CV
Award-winning writer, communications instructor, and master’s student in Digital Humanities at the University of Alberta, researching feminist gameplay, queer play, and digital culture.
Education
MA in Digital Humanities, University of Alberta, 2027 (Expected)
- Thesis: “Patriarchy in Pastels: Cozy Game Culture & Feminist Gameplay (In progress).”
- Advisor: Dr. PS Berge
- Degree Expected: Winter 2027
BCS in Professional Communications, MacEwan University, 2021
- Dean’s Medal Recipient
BSc in Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 2016
- Minor in Classical Studies
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Piercy, Adeline K. & Berge, PS. (Forthcoming 2026). “Min-Maxxing Relaxing: Playtime and Privilege in the Post-Pandemic.” In Proceedings of the 17th Annual DiGRA Conference: Intersectional Pleasures. Presenting in Maynooth, Ireland. (Paper conditionally accepted for forthcoming publication.)
Piercy, Adeline K. (Accepted for forthcoming publication). “Mending the Appropriation of Yoga Through Origin Acknowledgements.” MUSe: The MacEwan University Student eJournal.
Games and Media Publications
Controlling Catastrophe: Indoor Gameplay to Support Sensory Dysfunction
A video essay about the unanticipated ways Frostpunk serves as a strategy for neurodivergent players with sensory dysfunctions — particularly those who struggle with the heat of summertime.
- Editorially reviewed publication by NiCHE.
A short single-player 16-bit narrative game about returning to a place that was once home but is not anymore.
A fast-paced tabletop roleplaying game for 3+ players. It’s perfect for cat lovers, chaos gremlins, and players who believe teamwork is optional when food is on the line.
Other Publications
Book Reviews
Creative Work
Piercy, Adeline K. (2021). Exaltation [Poetry collection]. Armistice Press.
Piercy, Adeline K. (2021). “Heresy” [Short story]. The Bolo Tie Collective Anthology V.
Essays and Popular Press Articles
Piercy, Adeline K. (2021). “Talk Feminism to Me, Daddy!” She/They/Us Magazine.
Piercy, Adeline K. (2021). “A Feminist Changes a Tire.” She/They/Us Magazine.
Piercy, Adeline K. (2021). “The More, the Merrier.” She/They/Us Magazine.
Piercy, Adeline K. (2016). “Internal Censorship in Writing.” WestWord Magazine.
Academic Appointments
MacEwan University
- Sessional Instructor, 2023 - Present
- Teaching undergraduate courses in the Professional Communications department
University of Alberta
- Research Assistant, CRYPT Lab, May 2025 - Present
- Lab Manager and mentor to new students.
- Coordinating workshops, events, and logistics.
- Conducting interviews with research participants.
- Editing videos for Playful Horizons Speaker Series.
- Assisting with CRYPT Lab development.
- Research Assistant, Microcredential in Game Design, Jan 2024 – Mar 2025
- Developed, implemented, and edited lessons for an online game design course.
- Teaching Assistant, Media Theory, Winter 2025
- A theory-in-practice course, assisted with in-class workshops and student correspondence.
- Research Assistant, Bridging Divides, Jan 2024 – Apr 2024
- Heuristics evaluations of government immigration websites.
Fellowships and Awards
2026 Winner, Graduate Student Travel Award ($2,000)
Winner, Media and Technology Studies Unit Travel Award ($500)
Winner, Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation Microgrant ($1,000)
2025
Winner, Myer Horowitz Graduate Students’ Association Scholarship ($1,400)
Nominee, Open Competition, University of Alberta
Nominee, BMO Financial Group Graduate Scholarship
Nominee, Ivy A Thomson and William A Thomson Graduate Scholarship
Winner, GPS Graduate Student Elevation Award ($1,450)
Winner, Women in Technical and Applied Arts Scholarship ($2,500)
2024
Winner, Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) ($12,000)
2023
Winner, Digital Humanities Recruitment Scholarship ($5,000)
Nominee, Graduate Entrance Scholarship
2021
Recipient, Dean’s Medal, MacEwan University
2020
Finalist, Emerge Media Video Awards
2012
Winner, Alexander Rutherford Scholarship ($1,000)
Presentations
Peer-Reviewed Conference Presentations
Additional presentations may be found as published proceedings, listed above.
“Patriarchy in Pastels and the Girl Gamer Cave,” Canadian Game Studies Association Conference, 2026. Montreal, QC. (Forthcoming).
“Groupies & Stans: Examining Community Sentiment to Feminised Fan Practices in League of Legends Esports,” Esports Network Research Conference, 2025. Online.
“Merging Databases into Interactive Storytelling,” Digital Humanities Student Association Conference, “Dissolving Boundaries,” 2025. Edmonton, AB.
