Michael Cassens is a teacher, collaborator, gamer, and mobile application developer. His current focus is on creating more meaningful experiences as an instructor, using gaming practices and theories to enhance course content, and building equitable games and applications for the marketplace using different game engines and mobile platforms. Michael is also the Director of Esports at the University of Montana, emphasizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and educational pathways for all players and team members.

Michael is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Visual and Media Arts. In addition to continuing his research, Michael teaches courses within the Game Design and Interactive Media concentration in the BFA program. These courses focus on preparing students to collaborate and create experiences that enhance and enrich modern applications.

Michael also started his own consulting company in 2002, which he still operates, building software for small to medium-sized businesses. Michael has a B.A. in Biology and an M.S. in Computer Science. After being born in South Vietnam, adopted in Boulder, CO, and moved to St. Louis, MO, Michael has found his home in Missoula, where he loves being outside with his family, mountain biking, snowboarding, hiking, photography, and just being in nature.