Dave Endresak received his M.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies from Eastern Michigan University in 2009. He received his B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies with a minor in Japanese Language and Culture from EMU in 2007, graduating summa cum laude with departmental honors. Dave presented an oral summary of his undergraduate honors research project, “Girl Power: Feminine Motifs in Japanese Popular Culture,” at EMU’s undergraduate research fair and received a senior thesis award for his work. His graduate work included a display presentation for EMU’s graduate research fair, “The Birth of Venus: A History of Women in Simulations and Electronic Games,” covering the history of women in computer programming, gaming, and simulations, as well as various heroine characters from associated entertainment products. Dave has completed all coursework for his Ph.D. in Technology with a concentration in Technology Studies through EMU’s College of Technology interdisciplinary program. His doctoral dissertation research topic is human-computer interaction, specifically human-virtual character and human-artificial intelligence (AI) interaction, with a special focus on exploring the uncanny valley concept and cultural diversity via a grounded theory analysis of audience reactions to and interactions with Vocaloid Hatsune Miku and her live concert performances. This topic intersects fields such as new media studies, technology studies, ecofeminism, women’s and gender studies, cognitive science, and cultural anthropology, thus encouraging a very interdisciplinary approach to his research topic.

Dave is currently working as an independent contractor for a housing complex. His prior work includes working as a doctoral fellow in EMU’s College of Technology for the 2013-14 academic year where he assisted research on grant funding opportunities in information assurance as well as co-authoring grant proposals. His fellowship work included participation in EMU’s Cybersecurity Awareness Committee that was established in order to promote awareness of safe and secure uses of various digital technologies. His 2013-14 fellowship work was a continuation of the previous year’s 2012-13 doctoral fellowship. During the 2011-12 academic year, he worked as a doctoral fellow in EMU’s COT by researching the topics of mass customization and emotional intelligence. Prior to his doctoral fellowship positions, he worked as the College of Technology’s graduate assistant student adviser member of EMU’s Coordinated Student Advising Team (CSAT) where he helped COT students who were on academic probation return to good standing. During the same academic year, he worked as a graduate assistant adjunct instructor by teaching one section of EMU’s Women in Business course. He has also tutored undergraduate students in fields such as mathematics, computer science, and physics, and has worked as a supplemental instruction leader through EMU’s Holman Learning Center for first year students of Japanese language and culture. His professional employment background includes over six years as a general manager for a national chain of family amusement centers, over four years as a professional staff computer programmer/analyst for Compuware Corporation where he was assigned to Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Michigan’s Change of Century year 2000 project as a team leader of the core staff in charge of renovating and testing the largest claims system at the company, and vice president of sales for a small, start-up Japanese game company.

Dave’s research interests include analyzing the interactions between technology and society, as well as feminine motifs in popular entertainment products with a special focus on feminine and cultural elements in Japanese popular culture. He devotes his time to comparing and contrasting cultural elements in entertainment media content, particularly electronic games, animation, movies, and TV shows, and analyzing the functions and processes related to creating and distributing these products and services.

Dave can be contacted via his email listed on his CV for consulting and reporting opportunities that address issues related to diversity, human-computer interaction, and analysis of entertainment media content.