William Nation PhD (he/him)

Will (Dr. Nation is his father) is a Staff Psychologist at Johns Hopkins University Counseling Center and runs his private practice. He is also on the editorial board of Board Game Academics, a journal that publishes academic work centered around gaming in education and human services. In addition to these roles he creates nerdy content, reviews games, consults on psychological projects, and speaks at professional conferences and fandom conventions about mental health and nerd culture. He is also a published author on social isolation, the psychology of anime, fandom communication, and TTRPG usage in therapy. Will also regularly consults, plans, and teaches on social justice and diversity-related education.

Will utilizes nerd culture in his everyday psychological practice, regularly engaging with clients about what media and interests they find valuable. His office sign board currently quotes Wheezy Waiter. He also hosts D&D therapy groups and outreach workshops for college students to create connections and practice life skills. Current projects include writing therapeutic RPG worlds, creating novel outreach modalities, and a Stardew Valley group therapy.

Will is ever focused on “the big picture” in an existential sense and incorporates gaming and nerd culture as ways to meet people where they are and create meaningful change.

In his off time, Will DMs a now 4+ year 5e Campaign set in the world of Final Fantasy XIV and moonlights as Melodious, a Satyr Rogue who inexplicably shows up at social events and knows literally everyone. His favorite games include Gloom, Once Upon a Time, and Geek Out. Outside of tabletop gaming, he watches a lot of soccer and football and plays Coral Island and Hades 2. He has only been mistaken for an immortal Russian cryptid twice this year.