Albertus Magnus College Appoints Dr. Tarishi Verma as Inaugural Director of Ditkoff Immersive Learning Collaboratory

New Haven, Conn., March 30, 2026 –Albertus Magnus College is pleased to announce the appointment of Tarishi Verma, Ph.D., as the Inaugural Director of the Carol G. Ditkoff ’67 Immersive Learning Collaboratory, which will include the implementation of fully immersive Dreamscape Learn virtual reality (VR) pedagogy.

Made possible through the historic $3M gift from alumna Carol Ditkoff and her husband, James, Albertus will be the first college or university in New England to deploy the cutting-edge learning technology on behalf of its students. As Inaugural Director, Dr. Verma will oversee the integration and expansion of the College’s Dreamscape Learn platforms and the new Collaboratory’s programming, including a VR classroom, a VR free roam pod, and the College’s Esports program.  

Dreamscape Learn is a collaborative venture between Dreamscape Immersive and Arizona State University, combining the emotional power of Hollywood storytelling with advanced educational science and experiential learning. The technology allows students to engage in hands-on learning in core disciplines by moving beyond traditional textbooks and into experiential, cinematic environments.   

Dr. Verma, an Associate Professor of Communication at Albertus, brings a unique interdisciplinary background to the position. She earned her Ph.D. in Media and Communication from Bowling Green State University, and her ongoing research focuses on media and culture, digital labor, and film studies, making her uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between cinematic technology and academic praxis. A former journalist with The Indian Express, Verma also possesses extensive experience in documentary production and qualitative research.

"Dreamscape Learn stands out in its ability to create immersive and imaginative worlds that allow for an adventurous yet educational learning experience," said Verma. "It's a pioneering tool for faculty to creatively redirect textbook concepts into a pedagogic feat, inspiring students’ intellectual curiosity and deeper learning, while continuing to support outcome-oriented critical thinking and academic achievement."

As the Collaboratory’s Inaugural Director, Dr. Verma will lead faculty training and curriculum development, ensuring that the Dreamscape Learn platform serves as a transformative tool across disciplines. The Ditkoff Immersive Learning Collaboratory is the latest example of the College’s commitment to delivering innovative experiential and interdisciplinary education. Dr. Verma’s teaching philosophy, centered on empathy, learning, and praxis, will guide the implementation of the VR technology, ensuring that the digital experience remains grounded in real-world application and critical consciousness.

"We are thrilled to have Dr. Verma lead this transformative initiative," said Albertus Magnus College Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Rosa E. Rivera-Hainaj. "Her distinguished background as a faculty member and scholar in media studies provides a deep pedagogical foundation for this transition. By blending scholarly insight with a commitment to empathy-driven, skills-based teaching, she is uniquely positioned to empower students navigating an evolving workforce. As Albertus Magnus College embarks on its second century of excellence, the deployment of Dreamscape Learn signals our bold commitment to the next frontier of experiential education - where academic rigor meets immersive innovation."