Staff

Dr. Brett Ashley Crawford,
Executive Director/Publisher

Brett (she/her) teaches in the graduate arts & entertainment management programs and directs the Arts Management and Technology Laboratory at the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University.  She has an MFA in arts administration and a PhD in theatre history and criticism. Her research includes work on women and minorities in arts management, organization ecologies, the use of technology in arts and management, marketing and arts audiences. Her most recent work is being published Raising the Curtain: Performing Arts Success Stories from Leaders & Artists.

She has 25 years of professional experience as an AEA stage manager, director, writer, theatre marketer and manager. She has worked in New York, Georgia, Tennessee, and Maryland/DC. She was managing director for 3 institutions, the last being Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD. She has presented invited lectures and workshops to international, national, and DC audiences, including groups visiting from various international countries for the Department of State, the University of Helsinki, the Association of Arts Presenters, the DC Coalition on Heritage and Tourism, Performing Arts Exchange, Theatre Communications Group, and the Center for Cultural Studies at UC Santa Cruz.

HANNAH WING-BONICA, Chief Editor of Research

Hannah (she/they) is currently a Master of Arts Management student at Carnegie Mellon University and serves as the Chief Editor of Research at AMT Lab. She has a B.A. in English with a concentration in Writing and Rhetoric from George Mason University and a certificate in Storytelling and Content Strategy from the University of Washington.

Hannah has worked and interned for a wide range of companies in both the private and nonprofit sectors, including USA Today Co. (formerly Gannett). In 2022, she founded her own business, Airfoil Storytellers, to help creatives and arts organizations tell their stories through mission-driven content strategies. Through their role as Chief Editor of Research, they work with Dr. Crawford to curate editorial content highlighting the latest research and trends at the intersection of arts and technology. Hannah is interested in how artists can use emerging technologies to create new works, big tech’s current (and future) role in the art world, and the impact of tech policies on the arts. 

Their writing has been featured in BroadwayWorld DC, Collider, and onStage Pittsburgh. 

JULIA SRNEC, LEAD RESEARCHER

Julia (she/they) is currently a Master of Arts Management student at Carnegie Mellon University and serves as the Lead Researcher at AMT Lab. In her role, Julia contributes to projects actively advancing understanding of arts, technology, and management. She is passionate about exploring the intersections of culture, innovation, and creativity to foster further understanding of how to best support the future of the field. 

Julia earned her bachelor’s degree in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Relations from Cleveland State University, where she learned to approach her research through a multifaceted lens. Her past research experience focused on advancing linguistic accessibility and understanding multicultural interaction, both of which continue to contextualize her current research approach. 

Beyond research, Julia has years of experience in journalistic editing and management, hands-on arts and cultural education, and arts organization support. She hopes to apply her past experience to her research, and inspire impact within the visual and performing arts sectors. 

VANESSA FAN, SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING MANAGER

Vanessa (she/her) is currently a Master of Entertainment Industry Management student at Carnegie Mellon University, with an interest in music and technology. She earned her B.A. in Business Administration at the University of Western Ontario, where she developed a strategic and analytical approach to marketing.

At the AMT Lab, Vanessa’s role is to translate new findings from the AMT Lab and decipher student projects into engaging stories for professionals both in and out of the arts field. She is focused on using visual storytelling and strategic insights to expand the Lab’s digital presence, as well as educating community members
on unique and creative research conclusions.

Before joining the AMT Lab, Vanessa gained experience spanning music, marketing, analytics, and consulting. Her diverse background has allowed her to work on promotional and marketing campaigns, videography work, and financial analysis. Her goal is to encourage the research on digital storytelling and creative technology, and introduce new audiences to these perspectives.

Ife Martin,
Technology Manager/Podcast Engineer

Ife (she/her) is a first-year Master’s student in Entertainment Industry Management at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College. She is a 2026 graduate from Howard University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in TV and Film.

Ife has always been interested in the intersection of arts and technology, focusing on how to increase intercultural connection and learning. She has begun exploring how technology and data inform storytelling through internships with The Walt Disney Company and Starz Network. During her time at Carnegie Mellon, Ife is excited to learn more about how technology can assist with localizing and translating international content.

At AMT Lab, Ife serves as the Podcast Producer and Technology Manager. She uses her
experience in sound recording and voice acting to manage AMT Lab’s Tech in the Arts
Podcast. In this role, she joins the AMT Lab team in facilitating important conversations
about the future of technology, AI, and the Arts.

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