Derek Pendergrass has had an accomplished career since graduating in 2009 with a BA in Entertainment Engineering. This Student Directed major combined Technical Direction from the School of Drama with Mechanical and Civil Engineering from the College of Engineering. The unique multidisciplinary pairing of these fields set Derek up for early success in the dynamic and always atypical world of Themed Entertainment.

Derek is now the Vice President of Design & Integration at Meow Wolf after initially establishing and guiding the Technical Direction and Production Design Departments. Prior to joining Meow Wolf, Derek spearheaded numerous significant projects across the globe assuming Technical Design and Direction leadership roles, for notable ventures like Science Storms at the Museum of Science & Industry Chicago, Bell Tower by Mark Bradford at Tom Bradley International Airport, Shanghai Disneyland, Galaxy’s Edge, and many more.

Derek’s career in Themed Entertainment has been devoted to cultivating inclusive, courageous, and empowered teams, fostering a culture of passionate collaboration and world building.