Vikki Hrody has been creating professionally since her first freelance design job in high school, building a career across commercial design, illustration, 3D production, game development, digital media, fabrication, 3D printing, and emerging creative technologies. She holds an A.A. in Graphic Design, a B.F.A. in Media Arts and Animation, and an M.F.A. in Animation and Visual Effects from the Academy of Art University, and currently serves as a full-time Associate Professor of Digital Arts and Media at Louisiana State University Shreveport with a Unity Certified Artist credential. Her studio, Melonhead, has evolved from a design and illustration practice into work spanning 3D printing, fabrication, VR development, design education, AI-supported workflows, and artifact scanning for preservation, immersive experiences, and game-based learning. With more than 20 years in the classroom, Vikki brings real client projects, production deadlines, hands-on making, and creative problem solving into her teaching, encouraging students to build with purpose, experiment with confidence, and connect their skills to the professional world.