Meet the Nerds

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Nolie MacDonald

Nolie MacDonald

Chief Executive Officer

Nolie MacDonald is a visionary leader with a 20-year career that includes spearheading digital transformations in marketing and technology at a global technology solutions provider. Her remarkable integration of advanced technology and her passion for using augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) in mental health treatment, stemming from her personal journey, have positioned her as an influential figure in these fields. This foundation was instrumental in shaping VRenity's mission to build a better future for trauma treatment using AR/VR technology.

 
 
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Eric Nevala

Sr. Developer, Virtual Reality

Eric Nevala is a seasoned software engineer with over twenty years of experience, renowned for launching the indie VR game "Spellbound" on Steam. A Marine Corps veteran, he distinguished himself as a "combat programmer" in war zones, where he developed vital systems for civil reconstruction projects and strategic tools for NATO. His expertise extends to managing IT infrastructure and innovating in AR & VR simulations at Meta Research Labs, including the creation of a sophisticated 80-node render farm from scratch. Eric's career also includes impactful roles at Raytheon, where he worked on avionics training software, and at Electronic Arts, contributing to the Frostbite game engine, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to technological innovation and excellence.

Ryan Smith

Ryan Smith

Chief Technology Officer

Ryan Smith is the newest Senior Developer at VRenity, overseeing the creation of the virtual worlds, characters, and interfaces that bring VRenity to life. Ryan is a world leading expert in immersive technologies like Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality. He has crafted scores of unique experiences, and redefined what is possible by patenting groundbreaking new input technology. For the last decade, Ryan has been pivotal in developing groundbreaking VR and AR applications at a variety of startups, as well as tech giants like Facebook Reality Labs and Meta Research.

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Preeti Shrikhande

Advisor

Preeti Shrikhande is a distinguished advisor at VRenity, where she blends her profound expertise in software engineering with a deep passion for mental health innovation. An MIT graduate in Computer Science, Preeti has spent her career at the intersection of technology and wellness, contributing to significant advancements in therapeutic digital solutions. Prior to her advisory role at VRenity, she led projects at Amazon and Microsoft, focusing on technologies that support mental well-being. Her strategic vision and technical acumen are instrumental in guiding VRenity through the evolving landscape of mental health technologies.

Flint Epsil phd

Flint Espil

Advisor

Flint Espil an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of California. He brings over a decade of training in evidence-based approaches to psychotherapy, assessment, and implementation science to his role as a VRenity advisor. In addition to his academic research, Dr. Espil’s career includes partnerships with school districts, hospitals, academic medical centers, and private companies to help improve mental and behavioral approaches to care and implement valid and reliable ways to measure outcomes.