The future is now
Who we are
Ruscella Immersive is a strategic guide for institutions looking to lead the evolution of education, entertainment, and workforce development through immersive technology. We help academic, corporate, and government partners design and activate immersive labs, learning ecosystems, and interactive experiences that drive real transformation. Our approach combines expert consulting, innovative lab design, and ongoing support—aligning technology with pedagogy, storytelling, and mission.
We’re passionate about empowering others with the technology of today to shape the future of tomorrow. Whether it’s reimagining classrooms, training environments, or audience engagement, we help leaders create immersive experiences that inspire, educate, and endure.
Founders
Ruscella Immersive was founded by Joanne Ruscella, JJ Ruscella, and Tim Howes—leaders with a shared history of building immersive ecosystems at scale. The founding team first worked together as part of the Virtual City Brain Trust for Governor Ralph Northam’s Smart Community Initiative, where they helped develop a virtual marketplace for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alongside other Brain Trust members, they went on to form AccessVR, develop a national roadmap for immersive learning deployment with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and launch OrchestrateXR—first prototyped at FLETC and now in active use within the medical industry.
Today, Ruscella Immersive helps universities design, build, and activate immersive labs, and leads the NEXTWave Network—the first-of-its-kind community created to seed, connect, and nurture the future immersive workforce while growing a national pipeline for immersive content creation.
Joanne Ruscella is the Managing Member and CEO/COO of Ruscella Immersive, where she leads strategy, operations, partnerships, and execution across the company’s immersive learning initiatives. With a background spanning operations, finance, consulting, and large-scale program development, Joanne is the architect behind turning bold ideas into sustainable, fundable, and scalable realities. She is known for building strong organizational frameworks, aligning mission with revenue, and ensuring that innovation actually ships—not just inspires.
Managing Member | CFO & COO | Co-Founder
JJ Ruscella is the visionary and creative force behind Ruscella Immersive. As CEO and Co-Founder, he drives the company’s mission, thought leadership, and immersive storytelling approach. With deep experience in experiential design, immersive media, and transformational learning environments, JJ brings ideas to life in ways that challenge convention and redefine how people engage with content, space, and technology. His work sits at the intersection of creativity, purpose, and impact.
Member | CEO | Co-Founder
Tim Howes is Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Ruscella Immersive, where he leads creative direction, immersive design, and content development. With a strong background in XR production, visual storytelling, and interactive experiences, Tim ensures that every project balances technical excellence with compelling narrative. His work transforms complex concepts into engaging, human-centered immersive experiences that educate, inspire, and endure.
Member | CCO| Co-Founder
Partners
We partner with visionary educators, industry leaders, and entertainment creators to design and deliver cutting-edge experiential environments that blend storytelling, technology, and interactivity into unforgettable journeys. Whether through XR learning labs, interactive installations, or entertainment-forward experiences, we transform ideas into immersive realities.
