Dan Novy (also known as NovySan) is an Assistant Professor of Emerging Media Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he teaches the Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts course “StoryLab,” and a Research Affiliate at the MIT Media Lab, where he co-originated the "Science Fiction-Inspired Prototyping" and "Indistinguishable from Magic" classes. His work focuses on decreasing the alienation fostered by traditional passive media consumption; increasing social interaction through transparent, interconnected and fluid media; and creating enriched, active, and inspired immediate experiences. He is a former visiting scientist at Magic Leap, and an Emmy- and Visual Effects Society Award-winning VFX technical supervisor, transmedia experience designer, and artist who formerly chaired the Visual Effects Society's Technology Committee. Dan's career path started in an unexpected place—the theater department at the University of Illinois, where he discovered 3D animation and modeling and virtual reality applications on his way to earning a BFA in Theatre, with a concentration in Acting and Directing, and an MA in Theatre History, with a double emphasis in the technical history of the theatre and shamanic ritual performance in pre-agrarian societies. (Ask him about Wet Money in the Restoration theatre, but don’t get him started on the rise of agriculture.) After graduation, he parlayed his independent studies with Video Toaster and the earliest incarnations of Lightwave into a career in visual effects. Driven by curiosity as much as necessity, and spurred on by the frontier atmosphere of the early digital effects industry, he gained unique experience in the creation and supervision of 3D animation and modeling, 2D compositing and match-moving, fluid simulation, and physical fabrication of practical effects. Eschewing specialization, he also developed expertise in system and network administration, clustered storage solutions, database frontend development, project management, and pipeline and workflow management and development. In addition to his continuing work in visual effects, he also branched out into the production of transmedia and IMmedia, in an effort to break through the limits of the mediated experience. This quest brought him to the MIT Media Lab, where he built a range of next-generation displays for his master's thesis, and demonstrated a successful prototype of Programmable Synthetic Hallucinations for his PhD, utilizing the bio-physiological mechanics of hallucination generated in the human brain to display virtual information directly in the visual field.

Juliana Loh is a Creative Producer working hard to change the world by bringing imagination, critical thinking and a sense of play, awe + wonder to the world. She has been at the forefront of story and change for over a decade and is known for her ability to combine art, spatial environments and narratives into projects and spaces that re-invent how people communicate and solve problems. As a talented XR artist specializing in Google Tiltbrush, Juliana uses human-centric design thinking to infuse ideas, experiences, and cultural spaces with structure and meaning. Her award-winning VR worlds have been showcased at global festivals, live VR painting events, and public art venues. She has served as a juror at Siggraph, spoken at numerous global events on the power of art and storytelling, and was recognized as one of the Top 100 XR Women of the Future for her contributions to spatial/creative arts.

Patrick Donoghue is a distinguished Digital Product Executive with over two decades of experience in leading digital product innovation. Beginning his career as a filmmaker, Patrick has consistently leveraged his storytelling acumen to enhance technological engagements. He currently serves as President & Founder of Next Stop Willoughby Inc., where he specializes in developing groundbreaking digital solutions that integrate AI and emerging technologies. His expertise spans across multiple platforms, having pioneered multi-platform virtual reality games, AR-based training services, and AI-driven virtual human products.Prior to founding Next Stop Willoughby, Patrick held several senior leadership roles at Cablevision Systems Corporation and Time Warner Cable, where he directed the conception and execution of several award-winning digital products, significantly enhancing user engagement and satisfaction. An Emmy Award winner, Patrick holds numerous patents in media, technology, and advertising, and is recognized for his inventive contributions to the industry. Patrick’s extensive experience and passion for combining creative direction with technological innovation make him a leading voice in the evolving landscape of AI-driven content creation. He continues to influence the industry by developing products that leverage technology to enhance user experiences and business outcomes.

Noah Taublieb, Sound Designer, Music Composer & Audio Editor: For several years I've been creating original scores and sound effects for video games, podcasts and feature film documentaries. Having graduated with a Bachelors in Digital Music & Sound Design from DigiPen Institute of Technology, I've been trained to work efficiently in high stress environments with tight deadlines."

Tranel Bland, Senior Virtual Production Stage Operator, NEP/ Halon / Lux Machine: A creative technologist with a focus on mixed reality experiences. While working in virtual production with years of experience in the visual effects industry he's the Founder of a startup focusing on the development of a concept for a public facing volumetric capture system for metaverse and mixed reality experiences. 

Anna Marie Piersimoni, Artist & Adjunct Professor, Department of Cinema and Television Arts, California State University, Northridge: With a passion for storytelling and a creative vision Anna Marie has carved out a unique presence in an integrated world of media arts production and education. Her experience spans film and television arts to interactive immersive experiences. This integration is reflected in the scope of her courses in Cinema TV at Cal State University Northridge and University of Nebraska Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts. Her courses include New Directions in Digital Media as well as courses such as Media & Society (Theory and Criticism course), Narrative Storytelling and Digital Filmmaking. As an educator Anna Marie directs her passion towards nurturing the next generation of media professionals. Through her roles in academia, she imparts industry insights and technical expertise as well as a love for storytelling to aspiring filmmakers, media creatives and entertainment media marketers. Anna Marie advocates strongly for media literacy and industry diversity and the crucial role of both in fostering an informed and creative society. Actively participating in initiatives that promote media education and workforce development she underscores the importance of understanding and navigating the evolving media landscape with equity as well as innovation. Anna Marie holds a master’s degree in media psychology from Fielding Graduate University and a BFA in Film/Video from the Hartford Art School (UHA). As Director of Internet Communica2ons for AFI, Anna Marie was responsible for web production and publishing and is well known in the non-profit media arts world. Her multifaceted career and dedication to education underscore her role as a visionary leader in the ever-evolving landscape of media and storytelling.