Debra McGrory is founder of Kinetek (an immersive media production company), a dynamic digital innovator, creative producer, curator, educator, and seasoned entrepreneur with expertise in digital media, XR technologies, immersive art and storytelling. She was in the first cohort at MIT PlayLabs accelerator for VR/AR/AI startups (2017) and skilled in producing immersive and multisensory transmedia experiences using using Generative AI and XR. She is an Assistant Professor at The New School. In 2025 she taught the first Generative Art and AI course at Williams College. She recognized as an innovative leader by Fast Company, data sonification expert by Google, and has provided emerging tech consultancy to the UN. Debra has a long-standing reputation for designing, implementing, and leveraging cutting-edge digital technologies, she launched four Google-supported data-driven software products. She has a talent in understanding and managing complex data projects and communicating concepts to technical and non-technical audiences. Speaking Highlights (5 years) • Stanford University – Data Sonification Guest Lecture, Data Journalism Course • Medill-Northwestern University – Beyond Data Visualization Guest Lecture, Data Journalism Course • Google – DATAVIS TALKS – 1st external expert to speak on Data Visualization and Sonification • National security-focused US Government agency/audience – Emerging Technologies/Adapting to Disruption • Fast Company – ‘What’s Next for Virtual Reality’ and 3D data panel at Fast Company Innovation Festival • Massachusetts Institute of Technology – XR Hackathon – ‘Building Immersive Data Visualization Using WebXR” • United Nations – Consultant VR/Data Expert – E-Analytics training to departments OICT, DPA and UNITAR • Harvard WeCode Conference – Guest lecture - ‘The Value of Immersive Visualization’ • World Bank Group – Visual Knowledge: Beyond Words – Data Visualization and Knowledge Management • Uniondocs – Storytelling for Immersive Documentary Workshop – ‘Immersive Storytelling Using WebXR’ • Digital Hollywood Conference – ‘VR-AR Production on the Edge: Storytelling in Content and Advertising’ Awards & Recognition • New York Times / NYC Media Lab Spatial Computing Challenge, Winner, 2020. • Research Fellow, Urban Systems Lab, 2020. • Online News Association Journalism 360 Award, Winner, 2019. • The New School, Design For Aging, Research Grant, Winner 2019. • Gannett Foundation Award for Technical Innovation in the Service of Digital Journalism, Finalist, 2019. • Kantar Information Is Beautiful Awards, Finalist, 2019.