When you read “Super Mario,” chances are the theme song instantly starts playing in your head. Consider this your starting screen. From the pixelated blips of Pong to today’s immersive, cinematic worlds, gaming has leveled up into a global, multi-billion dollar force in entertainment.
Press play as we meet alumni navigating every corner of the industry, from behind-the-scenes development to bringing fan-favorite titles to life on screen.
Alea Oakman ’20 | Andrew Rubino ’04 | Genevieve Jones ’05
Alea Oakman ’20
Player 1: The Systems Mage
Oakman never imagined a career in gaming. Growing up, she played titles like Just Dance and Webkinz, but she never considered herself a “gamer.”
Life, however, had other plans.
After graduating from Lehigh with an integrated degree in engineering and arts, Oakman began searching for a way into product design. During her graduate studies at the University of Maryland, a friend who had accepted another role was contacted by a recruiter about a user experience internship and passed the opportunity along to her.
Oakman quickly found her footing. When the internship led to a full-time offer, she was given a choice: user experience designer, programmer, or researcher. She chose research.
Today, as a user experience researcher at Electronic Arts (EA), Oakman analyzes internal workflows, identifying friction points and helping teams work more efficiently. While much of her work is behind the scenes, it plays a critical role in how games are ultimately created and supported.
Recently, her work has brought her closer to the player experience. She helped develop a dashboard for the EA Creator Network, which allowed her to connect directly with players, interview them, learn how they engage with games, and understand why those experiences matter.
That connection changed her outlook.
“Working in the industry has given me a new perspective,” she says. “Seeing the joy and connection games create, I understand why my brothers loved them so much growing up.”
Oakman’s path, from an initial interest in neuroscience to the career she has now, underscores the value of staying open to unexpected opportunities.
“It’s been fun to work in an industry where the goal is helping people express themselves, connect with others, and cultivate joy,” she says.
Andrew Rubino ’04
Player 2: The Game Smith
Rubino always knew he wanted to work in gaming, but it was System Shock 2 that made him see games as more than just entertainment.
The ’90s survival horror game captivated him for both its gameplay and surprising narrative depth. It made him feel — so much so that he wrote a paper about it in an American gothic class at Lehigh.
“I wanted to combine game mechanics with the ability to provoke thought and emotion,” he says. “When you read a book, you relate to the characters. But when you play a game, the connection is different. You don’t say, ‘They died,’ — you say, ‘I died.’ That’s powerful.”
After breaking into the industry post-grad, Rubino went on to work on major titles, including Mass Effect: Andromeda, Star Wars: Squadrons, and Marvel Heroes. Across roles ranging from senior gameplay designer to lead systems designer, his passion has remained constant.
He’s also quick to point out that success in gaming requires resilience.
“The industry can be fun, but failure is part of the process,” he says. “Every failure teaches you something. In a way, the faster you fail, the quicker you improve.”
Now a lead metagame systems designer at Riot Games, Rubino is working on 2XKO, a free-to-play fighting game featuring characters from League of Legends.
“If you’re making games, you’re doing it because you love it,” he says. “I look at games the way people talk about albums — they categorize my life. They’re touchstones for everyone that plays them. That’s what working in games should be about.”
Despite his success, he remains focused on the future, particularly on opening doors for new voices in the industry.
“If you want to work in games, start making things,” he says. “There are so many tools out there. People want to see what you bring to the table. Show them.”
Genevieve Jones ’05
Player 3: The World Builder
When Jones moved to Los Angeles after graduating from Lehigh, she set her sights on acting and comedy. She found success, booking commercials and indie movies as she built a career she once dreamed of.
But over time, something shifted.
After several years, Jones grew frustrated with the lack of agency she had over her own work. Sitting in her trailer between takes, she began to see things differently.
“When I was lucky enough to be on set, I’d look out of the trailer and think, ‘The people making decisions are out there,’” she says. “I realized I didn’t want to wait to be called to set. I wanted to be part of the action.”
Jones decided she wanted to be an assistant director (AD). She reached out to every AD she knew, asking questions and learning the craft. Those conversations opened doors, giving her opportunities to work on set and build experience.
She steadily took on more responsibility, eventually landing a role on the pilot of Fear the Walking Dead. There, she connected with Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead, which led to several years working with his company, Skybound Entertainment.
By the time Jones joined Ubisoft, she’d built an impressive and unconventional career path driven by persistence and initiative.
Today, as a producer for Ubisoft Film and Television, she supports projects set in the world of video games or based on Ubisoft properties. Her work has included the Apple TV workplace comedy Mythic Quest and its spin-off, Side Quest. She is currently working in Rome, executive producing the upcoming Assassin’s Creed series for Netflix.
Whether giving notes on scripts, considering production locations, reviewing casting tapes, or managing creative and logistic decisions on set, Jones approaches every moment with intention.
Looking back, her biggest takeaway is simple: “Be somebody people want to be around, even in the toughest conditions. That’s a real skill, and it will take you far.”
