Dana Ware (Bruin story since ’07), a renowned Chicana creative director and pioneer in immersive media, believes that storytelling can be a powerful force for healing and connection. Her beliefs and life-changing experiences have shaped her commitment to creating spaces where people can reflect, feel seen, and share their truths.

This commitment to shared storytelling is exemplified in her Leadership roles including Chair of IGDA Women in Games+, advisor to the Game Developers Conference and AIXR, and founder of Utah Latinx Filmmakers and Artists. In these roles Dana has supported and pushed forward initiatives center on inclusion, mentorship, and diverse narratives.

As Chief Creative Officer at ARound, Dana leads the development of large-scale augmented reality experiences that bring audiences together in real time, transforming moments like stadium events into collective, interactive storytelling experiences. Her creative reach spans film, video games, commercials, and groundbreaking location-based virtual reality projects, including Jumanji: Reverse the Curse and Avengers: Damage Control.

Dana’s Bruin story started at UCLA, where she studied Visual Media before earning dual graduate degrees in Game Production and Film and Media Arts from the University of Utah. Today, her work stands at the intersection of innovation and empathy, redefining how technology can connect us, heal us, and move us forward.