Jessica Murrey is an international peacebuilder, a multi-generational gamer, and game developer. Murrey received a Northwest Regional Emmy for lead role in ''Don't Turn Away'', in 2012.
Early life and education
Jessica Murrey attended Ashland High School in Oregon. From 2006 to 2010, she attended the University of Las Vegas, Nevada and earned a bachelor's degree journalism and political science.[1]
Career
Murrey is the co-founder and CEO of Wicked Saints Studios.[2] She is also the co-founder of Battle for Humanity (B4H).[3] In 2012, she won the Northwest Regional Emmy for Community Service in an anti-child abuse media campaign called "Don't Turn Away."[1] Murrey also won the 2012 Oregon Association of Broadcasters Award for "Best Public Service Announcement- Single Spot. She was the first developer signed to Niantic's Black Developers Initiative.[4] Murrey has traveled with the world's largest conflict resolution organization, Search for Common Ground. While working with Search for Common Ground, Murrey ran the communications department. Murrey also participated in the training the peacekeepers which also helped flush out her career.[1][4]
Murrey was selected as one of the 50 inaugural members of Game Awards' Future Class, honoring those "who represent the bright, bold and inclusive future of video games."[5]
On behalf of Wicked Saints Studios, Murrey raised more than $1.1 million in pre-seed venture funding for a project called "World Reborn".[2] In doing so, Murrey became one of less than 100 Black woman to have raised that amount of funding in the United States. "World Reborn" is marketed as the first adventure activism game, and will be done in collaboration with Niantic.[6][4]
References
- 1 2 3 Weeks, Cate (2020-06-05). "Training the Peacebuilders". University of Nevada, Las Vegas News Center. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- 1 2 Staff, Newsroom (2022-03-09). "Black and women-owned gaming company in Medford makes history with new venture funds". KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ↑ "2018 graduation keynote speaker Jessica Murrey has a mission for you". Seattle | Northeastern University. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- 1 2 3 Gomez, Brandon (2021-02-26). "Pokémon Go maker Niantic invests in Black game developers to close diversity gap". CNBC. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ↑ Valentine, Rebekah (2020-12-10). "The Game Awards announces inaugural Future Class". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ↑ Staff, Newsroom (2022-07-20). "Medford-based company Wicked Saints Studios, preparing to launch world's first 'adventure activism game'". KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2. Retrieved 2023-12-20.