Elon Interactive Media alumna Ashley Deese Eldredge G'13 named a Forbes "30 Under 30" honoree

Ashley Deese Eldredge, a 2013 graduate of Elon’s master of arts in interactive media program, is among young professionals honored by Forbes.com in its 2019 “30 Under 30 in Games” feature. The Forbes recognition highlights creative young game designers who are “striking new paths and riding through a whirlwind of change.”

Deese, 29, is manager of digital media for the Smithsonian Institution Science Education Center, where she manages the production and distribution of digital media and products such as websites, games, interactives and video. She leads a team in creating educational science products and gaming apps. Her game, “Aquation: The Freshwater Access Game,” was a 2018 nominee for The Webby Awards’ inaugural Public Service and Activism category.

During her studies in Elon’s 10-month iMedia master’s program, Deese was a member of a group of seven students who traveled to Costa Rica to create a website highlighting the culture, history and landrights struggle of a group of indigenous Térraba people. Her short film, “Terraba: An Indigenous Relationship with the Rainforest,” was selected as a finalist in the United Nations International Film Festival. She joined the Smithsonian shortly after her graduation from Elon in 2013.

Deese has produced internationally acclaimed and bestselling apps for the Smithsonian such as “BumperDucks,” “Expedition: Insects,” “Disaster Detector,” and “Showbiz Safari.” She is a voting member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a member of the Smithsonian Networks Review Committee, and the co-chair for Smithsonian Gaming.