Dianna Lora ’00, a licensing production manager for Star Wars at Zynga, was the featured speaker for the Jacobs Residency Lecture on Monday, October 24, in the Burgin Center for the Arts’ Simon Theatre.

Describing herself as “a Bronx, NY, Chica at heart,” Lora currently resides in Austin, TX. Before working in gaming, Lora was a performer who played a slew of interesting characters, learned how to fall out of buildings, and partook in the occasional swashbuckling battle. She has more than 14 years of experience in the gaming industry as a writer, host, producer, and licensing and partnership professional. She’s produced her own video game TV show, started a podcast “before it was cool,” and has worked at companies like Massive Entertainment, Ubisoft, Sony, Deep Silver, and ASTRO Gaming. In her current role as licensing production manager for the Star Wars property at Zynga, she manages the relationship between the studio, Lucasfilm, and external partners.

Lora also has the honor of being a part of The Game Awards: Future Class, the SXSW Game Advisory Board, as well as multiple appearances on gaming podcasts, events, and shows. She's also been a union representative, a global leader for her company's Employee Resource Group (ERG), a diversity and inclusion representative, a vocal supporter and self-proclaimed rabble rouser, pushing for accountability and change in her industry and the game.

Driven by a passion for helping others, Lora makes it her mission to reach out and help others by bringing people with her, elevating others’ voices, and fighting for impactful change in the gaming industry. She can be found on social media taking endless pictures of her pets, talking about space, history, and baking, or desperately dreaming of the perfect sandwich.

While at Mercersburg, Lora was president of the Black Student Union, captain of the volleyball team, and was involved in Stony Batter, Chorale, Magalia, Spanish Club, International Club and the Student Activities Committee. After Mercersburg, she received a bachelor of fine arts in music theater from Ithaca College, in Ithaca, NY.

The Jacobs Residency Lecture is endowed in memory of John Alfred Morefield, the father of John Morefield ’52 and Fred Morefield ’53, in recognition of Wilmarth I. Jacobs, the school’s former assistant headmaster and director of admission (1915 to 1962), who personified a strong quality of non-elitism.