Stories

Bernard Hubbard, S.J., Creative Collaboration Award

In recognition of having established a well-deserved reputation for excellence in educating students by including them in professional research projects or creative activity, thereby transcending traditional teaching models to reach the heart of the research and creative process.

Eight years ago, Lissa Crofton-Sleigh and Em Dang ’20, M.S. ’21 (Imaginarium) began Lingua Vitae, an immersive virtual reality experience that helps introductory Latin students explore Roman history and culture. Students take on the role of Titus, a Roman poet in 46 BCE, walking through the city and speaking Latin with its residents as he seeks a patron. The experience is available to download through the Imaginarium website.

Crofton-Sleigh, chair of the Department of Classics and Ancient Studies, teaches Latin and Greek language and literature. Dang, who until recently managed the Imaginarium, brought expertise in programming, game development, and extended reality. Together, they guided students from Classics, History, Communication, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering as they researched ancient Rome, wrote the script, and created the virtual characters.

The students’ contributions helped shape a resource that can support language learning at Santa Clara and beyond. One graduate reflected that working on Lingua Vitae helped them apply their Latin studies while considering the experience from a beginner’s perspective. They also gained experience with interdisciplinary collaboration and game design.

By bringing students into every stage of a creative project, Crofton-Sleigh and Dang have made Lingua Vitae both an innovative learning tool and a model for collaborative teaching.

Congratulations to Lissa Crofton-Sleigh and Em Dang, recipients of the 2026 Bernard Hubbard, S.J., Creative Collaboration Award!