The Rev. Anthony J. Lauck, C.S.C., Award - 2025: Beth Albright '98

Beth Albright '98

Beth Albright has been working in animation since Space Jam in 1996. She joined Pixar Animation Studios as a character shading and groom artist in 2009, working on films including Toy Story 3, Brave, Monsters University, Finding Dory, Coco, and Incredibles 2. She became Pixar’s first female character supervisor on Luca, and currently serves as the visual effects supervisor for Hoppers, set to release in spring 2026.

Albright brings a unique blend of technical expertise and artistic sensibility to her role, working to bring the director’s creative vision to life. She leads key technical departments — including layout, characters, sets, shading, effects, simulation, crowds, lighting, and rendering — guiding teams to collaborate seamlessly and strike a balance between technical feasibility and creative ambition.

Before joining Pixar, Albright spent a decade in 2D animation as a color stylist and assistant art director on films including 101 Dalmatians II, The Fox and the Hound II, and the award-winning short film The Indescribable Nth.

A Columbus, Ohio, native, Albright holds a BFA from the University of Notre Dame (1998) and an MFA from The Ohio State University (2009). She currently resides in Oakland, California.

“At Notre Dame, I learned to challenge my creative ideas and transform inspiration into meaningful connection — an experience that was essential in shaping me as an artist. As a filmmaker, my goal is to illuminate shared human experience, and it’s so gratifying to be recognized by the University for my work.”