Shirley McPhaul

Director of Education and Community Outreach

Shirley is the Director of Education and Community Outreach of the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association. She holds two Master Degrees in comparative studies, one in cultural semiotics and a second one in narrative and communications. Her research in these topics is focused on game environment design, reception, popular culture and interactive design, fictional worlds and gender theory. Her theoretical and humanistic background, in addition to her experience in academic research, have allowed her a privileged vantage point and a deep understanding of some of the most complex concepts being discussed today in digital culture. In 2019 Shirley co-founded the Puerto Rico Game Developers’ Association and has been part of the videogame industry since 2008, but has been a gamer for far longer than that. Through her work at the PRBTA, Shirley advocates for the average person to participate in building Web 3.0 by making the understanding necessary to get started free and easy to access. Her favorite games are "FinalFantasy 9", "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" and "Undertale".