIR/Educause’s Leading Change Institute and is a former CLIR Postdoctoral Fellow. She has a Ph.D. in English from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and a MA in Shakespearean Studies from King’s College London. As principal investigator for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funded New York Data Carpentries Library Consortium Planning Grant, Emily works with colleagues from Rochester, Syracuse, Colgate, and Cornell to extend data literacy in central and western New York.

Contact: esherwood [at] library.rochester.edu

Olivia (Liv) Ritz, Marketing Assistant

Liv with colosseum in background

I am Liv Ritz! I’m a current Junior in the Class of 2025, studying
Business on a Marketing Track. My post-grad career aspirations are to
work in Public Relations or Digital/Social Media Marketing for a
company. I am a very creative person and have had an entrepreneurial
spirit since I was a kid, building my own mini-businesses along the
way. Here on campus, I am also the Director of Marketing for the
Residence Hall Association, Publicity Chair for the Photography Club,
and a lifeguard at the GAC. In my free time, I’m most likely going to
the gym, reading a romance novel, or convincing my girlfriends to go
on another trip to Europe 🙂 I’m excited to join the Studio X team!

Liudmila (Mila) Paymukhina, XR Developer

Mila with Glowing glasses

Hey everyone! My name is Mila, and I’m the Karp XR Developer at Studio X. I’m a Senior at UR majoring in Computer Science and Psychology. I’m also an international student from Russia, and prior to coming to study in the U.S., I lived in Armenia for two years studying at UWC Dilijan. On campus, I’m a part of the Climbing Team, Girls Who Code, and Sailing team. 

Dustin Paden, Graphic Designer

headset photo of XR Specialist, Dustin Paden.
headset photo of XR Specialist, Dustin Paden.

Dustin (’24) is an XR Specialist and Graphic Designer for Studio X. He is majoring in Digital Media Studies, Psychology, and Studio Arts plus pursuing a UX Certificate. Dustin is passionate about digital technologies, playing cello, painting, and rock climbing.

Liam O’Leary, XR Developer

Liam smiling at camera

Liam O’Leary is the XR developer for Studio X. He is passionate about development in the field of XR and making immersive experiences that are engaging and fun. Liam graduated from U of R with a Digital Media Studies degree in 2023. Liam loves listening to music, drawing, and creating his own VR games in his spare time.

Meaghan Moody, Assistant Director

Meaghan with headset on

Meaghan Moody is the Assistant Director for Studio X and part of the Digital Scholarship team. Previously, she was the Immersive Technologies Librarian. Before joining UR, she was the Teaching & Learning Librarian at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries. She holds an MLIS from Rutgers School of Communication and Information and a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Kansas.

Contact: mmoody [at] library.rochester.edu

Caleb Kohn-Blank, XR Specialist

Caleb in suit

Caleb Kohn-Blank (’25) is an XR Specialist. He is majoring in Digital Media Studies and is from Brooklyn, NY. He is passionate about XR and its ability to create unique and innovative fun experiences. In addition to working at Studio X, he is a part of the UX Club, and in his free time, he likes to read, craft, and play video games