My name is Courtney Eddy, and I am a third-year student with a concentration in Event Planning. I enjoy swimming and worked as a swim coach for five years. This past summer, I gained valuable experience in both event and restaurant operations at a country club. I was motivated to become a lab assistant by learning about the research conducted in the lab through Dr. Shen, and I hope to gain more hands-on experience in this field.

I’m a third-year EIM major concentrating in Sport Management and minoring in Spanish. After working with Cal Poly Athletics as a marketing intern, I’ve gained some experience in implementing promotions and coordinating events. As a marketing lab assistant I hope to bring more attention to what the lab does and how involved our major is for the experience industry. I’m excited to see what I learn from this hands-on experience!

I’m Poppy Whittle, a fourth year EIM student with a concentration in Event Planning and Experience Management. As a Research Assistant in the Experience Industry Lab, I’m interested in exploring how emerging technologies can enhance the way people connect, engage, and experience events. This year I am looking forward to contributing toward initiatives that build innovation through teamwork!

Being a lab assistant has allowed me to become more involved with the department and understand more of the research behind the experience and hospitality industries. As a lab assistant, I get to work with managing the cutting-edge technologies our lab hosts, and supporting the operations of events hosted within the lab!

I’m Crystal Smith, a Business Administration student with a minor in EIM. I’m passionate about the business and operations side of the experience industry and enjoy learning how everything comes together behind the scenes. I joined the lab to gain hands-on experience and contribute to projects that have deep impacts.

My name is Michaela Bathan, and I am a second-year Experience Industry Management student at Cal Poly. During my first year, I had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by assisting my professors with a research project in downtown SLO. That experience inspired me to become a Lab Assistant this year so I could continue growing my experiences. I am now part of the Marketing Lab Assistant team and am excited to contribute to the lab’s growth and success.

Going into my second year as a Lab Assistant, I’ve gained a deep understanding of the operations that keep the lab running smoothly. This role has greatly enhanced my professional skills, especially communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, through consistent, hands-on experience. What I enjoy most is collaborating with my peers outside the classroom and working with the wide range of advanced technology I help operate and maintain.

Being a lab assistant, I have been focusing on our lab’s technology which has opened my mind to the amazing benefits technology provides to the experience industry world. I really gained a passion for researching and discovering the numerous ways virtual reality can change someone’s environment and overall experience. This position has provided me the opportunity to connect within my major, while growing my knowledge.

I've helped develop our website using CSS for layout and design, supported in setting up multiple departmental events, and worked with Cal Poly's Property Accounting Team to ensure the smooth moving of tagged lab equipment. My favorite part of the job is working side by side with my team, facing challenges together, and enjoying the wins. It's the teamwork that makes the job awesome.

I love designing experiences and this lab is a perfect place to hone those skills. As it's my last year at Cal Poly, I'm really looking to make an impact and foster the next generation of experience designers.

Description goes hereAs an EIM Lab Assistant, I have gained valuable hands-on experience and had the opportunity to work with new technology that enhances our field of study. This role has not only refined my digital communication and creative design skills but also taught me the importance of effective collaboration in a professional environment.

My favorite aspect of being a lab assistant is the level of involvement I have with the lab's operations and the events it hosts. This role has provided me with the unique opportunity to participate in numerous functions that I would not have had access to otherwise.

Taking on the role of Lab Assistant has allowed me to have a more personal and active role in the Experience Innovation Lab. I've enjoyed promoting the lab's latest advancements in technology, while also helping the lab to be a versatile space for hosting meetings, events, and activities that directly support the EIM department, with a particular focus on benefiting students.

Being a Lab Assistant has been such an amazing journey! My favorite part was developing and designing the website for the Experience Innovation Lab. It was a great introduction to the UX industry, and I had fun exploring that in our lab. I had a blast working with the team and being guided by our amazing faculty.

Working as a lab assistant has given me the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technology while collaborating with fellow peers and industry professors. I have enjoyed the hands-on learning experience that being a lab assistant has given me.

In my role as an EIM Lab Assistant, I have gained valuable hands-on learning experience while being exposed to cutting-edge technology within the newly established Experience Innovation Lab. Collaborating closely with leading Cal Poly professors and other EIM students has not only provided me significant guidance within the classroom, but also extends to mentorship and professional skill development outside of the classroom. I have fostered meaningful connections and ultimately attribute being a lab assistant to a rewarding educational journey.

As a Lab Assistant, I have experienced numerous professional development opportunities that have deepened my understanding of the pivotal role our lab plays in the industry. Through hands-on engagement, I have embraced the Learn by Doing philosophy, expanding my skill set to include proficiency in website design. This role has not only allowed me to connect with Cal Poly Professors, industry professionals, and fellow EIM students but has also ignited my excitement for the promising future of EIM.

Being a part of the lab has brought me a new fascination with our industry. I hope to make the technology in the lab accessible and fun to those in the field.