INDUSTRY MENTORS

A group of experienced industry professionals will lead the sessions, offering invaluable insights to help you prepare for your career. This includes our lineup of speakers, portfolio reviewers, and speed interviewers—all eager to support your journey into the creative industry

Speakers

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Billy Seabrook

Global Chief Design Officer, IBM Consulting

Billy Seabrook has over 25 years of experience creating innovative digital strategies and customer experiences for leading brands around the world. As the Global Chief Design Officer of IBM Consulting, he leads a team of over 7,000 experience consultants, multi-disciplinary designers, and developers to create smarter businesses through human-centered design and technology. Prior to joining IBM, he held executive creative leadership roles at Digitas, eBay, and Citi where he managed the growth and change of the organizations and the day-to-day activities of global creative teams. Billy strives to discover the unique intersections between art, science, commerce, and storytelling and has won numerous awards for his distinctive work.

Diane Delaney

Interim Assistant Director, CSUN Center On Disabilities

Diane is the Interim Assistant Director of the CSUN Center on Disabilities, where she leads the content development and strategic direction for the CSUN Assistive Technology (AT) Conference. She builds networks with industry experts, academic departments, and community agencies to strengthen engagement and expand opportunities. Prior to this role, Diane spent 39 years at IBM, most recently as the Global Diversity & Inclusion Leader for People with Diverse Abilities and the Neurodivergent Community, advising on hiring strategies and leading D&I initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from SUNY Plattsburgh and is a certified PMP and IBM Executive Project Manager.

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Lisa Feldman

Co-President and Creative Director of Aspect

Lisa Feldman is the Co-President and Creative Director of Aspect, an award-winning creative advertising agency providing strategic marketing solutions across film, TV, video games, and radio. Starting as a Billing Coordinator in 1994, she has advanced through various creative roles, mastering theatrical, home entertainment, broadcast, streaming, digital, and video game A/V. Lisa fosters an innovative and success-driven culture at Aspect, which has earned numerous Key Art/Clio, Golden Trailer, and Promax Awards. She also supports charities like Heal the Bay, LAFH, Carousel Ranch and the Creative Coalition of Color. A Cleveland native, Lisa graduated from UCLA.

Tiz Simpson

Creative Director at Buddha Jones

Tiz Simpson has over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. Starting her career at New Wave Entertainment in the mid-’90s, she advanced from Executive Assistant to Assistant Editor, and in 2000, transitioned fully to editing, contributing to campaigns for films like The Da Vinci Code, The Dark Knight, and Phantom Thread. By 2017, her focus shifted to producing, and she now thrives as a Creative Director, collaborating closely with editors and building strong industry partnerships. Notable campaigns under her direction include Thor: Love and Thunder, Nine Perfect Strangers, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, and the recent hit Agatha All Along.

Will Ragland

Creative Director at Apple

Will is an entertainment advertising veteran who currently works as a Creative
Director at a leading industry Streamer and has led campaigns for a variety of tv
series and films. In his prior role as an agency Creative Director, he was responsible for building teams from the ground up, mentoring young designers, and establishing the creative culture as a lead designer on film franchises and brands such as Spider-Man and Johnnie Walker. As a self-taught designer who benefitted from having incredible mentors throughout his career, Will focuses on supporting the next generation of creative
professionals.

Ruby Cisneros

Senior Manager of Talent Development

Ruby Cisneros is the Senior Manager of Talent Development with a strong focus on talent development and community engagement in the tech industry. She transitioned from K-12 and higher education into EdTech workforce development, where she now leads efforts at LA-Tech.org to connect emerging talent with global tech giants like Microsoft, Netflix, and Waymo. She seeks spaces where she can connect with individuals who share her background and is dedicated to helping talent achieve their dream jobs in tech.

Jessica Strelioff

Co-Founder and Creative Director at Goodside

Jessica Strelioff is the Co-Founder and Creative Director at Goodside, a full-service brand studio for purpose-driven companies. She uses design and strategic thinking to help companies solve problems, seize opportunities, and imagine possibilities. Prior to starting Goodside, Jessica gained experience designing and leading creative in-house at Asana and Yahoo and at agencies such as Farm and Upperquad. Her client list includes Google, Instagram, Patagonia, Robinhood, Salesforce, Resy, The Fine Art Museums of San Francisco, and StockX.

Carla Jimenez

Graphic Designer at LabelTex Mills

Hello! I’m Carla Jimenez, a Hispanic designer who found her love for design at 14, through my high school art program. I pursued design at CSUN, where I was part of IXLA and SAGA. Before graduating, I secured a full time summer internship at OUTFRONT Studios, my work went up on billboards! Now I am a full time Graphic Designer at LabelTex Mills!

Neel Kar

Petrol Advertising VP, Innovation

Neel Kar combines over 18 years of computer graphics expertise with a visionary approach inspired by the imaginative stories of Arthur C. Clarke and Michael Crichton. He holds a Master of Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from The University of Texas at Dallas. Neel has significantly impacted the gaming industry, contributing to major titles like the Call of Duty franchise, Destiny 2, XCOM 2, and The Evil Within 2. Committed to fostering new talent, Neel actively participates in University Outreach programs with institutions such as CMU, CSUN, and Pepperdine. His prior roles include working on the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series and leading an unannounced Jon Favreau-led interactive project.

