UNA to Host Dr. Lana Israel for Conversation with Alumnus John Briggs
Oct. 29, 2026
Michelle R. Eubanks , UNA, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392
FLORENCE, AL – The David and John Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry at the University of North Alabama will welcome Dr. Lana Israel to campus Tuesday, Nov. 17, for a conversation with alumnus and program namesake, John Briggs. The free event will be from 12:30-1:45 in the Mane Room, at 310 North Pine Street in downtown Florence.
“Dr. Israel’s expertise in psychology and memory offers a unique perspective on how people learn, engage with content, and connect with music, while her experience in the music industry provides practical insight into the business behind the art,” said Janna Malone, chair of the Department.
Dr. Israel earned a doctorate in experimental psychology from the University of Oxford, and she graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her career spans education, psychology, music, and entertainment strategy. Since 1989, she has focused on helping people realize their full potential in educational, creative, and corporate settings.
Her professional experience later expanded into the music and entertainment industries, where she developed global entertainment strategies for Fortune 500 companies and consulted in artist and writer management, publishing and production, strategy and data analytics. Dr. Israel’s work has included collaborations with artists including Garth Brooks, Pink, Jessica Simpson, the Backstreet Boys, Ricky Martin, Shelia E., and Kelly Rowland.
“Hearing directly from someone who has worked with internationally recognized artists and major corporations will help students connect what they are learning in the classroom with the realities, challenges, and opportunities of the entertainment industry,” Malone said. “I hope students leave the conversation understanding that there is no single path to success in the entertainment industry. Dr. Israel’s career demonstrates the value of pursuing diverse interests, embracing new opportunities, and applying skills from one discipline to another.”
The conversation with Briggs will give students and community members an opportunity to hear about Israel’s work across multiple industries and explore connections among creativity, research, technology, and the business of entertainment.
About The University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama, Alabama’s first four-year, state-chartered institution, is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; the Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I and United Athletic conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: www.una.edu and www.una.edu/unaworks/.