Ray Pastore Awarded Grant for Esports AI Ethics Project

Ray Pastore, professor of instructional technology at UNCW’s Watson College of Education, and Seth Jenny, associate professor in the Department of Exercise Science at Slippery Rock University have been awarded a competitive grant from the International Esports Federation (IESF) for a global research project titled “Establishment of World Esports AI Ethics Guidelines.”

The initiative, part of the IESF’s World Esports Standardization Development 2025, is sponsored by the International Esports Federation, funded by the City of Busan (South Korea), and conducted in collaboration with the Voice of Intercollegiate Esports (VOICE).

“We are very excited about this project,” Dr. Pastore said. “As AI becomes a bigger part of esports, creating fair and ethical guidelines will help protect players, organizations, and the integrity of competition.”

The project will officially begin in [need start date] and is expected to take [how long?] to complete. During that time, Pastore and Jenny will collaborate with professional esports teams, researchers, and game publishers to develop standards for how AI can and should be used in training environments, competitive play, and player development.

“I’m thrilled to partner with Seth on this effort,” Pastore added. “We knew the selection process would be competitive, but our strong relationships with tech companies, game publishers, and professional esports teams—along with our established research backgrounds—helped set us apart.”

About the Researchers

Dr. Ray Pastore has taught instructional technology courses for more than two decades. In 2019, he founded UNCW’s Esports Club, and in 2020, he launched the Watson College of Education’s esports certificate program. In 2023, he was named one of EdTech Magazine’s Higher Ed IT Influencers to Follow.

Dr. Seth Jenny brings a similarly impressive background. At Slippery Rock University, he established an interdisciplinary esports minor and serves as faculty advisor to the university’s esports club. He is a founding and current board member of the Esports Research Network and serves as associate editor for the Journal of Electronic Gaming & Esports.

About UNCW’s Esports Club

UNCW’s Esports Club is open to all students, welcoming both competitive and recreational gamers. In 2022, UNCW elevated its esports teams to varsity status and opened a new on-campus esports lab. The club now boasts 10 competitive teams and a Discord community with more than 800 members. In 2024, the club’s Valorant team gained national attention by winning back-to-back championships in Division IV of the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC).

About WCE’s Esports Certificate Program

The Watson College of Education’s esports certificate program is designed for individuals interested in gaming, streaming, and exploring careers in the esports industry. The curriculum covers four key areas of esports: strategists, organizers, content creators, and entrepreneurs. New classes start every semester. For more information, visit the UNCW Instructional Technology website.