April Tyack’s Distinguished Scholars

Since DiGRAA’s founding in 2014, we have strived to be the most welcoming and supportive research community possible. The contributions made by core community members like Dr April Tyack exemplify this. Dr April Tyack served as DiGRAA’s Vice President from 2018 to 2021 and epitomised the type of dedication to academic discourse and community-building efforts focused on improving diversity and inclusivity in games studies, which we strive to uphold as a group. Though Dr April Tyack’s bright academic career was far too short, her impact will be felt for many years to come. 

The April Tyack’s DiGRAA Distinguished Scholars are named in honour of DiGRAA’s former Vice President Dr April Tyack, who made our community better. 

These accolades serve to celebrate Dr April Tyack’s life and her lasting contributions to Australasian game studies, as well as formally recognise the indispensable but often invisible advocacy and mentorship that defines DiGRAA—what makes, sustains, and grows our community. To be eligible for selection, the academic must be a DiGRA Australia member whose ongoing support has helped cultivate our local game studies talent.

April Tyack’s DiGRAA Distinguished Scholars

Distinguished Scholars are presented with an engraved plaque bearing a duck image chosen to represent Dr Tyack’s beloved signature duck backpack.

Nominations

We annually invite DiGRAA members to nominate their peers and mentors who they believe have contributed to our DiGRAA game studies community in this way and should be recognised by this award. These nominations help inform decisions and to ensure that deserving recognitions are not overlooked.

Award Committees

Each year, the Distinguished Scholars are judged by the four executive members of the DiGRAA board. Academics already recognised with this honour are also be invited to participate in the selection committee for future years. 

2025 Committee: Associate Professor Brendan Keogh, Dr Erin Maclean, Dr Stephanie Harkin, Dr Jacqueline Burgess
2024 Committee: Dr Mahli-Ann Butt, Dr Erin Maclean, Dr Stephanie Harkin, Madeleine Antonellos

Complaint Procedures

Ultimately, the Distinguished Scholars are named in the spirit of Dr April Tyack; those who we believe do not embody this spirit—or Dr April Tyack would not wish to recognise—are not eligible for the award, even if their contributions are significant.

If you believe an awarded or nominated Distinguished Scholar does not represent Dr April Tyack’s legacy, you can submit your concern to the current DiGRAA President for review.

About Dr April Tyack

Please see Dan Golding’s thoughtful obituary ‘In Memory of April Tyack’ to learn more about Dr April Tyack’s legacy.