Chatham’s Immersive Media Program Champions Tech, Art, and Community
Angelo Licavoli and friends at the IMM Projector Show outside JKM Library. (Courtesy of Angelo Licavoli)
Long-time tech-art fanatic Angelo Licavoli ’26 didn’t quite know what immersive media was before Chatham.
“I hadn't heard of the word being used to describe such an encompassing field,” Licavoli said.
Tucked away in the Jennie King Mellon Library basement, the immersive media studio sets up shop, walking the line between the cryptic and creative.
“Immersive media is so much,” Licavoli said. “Many people think virtual reality, but it can also be installation-based art, audiovisual experiences, 3D artwork, live theater, playground games.”
“If it tells a story, shares a message, or brings people together in a creative way, it qualifies as immersive media.”
Before college, Licavoli had always been interested in things like digital art, coding, and game development. When touring colleges, Chatham’s immersive media (IMM) studio caught their eye. “I was immediately drawn to all the different tech and resources I'd have access to and was pretty much set on pursuing a degree in the major.”
“The broadness of the immersive media field has really allowed me to explore, create, and think outside the box in how I choose to express myself, and that’s something that has really meant a lot to me,” Licavoli said.
Licavoli has used their growing expertise to inspire projects not just inside the classroom, but outside. “In collaboration with the Coffeehouse Committee and the immersive media studio, me and some friends put on a full electronic music rave with our own DJing; custom-made, giant projected visuals on the wall; and a custom stage lighting setup over in the music building,” Licavoli recalled. “We spent almost the whole semester working on it, and it paid off.”
Licavoli also collaborated with friends to create their own media group—Red Panda Studios—where they showcase their digital media projects. “The technical, creative, and professional development skills I’ve learned through the immersive media program have allowed our studio to operate in a very efficient and healthy manner and certainly give me a lot more confidence when thinking about future career opportunities and personal work.”
Out of everything the major has brought to them, Licavoli has found the community of the immersive media studio to be one of the best parts.
“The comradery and studio culture that the students within the IMM program have is unparalleled. Everyone is always helping each other with projects, sharing techniques and skills, giving feedback on each other’s work, and spending time making cool art together,” they said
Stephanie Rios ‘26 using a Quest Three Headset at the Fall Immersive Media Showcase. (Courtesy of Angelo Licavoli)
Stephanie Rios ’26, a fellow immersive media student, has also found a goldmine of community, knowledge, and creative outlets within her major.
“I had originally wanted to pursue journalism and was actually interested in a program at Pitt that combined journalism with technology and art,” Rios said. “A teacher at my high school […] encouraged me to look into the immersive media program at Chatham.”
It’s been easy for her to stay. “I’ve made some of my best friends through the program,” Rios said. “I didn’t expect to make so many connections, both as friends and as professionals.”
“One of my classmates, Sam Caloiero [’25], recommended an internship to me, and we ended up doing the internship together.” This experience ended up becoming one of Rios’ favorites.
In the fall of her sophomore year, Rios interned for an augmented reality company, Tin Drum, based in East Liberty, to create specially made containers for shipping hundreds of fragile AR headsets. This involved hands on projects, research, 3D printing, and prototyping. These headsets were shipped across the world for shows paying tribute famous composer Ryuji Sakamoto. “It was pretty full circle because Tin Drum used the same headsets that I used for a programming final in my freshman year.”
Back in the studio, Rios finds herself busy. From working as a studio assistant to keeping up with her latest projects, Rios spends most of her day in the IMM studio. In the past few months, Rios found herself pouring in hours for her latest game, Space Force V2.
“I worked on a group project for my prototyping class, and it ended up being my favorite project,” Rios said. “Space Force V2 is a multiplayer, fast-paced game utilizing physical computing for a communitive experience among players.” In this, three players would sit around a set of screens, buttons, and levers, communicating verbally to complete the correct tasks.
This project was showcased at the recent Immersive Media Showcase. “One of the things I love about the Immersive Media projects is that so much time and effort goes into them, and seeing the final product just really makes you feel proud of it,” Rios said.
“Watching people interact with something you have worked on and really enjoy and have fun with it is so rewarding.”
Lyn Bigley ’26 is currently pursuing her BFA in creative writing alongside a BA in psychology. She works as a library aide and a digital content creator for Chatham University. In her downtime, she enjoys looking at pictures of animals, playing video games, impulse buying, and watching reality TV.