Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Message from the Dean

Dear Westphal Class of 2026,

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation from Drexel University's Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design! During your time here, you've proven to be adept and innovative thinkers, makers and leaders. You have impressed us with your creativity, your curiosity, your collaborative spirit and your courage. On behalf of the entire Westphal community — the faculty and professional staff who have supported you, the classmates who shared your experiences, and our network of alumni around the world — we are so proud of you!

I can't wait to personally greet you onstage at your Commencement ceremony this June. Congratulations again!

Sincerely,

Debra Ruben
Interim Dean

About the Keynote Speaker

Girish Balakrishnan is an innovative leader operating at the intersection of technology and storytelling. With over a decade of experience spanning studio strategy, business development and production innovation across live action, animation and games, he has helped shape how modern content is created. As senior director of Creative Innovation at Netflix, Girish leads studio investment strategy across emerging technologies, including generative AI, real-time workflows and transmedia. 

Previously, he led Netflix's global virtual production strategy, building and scaling a team of producers, supervisors and technologists that delivered more than 200 titles, including "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey," "Sweet Home," "The Midnight Sky," "1899," "Dance Monsters" and "Avatar: The Last Airbender." During his tenure at Netflix, he has played a key role in strategic investments and acquisitions, including the integration of Eyeline Studios as Netflix’s production innovation hub and the acquisition of Ben Affleck's filmmaking technology company InterPositive. 

Girish's contributions to films such as Disney's "The Lion King" and "The Jungle Book" and Warner Bros' "Ready Player One" helped bring directors, production designers and directors of photography into new creative workflows powered by game engine technology. He holds a patent for a mobile virtual camera system, is a recipient of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) Progress Medal and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Television Academy and a fellow of the Visual Effects Society. Through masterclasses, workshops and published work, he remains committed to supporting and educating the next generation of filmmakers and technologists.