Valparaiso University Students Explore the Tabletop Gaming Industry with Exciting Internships

Two Valparaiso University students and one recent alum have been selected as members of the first cohort of paid summer interns with Goodman Games, an international tabletop roleplaying game company.

Alex Pawlowski ’27, Audrey Storer ’25, and Jon Tomasik ’24 will spend the summer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, learning about the game industry, product creation, and event management by traveling with the company to two of the largest gaming conventions in North America: Origins in Columbus, Ohio, and Gen Con in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“Goodman Games is very happy to welcome our first class of summer interns to our Fort Wayne, Indiana, warehouse in May 2025,” Joseph Goodman, publisher and owner of Goodman games, said. “Over the course of the summer, the interns will be exposed to every aspect of game publishing and wholesaling, including product development, design, marketing, distribution, sales, conventions, and more.” 

All three students were introduced to Goodman Games in the Writing Role-Playing Games course, part of the English Department’s minor in Game Narrative and Design run by Martin Buinicki, Ph.D., Professor of English and Richard P. Baepler Distinguished Professor in the Humanities. During the course, they heard from Joseph Goodman and other industry professionals while writing their own original roleplaying game adventures.

In addition to the minor in game narrative and design, Valparaiso University opened its Center for Games and Interactive Entertainment in February of this year. The Center serves as a campus and community resource for playing, studying, and making games in all their forms. In addition to promoting the pedagogy of play, the center helps prepare students interested in entering the thriving game industry.

“We’re especially excited that several of the interns have been well prepared for this experience by Valparaiso University and its Center for Games and Interactive Entertainment,” Goodman said. “We are looking forward to a busy, productive and educational summer!””

Pawlowski, an English major said, “I am excited to have the opportunity to work firsthand in the RPGs industry and to be able to spend my summer working with such an incredible company and group of people.” 

Storer, a Digital Media Arts, agreed, adding, “I’m looking forward to helping at conventions!” 

Internships like these are an important part of how Valpo prepares its students for careers after graduation. For more information about the minor in Game Narrative and Design or the Center for Games and Interactive Entertainment, contact Martin Buinicki at martin.buinicki@valpo.edu.