Animation Powerhouse Headlines the 2026 Suraj Israni Memorial Lecture

The Suraj Israni Center for Cinematic Arts together with Alumni Relations at UC San Diego proudly invite you to the 2026 Suraj Israni Memorial Lecture, featuring Emmy®-winning producer and UC San Diego alumna Marge Dean.

As Head of the Studio at Skybound Entertainment, Dean leads the development and production of original animated content and is building a new production facility behind major properties including Invincible for Amazon Prime. Renowned for designing and scaling animation studios and pipelines, her career spans leadership roles at Crunchyroll Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, Mattel, Technicolor, and more—shaping the future of animation at a global level.

Beyond the studio, Dean is a transformative industry advocate. As a leader of Women in Animation, she helped grow the organization into a world-class nonprofit reaching tens of thousands of animation professionals and students worldwide, impacting the lives of creative women, transgender and non-binary people around the world. 

Hear her story, gain real-world career insights, and get your questions answered by one of the most influential executives working in animation today.

✨ Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, network, and get inspired by a visionary who has turned bold ideas into industry-defining realities.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

• 2:15 PM: Doors Open
• 2:30 PM: Introductions
• 2:40 PM: Conversation with Marge Dean
• 3:30 PM: Audience Q&A
• 4:00 PM: Closing Reception
• 5:00 PM: Event Ends

EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL. PLEASE RSVP!