Ahna Packard

Ahna Packard is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Technology at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), where she teaches in the Interior & Product Design program. She brings over 30 years of professional experience as a set designer in Hollywood and regional theaters into her classroom, enriching her pedagogy with real-world design practices.

Education:

• M.F.A., Theater, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
• B.F.A., Theater, University of South Dakota

Her research centers on creative scholarship through three main streams: artistic projects and art exhibits, theatre productions and entertainment design, and the application of design in educational settings. She integrates tools and technologies from theatrical and interior design into both her teaching and professional work. As a manager and instructor in UNK's fabrication lab, she supports hands-on learning and innovation across disciplines.

Ahna Packard is actively engaged in the academic and artistic community through memberships in professional organizations such as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE, Local 800), Surface Design Association (SDA), Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC), and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT). Her teaching philosophy emphasizes curiosity, experimentation, and lifelong learning, encouraging students to become independent thinkers and problem solvers in design.

She has presented and exhibited her creative work locally and nationally, contributing to conference proceedings and artistic performances, though no peer-reviewed journal articles or formal publications are listed in the source material.

Professional Memberships:

• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE, Local 800)
• Surface Design Association (SDA)
• Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC)
• United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)

Ahna advises students through studio-based learning and mentorship in design practice, though no named graduate students or formal advisees are listed. She contributes to academic infrastructure through leadership in the fabrication lab, supporting student projects and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Her work bridges art, technology, and education, promoting innovative design thinking across multiple platforms and contexts.