Mary Anna LaFratta is a professor in the School of Art + Design at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina. She teaches web-based interactive design, programming, two-dimensional animation, motion graphics as well as design with print-based media. As an educator, she integrates collaborative, cross-disciplinary collaborative projects into her classes. Her personal creative work involves digital and interactive media exploring ideas related to contemporary social and cultural issues, and human experiences.