Michael Genova is an educator, technologist, and designer whose career spans more than three decades across higher education, themed entertainment, theatre, and live-event production. He currently serves as the College of Fine Arts co-director for the Entertainment Engineering and Design (EED) program at UNLV, where he leads a unique multidisciplinary program bridging fine arts and engineering.

Before joining UNLV, Genova worked professionally across some of the most complex technical environments in live entertainment. As an automation technician for Le Rêve – The Dream at Wynn Resorts, he was responsible for the operation, inspection, and troubleshooting of large-scale automated systems in a high-risk, multi-axis aquatic performance environment. His fabrication and engineering experience also includes several years with Flying by Foy, where he designed and built automated machinery, flying systems, and mechanical components for major theatrical productions, cruise ships, and broadcast events, including the Super Bowl Halftime Show and American Idiot on Broadway. Earlier roles in CNC operation, drafting, carpentry, and production support broadened his technical expertise in scenic fabrication and industrial event production.

Genova’s creative portfolio includes scenic, sound, and projection design for collegiate and regional theatres, as well as specialized fabrication and design for film, themed entertainment, and live events. He has provided technical direction for opera, theatre, and musical theatre companies across Nevada, Minnesota, and Arizona, and has developed educational workshops such as Animatronics in 4 Days.

Across all aspects of his career, Genova is recognized for integrating engineering rigor with artistic innovation and for his enduring dedication to educating and empowering the next generation of entertainment technologists and designers.