Paul Engin
Paul Engin is an accomplished leader in technical art, media, and creative direction with over 30 years of diverse experience in real-time systems, immersive technologies, and cross-functional collaboration. Currently serving as a Tenured Professor and the New Media Coordinator at Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC), Paul continues to build out the A.S. in New Media program, advising students, and facilitating capstone projects with community-wide outreach. He is actively leading efforts to integrate immersive platforms—such as AR, VR, and AI—into the college's curriculum.
Prior to his academic career, Paul held significant leadership roles in the industry. As Creative Director at Element K (SkillSoft), he managed a division of creative professionals, overseeing visual solutions for external clients and directing next-generation product development. His body of work also includes notable contributions to the broadcasting industry as a CGI Supervisor and Stop-Motion Animator at Wreckless Abandon Studios, with credits on productions for NBC, the Mohican Sun Resort, and LEGO, as well as work on MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch.
Paul is a certified FAA Remote Pilot for commercial drones and holds professional certifications in Google AI Essentials, Unity, and the Adobe Creative Suite. A trusted advisor and educator, he combines a passion for innovative problem-solving with deep expertise in 3D animation, video production, and interactive development.
He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Computer Arts from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Master of Fine Arts in Computer Animation from the Rochester Institute of Technology, forming the foundation of his academic background.
Dave Ghidiu
Dave Ghidiu is a Professor of Computer Science at Finger Lakes Community College and co-host of The Immersive Lens podcast, where he explores emerging technologies shaping education, work, and learning. With twenty years of teaching experience and a background that spans high school instruction, instructional design, and educational technology, Dave brings an educator's perspective to complex technological questions. He holds a Master's degree in Educational Technology and views technology through a distinctly practical lens: a tool should enhance learning and human capability and it should never be the tail that wags the dog.
Driven by intellectual curiosity and a belief in cross-domain learning, Dave seeks insights from unexpected places and brings those lessons into conversations about technology and education. His teaching philosophy centers on making technology invisible, like stage crew working behind the scenes: it should enable learning without becoming the focus. This approach shapes how he discusses emerging technologies on the podcast, asking not "What's new?" but "What's actually useful, and who does it serve, and what's next??"
Dave explores the rapidly evolving landscape of emerging technologies with his co-host Paul Engin, helping listeners understand what's hype and what has real potential. He's particularly focused on demystifying technology anxiety and helping educators, learners, and curious minds navigate innovation thoughtfully - grounded in real-world application and human impact rather than technological novelty.
Jeff Kidd
Jeff is an alumnus of Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC), Class of 2005, where he earned an A.S. in Communications. He went on to complete a B.S. in Broadcasting at SUNY Brockport.
Following graduation, Jeff worked at WROC-TV as a production assistant and later as a news photographer for three years. In 2010, he returned to FLCC, where he currently serves as a video engineer and technician for the New Media and Communications programs.
In 2017, Jeff co-owned a media production company, Kidd Media Productions, and in 2022 he earned a master’s degree in Instructional Design from SUNY Empire State College.
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