Student Spotlight: Everlynn Khamjoi
November 17, 2025
Everlynn Khamjoi is a doctoral student in communication from Stockton, California. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of California, San Diego and now studies how asset forms within the video game industry and the political economy of video games under the guidance of danah boyd at Cornell.
What is your area of research and why is it important?
My research is predominantly focused on asset forms within the video game industry and how assets further affect the political economy of video games. This entails studying ownership and power structures within the video game industry, game developer labor, the differing monetization models of games, and analyzing the social and cultural implications of assets and asset creation. I am also interested in exploring how gamers, esports, and Twitch act as social forces and how they interact to reinforce the cultural and economic dynamics of the current video game ecosystem.
What are the larger implications of this research?
My work adds to the extremely limited literature analyzing how wealth accumulation within the industry has broader implications for society in ways most people do not consider games to have an effect on. This could be anywhere from macro level tolls, such as the environmental impacts of how much energy is used to sustain live-service games around the clock, to micro level experiences, such as game developer labor conditions. When taking a political economy approach to video games, I aim to understand questions of monopoly power, media consolidation, who gets to say what types of games are made and distributed, as well as how capital flow and labor practices in the gaming industry mirror social hierarchies of global inequality.
What does it mean to you to be a Dean’s Scholar?
Being a Dean’s Scholar means being able to be a voice for first-generation college students. It means acknowledgement for my hard work and perseverance thus far and for having potential to make a meaningful impact at Cornell and the communities I am in. It reminds me that I am but one voice, but a voice that brings with it lived experiences and perspectives that are valued and can enrich others’ understanding for the communities I represent. Throughout my life, I strove to surround myself with more inclusive, empathetic, and equitable environments. As a Dean’s Scholar, it means being dedicated to creating and sustaining such spaces throughout my career and personal life.
What are you most looking forward to in regards to being a Dean’s Scholar?
I look forward to making connections with other graduate students across Cornell’s campus. As a first-generation, non-traditional student, my academic career has not always been the easiest, but through the opportunities provided by the Graduate School, I hope to make lifelong friends and connections. During one of the first Dean’s Scholars seminars, I was able to meet so many engaged and vibrant scholars doing admirable work. I look forward to continuing to be inspired by them and learning from their involvement, contributions, and activism.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of your research or scholarship?
I am a Lao American and Lao culture honestly revolves around food, so I love to cook and bake and host friends through dinner nights. I love staying active and tend to juggle a few physical activities, but rock climbing has been a mainstay over the past few years. I also enjoy reading and playing both video and board games. When I’m not keeping busy with those hobbies, I love taking walks and spending time outdoors with my partner and dog.
Why did you choose Cornell to pursue your degree?
Cornell is where anyone can study anything! I appreciated how interdisciplinary Cornell’s communication department was compared to other universities. Game studies is not as dominant in media studies programs as one would think, and Cornell was the best home for a budding area of research. I knew that my interests in multiple fields would be encouraged and best supported at Cornell.