Dave Lasala & Andrew Stapp
Dave is Director of the Immersive Technology Lab (iTLAB); Andrew is an Experiential Designer for Interactive Development & XR Technology.
Our roles in the CFA
Dave: I create plans and design operations for extended reality (XR) technology usage in support of the goals of the Center for Faculty Advancement (CFA) and NYU. I develop and lead short- and long-term strategies to achieve CFA’s goals, provide insights and advice to senior leadership, manage relationships with collaborative partners, and supervise the iTLAB. I also provide client training and support for XR, conduct workshops and presentations, and create content for immersive learning experiences.
Andrew: I am an experiential designer in the immersive technology lab, where I design and develop software and processes to effectively integrate immersive technology into an academic setting. My role involves teaching and sharing knowledge with faculty across the university, enabling them to utilize these technologies both in and out of the classroom. At the core of my position, I serve as a technology communicator, bridging the gap between cutting-edge XR tech and its practical applications in education.
Most enjoyable thing about our work
Andrew: I get to share my passion for technology with others every single day. Whether it’s through developing XR experiences, or teaching students and watching their excitement as they grasp new concepts, I love seeing how technology can transform lives. And being a part of that transformation is incredibly fulfilling. Each day brings new opportunities to inspire and be inspired.
The range of teaching challenges we can address with Extended Reality (XR) is exciting
Dave and Andrew demonstrating how to use a VR headset at New Faculty Orientation 2024
Proudest recent accomplishment at work
Dave: I am most proud of developing a functional system for scanning real-world objects into 3D models. Overcoming this challenge has been a goal of mine for years. The solution is still being optimized, but it marks the beginning of a new iTLAB service that I believe may bring great value to the NYU XR community.
Proudest recent accomplishment outside work
Dave: I am close to finishing my third book. Although all three are unpublished, I plan to change that in 2026. Writing has been a fulfilling journey, much of which happens on my morning and afternoon subway commute, and I am excited about the prospect of sharing my work.
Andrew: I was honored to become a Fulbright specialist and teach extended reality development at Manouba University in Tunisia. During my time there, I played a key role in jumpstarting their immersive program. I taught the faculty how to create virtual reality applications, providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge to share the excitement of VR development with their students.
What inspires us professionally
Dave & Andrew: The range of teaching challenges we can address with Extended Reality (XR) technology is exciting. For example, virtual reality can support more personalized learning environments like the one we created with Linda Sormin, Associate Professor of Studio Art, for her ceramics students to share their work during the pandemic. And the VR modules we created with Jack Caravanos, Clinical Professor of Environmental Public Health Sciences, allow students to immerse themselves in a global environmental health crisis without leaving campus.
Linda Sormin
Associate Professor of Studio Art
David and his team advanced our understanding and ability to design and participate in virtual “hands-on” 3D drawing, art installation and inclusive, critical discussions, throughout the challenges of the pandemic. We were able to order VR headsets and learned to “install,” view, transform and critique artwork in interactive teaching and learning environments designed by the iTLAB team.
Immersive Gallery: Projects in Ceramics
Jack Caravanos
Clinical Professor of Environmental Public Health Sciences
The VR educational modules I produced were previewed and polished by iTLAB, and I have incorporated them into my graduate course in Global Environmental Health at GPH. Students can now “visit” Ghana and explore polluted places. This semester, with the help of iTLAB, I’ll be directing my students to view the modules using iTLAB’s VR classroom, using headsets to get the full VR experience.
VR Tutorial: Lead-Sheathed Communication Cables