“Min-Maxing Relaxing: Playtime and Privilege in the Post-Pandemic” with Dr. PS Berge, Canadian Game Studies Association Conference, 2025. Montreal, QC.
Invited Talks
Invited Presenter, “Learn @ Your Library: Gender, Power, and Videogame Culture,” Strathcona County Library. 2026.
Invited Panelist, “Bookwyrm SpecFest,” MacEwan University. 2026.
Guest Lectures
- “Patriarchy in Pastels: Cozy Game Culture and Feminist Gameplay.” October 2025. Course on Understanding Videogames. University of Alberta.
Courses Taught
MacEwan University
- Stylistic and Structural Editing
- Students examine the objectives and techniques of stylistic, structural, and developmental editing by working through large, complex projects.
- Advanced Business Writing [Online]
- Advanced strategic writing for professional contexts including proposals, reports, and professional correspondence.
- Professional Communications
- Practical professional communications practices including audience and medium analysis, conflict resolution, and strategic communication.
- Grammar & Composition Foundations
- A foundational course on grammar and writing. Students discuss the effects of English in a colonized country and intersectional effects as a result, including feminist critiques of written and spoken language.
- Interpersonal Communications
- Theory and practical application of interpersonal communication techniques within online, personal, group, and professional contexts.
- Writing Fundamentals
- Foundational writing and grammar for the public relations program. Students discuss the impacts of English supremacy and collaborate on inclusive methods of communication.
Service to University
Co-President, Digital Humanities Student Association, University of Alberta, 2025 – Present
Individual Student Career Mentorship, MacEwan University, 2024 – 2025
Organizer and Panelist, “Queering the Future: Entering the Workforce,” Pride Week with MacEwan University’s Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, 2024
Member at Large, Digital Humanities Student Association, University of Alberta, 2024 – 2025
Volunteer, University of Alberta Open House, 2024
Website Manager, The Bolo Tie Collective, MacEwan University, 2020-2021
Team Facilitator, University of Alberta Orientation Program, 2014-2015
Service to the Field
Reviewer, Canadian Game Studies Association Conference, 2026
Organizing Committee, Digital Humanities Student Association Conference, 2026
Reviewer, Canadian Game Studies Association Conference, 2025
Organizing Committee, Digital Humanities Student Association Conference, 2025
Relevant Professional Experience
Independent Contractor
- Editor & Manuscript Consultant, 2020-Present
- Provided developmental and line editing for two full-length novel manuscripts, focusing on narrative pacing, character arc consistency, world-building logic, and thematic coherence.
- Consult with authors on structural revision and style.
Dig Marketing
- Digital Content & Communications Manager, 2021-2023
- Managed a small team of writers, including interviewing, hiring, and onboarding employees
- Developed content plans for over 20 clients, following SEO trends reports, and general industry trends
- Created and developed a Communications position and department
- Created and developed Public Relations tactics
- Implemented and trained internal systems for efficient production and productive internal communication
- Developed internal documentation for processes, style guides, and tactics
She/They/Us Magazine
- Section Editor, Lead Copy Editor, 2021
- Collaboratively developed an intersectional feminist topic list
- Wrote and compiled four works for the magazine, including a reading list, a feature article, and two columns
- Content and copy edited the majority of the 64-page magazine
- Developed the copy editing style guide for the project
- Researched market trends and competition
Writers’ Guild of Alberta
- Summer Programs Assistant, 2013, 2015
- Assisted with annual conference planning, including graphic design, communications, operations, and venue booking
- Developed an archive for the WGA’s shortlisted books
- Designed catalogues for Read Alberta Books promotion
- Planned Alberta Culture Days events with rural libraries
Media & Press
Media and Technology Studies, University of Alberta. (April 2026). Featured in spotlight article, “Congratulations to IFTF microgrant recipients Abhik Hasnain and Adeline K. Piercy.”
Media and Technology Studies, University of Alberta. (November 2025). Featured in spotlight article, “Digital Humanities student Adeline Piercy publishes video essay on NiCHE website.”
Technical Skills
Software Proficiencies: Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Notion, Zotero, WordPress, Adobe Suite (Premier, Audition, Spark), Asana, Monday.com, Ren’Py, GitHub
Languages: Python, MarkDown, MySQL
Teaching Recommendations
Catherine Dyer, MEd. & Luiza Guimaraes
- Class Taught: BCSC 216, Professional Communications on March 23rd, 2023
- Topic: Evaluating successful communication
- Class Taught: MST 350, Understanding Videogames on October 28th, 2025 [Guest Lecture]
- Topic: Cozy game culture and feminist gameplay