03/29/2026
đź“ş VIDEO: : Known in-world as Dodge Threebeards and in the physical world as Dr. Gregory Perrier, is our 2026 Thinkerer Award recipient.
It’s a pleasure to introduce the recipient of the 2026 VWBPE Thinkerer Award, an educator whose work has quietly—but profoundly—shaped the way virtual worlds are used for learning.
Dr. Perrier has spent decades expanding the boundaries of what education can look like when curiosity meets innovation.
He began his career with a PhD in plant ecology from Utah State University, followed by eight years in Africa working in rangeland conservation and with USAID—grounding his teaching in real-world impact and global perspective. In 2000, he joined Northern Virginia Community College, where he would go on to inspire generations of students as a biology professor.
But it is his pioneering work in Second Life that truly distinguishes him.
Beginning in 2010, he introduced honors students to immersive, experiential learning in virtual environments—long before such approaches were widely recognized. By 2012, as manager of NOVA’s virtual campus, he transformed a modest initiative into a thriving, dynamic program. What began with just a handful of students grew into an ecosystem supporting over 400 learners annually, with more than 20 structured learning activities spanning biology, art, language, and healthcare.
Yet his impact extends far beyond a single institution. As a founding member and ongoing leader in the Virtual Worlds Education Consortium, Dr. Perrier has mentored educators, helping them find their footing in virtual teaching spaces—whether through workshops, collaborative builds, or his weekly fireside chats that continue to bring the community together.
He has shared his expertise through the Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable, the , and this very conference, always with a spirit of generosity and curiosity. From developing on-boarding experiences for new educators to contributing to widely used orientation spaces, his work has lowered barriers and opened doors for many who follow in his footsteps.
At the heart of it all is a simple but powerful commitment: to imagine new possibilities for learning, and to bring others along in that vision.
For his sustained innovation, his mentorship, and his unwavering belief in the educational potential of virtual worlds, the VWBPE Organizational Committee proudly confirms Dr. Gregory Perrier/Dodge Threebeards as the 2026 VWBPE Thinkerer Award recipient.
Congratulations, Greg!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Kx-N3_qnE
Second Life Virtual Worlds - Best Practices in Education
It’s a pleasure to introduce the recipient of the 2026 VWBPE Thinkerer Award, an educator whose work has quietly—but profoundly—shaped the way virtual worlds...
