CV
Publications
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Avital Meshi & Adam Wright. In(A)n(I)mate: AI-Mediated conversations with Inanimate Objects. Proceedings of the ACM on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques Volume 8, Issue 3Article No.: 36, Pages 1 - 6, July 16, 2025 https://doi.org/10.1145/373678
Conferences
2025
Vancouver, BC
ACM SIGGRAPH
Presented "In(A)n(I)mate: AI-Mediated conversations with Inanimate Objects" with Avital Meshi at SIGGRAPH 2025 in Vancouver, BC. SIGGRAPH 2025 is the 52nd annual ACM SIGGRAPH conference and exhibition, the premier global gathering for computer graphics and interactive techniques
Academic Teaching Experience
2022-Present
Associate Instructor (AI)
University of California, Davis
Virtual Reality Production
Designed and instructed CDM 176: Special Topics in Video Game Development - Virtual Reality Art Studio course. Class curriculum focuses on how to think about, design, and create virtual reality applications. Developed and implemented frameworks for building VR applications (Unity Engine) using both standard and AI-assisted programming practices (Cursor & Claude Code) with version control (Github). Utilized media theory and critical analysis as methods for students implementing project design.
2025
Teaching Assistant (TA)
University of California, Davis
Computational Media
Instructed four sections in support of Dr. Joshua McCoy and Dr. Michael Neff's Computational Media course. CDM 012 Section instruction consisted of computer programming fundamentals, utilizing P5.js and Processing (OpenProcessing) for student work. Managed the classroom environment and provided technical and content support for student lab projects. Provided critical analysis, and feedback on student computational media projects and presentations.
2022-Present
Teaching Assistant (TA)
University of California, Davis
Media History (Gutenberg to WWII)
Instructed sections for Dr. Colin Johnson's Media History course. CDM 40A Section instruction consisted of supporting class content. Managed the classroom environment and provided support on a number of activities, such as grading weekly reading responses and term papers as well as providing student support for interpreting readings and topic analysis. Engaged and taught students in sections that focused on media history and theory, lecture content support, as well as academic writing practices such as thesis building, structure, synthesis, and analysis. Proctored examinations
2023-Present
Teaching Assistant (TA)
University of California, Davis
Media Theory
Instructed sections for Dr. Tim Lenior's Media Theory course. CDM 151 Section instruction consisted of supporting class content. Managed the classroom environment and provided support for grading weekly reading responses, term papers, and supporting student learning around readings and topic analysis. Engaged and taught students in sections that focused on media theory, lecture content support, as well as academic writing practices such as thesis building, structure, synthesis, and analysis. Provided grading support, critical analysis, and feedback on weekly assignments and term projects.
2021-2023
Teaching Assistant (TA)
University of California, Davis
Videogames & Culture
Instructed sections for Dr. Patrick LeMieux's Videogames & Culture course. CDM 172 Section instruction consisted of supporting class content. Managed the classroom environment and provided support for grading weekly reading responses, term papers, and supporting student learning around readings and topic analysis. Engaged students on video game cultural practices, game modification, independent, inclusive, and activist game design, historical game design systems, disability theory, alternative controller practices, and media theory.
2024
Teaching Assistant (TA)
University of California, Davis
Ethics in the Age of Technology
Assisted Dr. Jacob Hagelburg with his Ethics in the Age of Technology course. Managed the ECS 188 classroom environment and provided support on a number of activities, such as grading weekly annotations on reading, weekly writing assignments, attendance & participation, and term papers / projects. Provided support to students for interpreting readings, topic analysis, and project work.
2021
Teaching Assistant (TA)
University of California, Davis
Surveillance Studies
Assisted Dr. Finn Brunton with his Surveillance Studies course. Managed the STS 163 classroom environment and provided support for grading weekly reading responses, term papers, and supporting student learning around readings and topic analysis. Provided analytical support for students on a number of surveillance studies topics such as: surveillance and privacy, histories of surveillance, anti-surveillance, surveillance activism, as well as related media theory.
Prior Professional Experience
2012-2020
UX Designer & Educator
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
UX Designer & Educator
In 2012, I began a role as a principal UX designer for Nasty Gal, a women's fashion company, designing their iPhone app. Over the next several years, I provided UX design support for a variety of interactive models for several companies in big data, IoT, and real estate in Los Angeles, CA. In the summer of 2020, I taught a UX design class through General Assembly in San Francisco, CA.
2010-2012
Freelance Designer
Los Angeles, CA
Freelance Designer (UX & Product)
After Digg.com, began working as a freelance designer working both in UX and product design for a small fashion brand. I developed a UX design process that I arrived at through user testing (inspired by my experience QA testing).
2007-2010
QA Analyst
San Francisco, CA
QA Analyst
After leaving the entertainment industry, I helped formulatebecame a founding member of a link aggregation site called Digg.com during the Web 2.0 movement. As a founding member I performed in many roles early on, including community management, before finally settling on Quality Assurance Analysis. As a Quality Assurance Analyst I provided support for Digg.com's feature set by performing regression tests and writing test automation as a part of the release cycle.
2002-2007
Television Producer
Los Angeles
London, UK
Television Producer
Pitched and produced segments for an arts and culture show called The Talk Show on BBC 4 at BBC White City in London, UK. After moving to Los Angeles, pitched and produced television segments for Attack of the Show on G4 Media (Comcast).
Education
2020-Present
PhD Candidate, PFS
University of California, Davis
The University of California at Davis is a distinguished R1 university, specializing in a wide variety of academic disciplines. I am a PhD Candidate in UC Davis’s PFS Graduate Group examining the digitalization of human perception through XR technology, haptics, and artificial intelligence. I teach a reoccuring VR course, and provide teaching assistance to professors in Science & Technology Studies (STS), Cinema & Digital Media (CDM), Computer Science (CS), and Engineering & Computer Science (ECS).
2000-2002
BFA, Filmmaking
NYU, Tisch School for the Arts
New York University, Tisch School for the Arts is a world-renowned art school and institution. I attended the Maurice Kanbar School for Film and Television, where I specialized in writing, directing and other aspects of film production. Graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Skills
Web / UX Production
Javascript
HTML
CSS
P5.js
React.js
Node.js
Figma
Processing
OpenProcessing
VS Code
Cursor
Claude Code
Github
TestRabbit​
Music Production
Logic Pro
Audacity
Ableton
FMOD (Unity)​​
Guitar
Bass Guitar
Double Bass
Synthesizers
XR & Game Production
C#
C++
Unity Engine
Godot Engine
Meta Quest
Vive
Meta XR Core SDK
Unity XR Interaction Toolkit
Visual Studio
VS Code
Cursor
Claude Code
Github
TestRabbit​
Classroom & Academic
Canvas
Google Suite​
Perusall
Grammerly
Notebook.lm
Zotero
ORCID
Scrivner (writing tool)
Curriculum design​​​