Institute for Creative Technologies

Director of Strategy, Operations and External Relations

Lori Weiss has expertise allowing promising research to flourish. As ICT’s director of strategy, operations and external relations, she works closely with institute scientists and government program managers to create and refine environments, processes and support for research objectives. She also oversees marketing and public relations efforts, including VIP visits, public tours and media relations.

Weiss joined ICT in 2003 as a special project manager for the virtual humans program, a newly created position that capitalized on her experience facilitating and transitioning technology research to improve training and education. She was named a member of the senior management team in 2007 and has also led or co-led several projects, including Gunslinger and the National Training Center.

Her career in technology and education research began when she joined Apple Computer’s advanced technology group, working with computer pioneer Alan Kay. For over a decade, Weiss served as program manager for several educational research projects at Apple, including the Vivarium program, which provided sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, simulation systems for children, along with computer and network support for classrooms and teachers.

Weiss was also the business manager for Apple’s East/West Consortium, part of Apple Computer’s authoring tools group, which developed tools to empower non-programmers to create interactive content, training and educational software.

Weiss then joined Walt Disney Imagineering’s research and development group as director of business management, where she worked to transition projects out of R&D and into Disney stores, theme parks and Disney’s animation division. She went on to work with two strategic consulting firms in marketing and program development and served as Vice President of program development for Technology Transfer Institute’s Vanguard program.

Weiss earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from UCLA and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She and her husband Bill have two children and live in Playa del Rey, California.