Mk Haley, a lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin, has more than 25 years’ experience at Walt Disney Imagineering in themed entertainment design, production, and research and development. Haley has also taught computer animation, game design and themed entertainment design at Carnegie Mellon University, Florida State University and UCLA. In 2022, Haley was elected to the board of directors at the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), a non-profit representing compelling places and experiences worldwide.
One person who nominated Haley said she has “supported students and the next generation in so many different ways”. They added: “She has talked to students around the country, led academic talks, and helped students to grow professionally.”
Haley is also a supporter of the ACM SIGGRAPH, a global nonprofit organisation serving the evolution of computer graphics and interactive techniques. “One of the things I am super excited about now is how graphics and interactive techniques are crossing fields and supporting projects and industries that used to be fairly isolated,” she said.
“Real-time gaming graphics are being used in theme park attractions, digital pipeline processes from film are being used in television and themed experience development processes, virtual reality is being used in pain management for hospital patients. It’s thrilling to see talent and processes seamlessly contribute across wider ranges of projects.”