David Kirk

David Kirk serves as the Esports Program Director at Illinois State University since January 2020, where responsibilities include overseeing a leading collegiate esports program that supports varsity competition, student-run clubs, casual gaming, and career development initiatives. Previously, David served as the Executive Director of National Collegiate Esports, focusing on fostering the growth of collegiate esports, and as the Assistant Director of Esports at The University of Akron, managing operations for dedicated esports facilities and coaching teams. David's career began at IU Recreational Sports, where oversight of staff and operational projects began, followed by a role at Illinois State University Campus Recreation, managing facilities and student staff. Academically, David holds a Master's degree in Recreation Administration from Illinois State University and a Bachelor's degree in Biology with multiple minors from Indiana University Bloomington, along with a certification in Full Stack Web Development from freeCodeCamp.