Dr. Sandra Kay Helsel played a defining role in shaping the early XR industry through media, events, and public advocacy. In the late 1980s and 1990s, she founded Virtual Reality World and edited VR News/Report, becoming the first journalist of record for immersive technology.

As program chair of the first commercial VR conference in 1990 and later producer of the VR World Conference & Expo, Helsel earned the title “First Lady of VR” for uniting global researchers, entrepreneurs, and the public around emerging virtual technologies. She introduced mainstream audiences to foundational XR concepts like cyberspace and virtual humans, and co-edited “Virtual Reality: Theory, Practice and Promise” (1992).

With a background in ethnography, Helsel translated technical breakthroughs into human-centered narratives that advanced public understanding of immersive tech. Her work helped legitimize VR during its earliest wave and laid the communication infrastructure that continues to support XR innovation today. Dr. Helsel continues to be an active mentor to emerging professionals in the XR space, fostering a community that values interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.