Shally Juarez

Professor at CSUN

Shally Juarez is an accomplished designer and assistant professor at CSUN’s Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication. She specializes in user experience and interaction design, teaching courses that equip students with skills in intuitive interface design and advanced web techniques. As associate director of Intersect LA (IXLA), she helps guide the creative development of future professionals. A strong advocate for user research, accessibility, and universal design, Shally is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and creativity, making a significant impact on her students.

Magdy Rizk

Professor at CSUN

Magdy Rizk, born in Cairo, Egypt in 1965, moved to the United States in 1969. He earned a B.A. in Graphic Design from CSUN in 1989 and an M.F.A. from California State University, Los Angeles in 2006. Throughout his career, he has worked with clients such as Mattel Toys, Ernst & Young, Fox Entertainment, Disney, and Nova Development, among others. Alongside design, he enjoys creating illustrations for various projects. Magdy’s teaching career began in his undergraduate years, starting with classes on drawing, photography, and airbrushing at the request of the CSUN Associate Students center. In 1997, he became an tenured professor at CSUN’s Department of Art and achieved tenure in 2012, specializing in Typography and Motion Graphics. Currently, as an Associate Chair at CSUN, he continues to teach Motion Design and Typography while freelancing in the Los Angeles area.

Alan Hunter

Co-Founder, CCO, and President of Petrol Advertising

Alan Hunter is the Co-founder, CCO, and President of PETROL Advertising, based in Burbank, California. For over 21 years, PETROL has launched more than 2,000 video games, managed 100+ UFC and sporting events, and helped generate over $50 billion in revenue. Alan’s career began while studying at Art Center in Pasadena, working with clients like the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” toy line and “Video Games and Computer Entertainment Magazine.” In 2003, after a decade in movie marketing, Alan and co-founder Ben Granados founded PETROL using their life savings and a second mortgage, with a vision to lead in video game and interactive entertainment marketing. Today, PETROL is a global agency known for fostering in-house talent, with an average employee tenure of over seven years. Acquired in 2019, PETROL is now part of a larger international group focused on entertainment. Recent projects include campaigns for CALL OF DUTY, DRAGON BALL, WARZONE, LIES OF P, and MARVEL SNAP.

David Block

Graphic Designer & High School Graphic Design Teacher at El Dorado High School

David Block is a Graphic Designer and High School Graphic Design Teacher at El Dorado High School in Placentia, California. He leads a dynamic work-based learning program, called Design Rescue, for advanced and honors students, preparing them for real-world creative careers. Based in Tustin, David works with North Orange County ROP and is the author of The Dragon Codex: Quest for the Relics of Design, a young adult educational/fantasy novel. His goal is to build an exceptional graphic design program that inspires and empowers future designers.

Jada Hernandez

Graphic Design Intern at Hueman Studio

Jada is a Communication Design student at CSUN, graduating with her Bachelor’s degree this December. Throughout her time here, she has gained hands-on experience working with IntersectLA, an on campus creative agency and interning at Hueman Studio. Jada loves exploring brand design and is excited to keep learning how to create identities that connect with people in meaningful ways.

Hailey Ulrich

Communication Designer at IntersectLA

Hailey Ulrich is a social media design intern with Minds Matter SoCal. She works alongside proficient creatives at IntersectLA and is a key part of the CD team. Hailey is a creative strategist, communication designer, and project lead. She is passionate about crafting aesthetically engaging designs that communicate impactful messages. In her design career, Hailey seeks to create designs that spark the spirit!

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Danella Soria

Communication Design Major at CSUN

Ella is a first-generation multi-disciplinary designer focusing on branding and illustration. Living by the phrase “Everything I do, I do with love,” she strives to transform ideas into visual narratives that make a difference. Her work is not just about visuals; it’s about forging authentic connections with brands and their audience.

Summayah Waseem

UI/UX Designer at IntersectLA, Research Fellow at ARCS

Summayah Waseem is a master’s student in Software Engineering at CSUN and a UI/UX Designer at IntersectLA, where she develops user-centered websites. As a research fellow at the Autonomy Research Center for STEAHM, her projects focus on Automation in Construction Code Compliance and Accessibility for People with Disabilities on YouTube. Her work bridges software design and research to create innovative solutions with a focus on accessibility and autonomy.

UI/UX & Visual Designer at IntersectLA

Alexis Mejala is a senior graphic design student at CSUN with a love for bold, modern UX/UI and visual design. Through projects that combine thoughtful design with a fresh, playful edge, Alexis brings the high energy of motorsports into every creative venture. From product design to branding, their work blends technical skill and memorable messaging to craft digital interactions that stand out. Driven by a commitment to accessible and impactful design, Alexis is dedicated to building digital solutions that resonate and inspire.

Olivia Lee

Animator & Illustrator at IntersectLA

Olivia is a double BA student at CSUN diving into the worlds of illustration and animation. At IntersectLA, she loves collaborating with her fellow creatives, where they brainstorm and bring projects to life together. Storytelling is her passion, and she’s all about using captivating visuals to share ideas and experiences that connect with people. Whether it’s through comics or animation, Olivia can’t wait to keep exploring and crafting unique stories through her art!

Josh Fajardo

Graphic Designer at The Dolorosa Tattoo Company

Josh Fajardo is a designer and shop manager at The Dolorosa Tattoo Company in Studio City & Echo Park. At The Dolorosa, he utilizes design and creative strategy to help market and promote the best tattoo artists in Los Angeles that work at the studio. A recent grad of CSUN’s Communication Design area, Josh is always ready to lend a helping hand to students who are interested in a career in creativity.