Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Melinda, Head of VR at New Mexico State University, as she reveals how her institution is revolutionizing higher education through immersive technology. From middle school teacher to VR pioneer, Melinda shares the incredible journey of scaling from a single use case to over 400 VR headsets across 22 courses.
In this episode, you'll discover:
🎓 The Digital Twin Campus - How NMSU created an immersive virtual campus tour using just iPhone photos, allowing prospective students worldwide to explore dorm rooms, walk the iconic horseshoe loop, and experience campus life before ever setting foot on grounds
🔍 Criminal Justice Innovation - The surprising story of how crime scene training became NMSU's first VR application, giving online students the same hands-on experience as their on-campus peers
💼 Soft Skills in VR - How student-athletes practice ESPN interviews, students rehearse job interviews, and learners develop crucial professional skills in safe, repeatable virtual environments
🖊️ MX Ink Pen Pilot Program - Exclusive insights into NMSU's research with Logitech's MX Ink, including surprising findings about non-traditional students and the natural feel of drawing in virtual space
📦 Managing 400 Headsets - The logistics behind shipping, tracking, cleaning, and recycling hundreds of VR devices each semester—with only 4 devices lost in 4 years!
🔮 The Future of Wearables & VR - Melinda's perspective on how VR headsets and smart glasses will coexist, complement each other, and address privacy concerns in our increasingly digital world
Perfect for: Educators exploring immersive learning, corporate training professionals, VR enthusiasts, university administrators, and anyone curious about the practical applications of extended reality in education.
Key Takeaway: Start small, find your advocates, embrace the growing pains, and build strong partnerships. Technology isn't perfect from day one—but with the right people and willingness to experiment, you can scale from 25 headsets to 400+ and transform how students learn.
📍 Recorded live at SXSW in Austin, Texas
Timestamps:
00:00 Meet Melinda at NMSU
00:40 From Teacher to VR Lead
01:25 Digital Twin Campus Origins
02:37 Building the Twin with Photos
03:43 Why VR for Prospective Students
04:22 Criminal Justice First Use Case
04:53 Soft Skills and Interview Training
06:07 Scaling and Shipping 400 Headsets
06:53 Fleet Management and Returns
09:03 MX Ink Pen Pilot and Badges
11:25 VR and Wearables Future at SXSW
13:28 Privacy Concerns with Smart Glasses
15:28 How to Start and Get Buy In
18:22 Wrap Up and SXSW Reflections
Featured Guests:
• Melina Cuilty - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-cuilty-111844228/
The Unscripted Podcast is available on the following platforms:
YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0hCJLH8asrZ61UZAhphI_6ZdU_6iFGVE&si=YvhkBCN5chRpJKqI
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/21yaQBzNg9c0O2ApZyInQH?si=4a6b2075de8045ac
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unscripted/id1765971579
