UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — College of Arts and Architecture alumni Mary Lou Belli, a 1978 theatre alumna, and Michael McIntyre, a 1990 graphic design alumnus, were honored on Sept. 18 by the Penn State Alumni Association with Alumni Fellow Awards.
Mary Lou Belli is an award-winning film and television director and author who has directed or produced hundreds of shows, including “Monk,” “NCIS New Orleans,” “Bull,” “Girlfriends” and many more.
Belli began her directing career in theater and transitioned to television and film in the late 1980s. She has since directed a range of genres, including comedies, dramas and teen sitcoms. Her excellence in the industry has earned her two local Emmy awards, multiple Emmy nominations, and additional industry awards. Known for her advocacy, she supports many diversity programs, focusing on directing workshops for women and mentoring programs for young professionals.
Belli’s dedication to mentoring fueled her to co-author four books that teach the craft of acting and directing for television.
She is a volunteer leader for numerous industry organizations, including the Directors Guild of America, Emmy Foundation Internship Program, Alliance of Women Directors, Women in Media, Film Fatales, and Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, among others. She is also a sought-after judge and panelist for top organizations in her field, including film festivals, the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Belli is a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association and a previous winner of the College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Award.
Michael McIntyre is the CEO of MOCEAN, a creative marketing agency that he co-founded in 2000 in Venice Beach, California. MOCEAN has produced award-winning campaigns for brands such as Disney, Apple, Chevrolet and Amazon. It is the largest independent entertainment marketing agency in Hollywood.
The firm has earned 500 major industry awards, including Emmys for “Outstanding Promotional Announcement” in 2012 and 2013.
Since 2021, McIntyre has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Before starting MOCEAN, he worked as a graphic designer for the Cimarron Group, and then joined Craig Murray Productions in 1997 as creative director of motion graphics.
As part of his visit to Penn State to accept his award, McIntyre took time to visit Stuckeman School graphic design students in Assistant Professor Emily Burn’s second-year studio.
About the Alumni Fellow program
The Alumni Fellow program is administered by the Penn State Alumni Association in collaboration with the University’s academic colleges, campuses and the Office of the President. It is the most prestigious designation from the Alumni Association.
More than 800 alumni have been titled Alumni Fellow out of more than 750,000 living alumni since the award was established in 1973. Learn more about the award and this year’s recipients on the Alumni Association website.