Mary Lou Belli, a two-time Emmy award-winner, has been directing television for over 30 years in many genres from sitcoms to procedurals to documentaries including Elsbeth, NCIS New Orleans, Sweet Magnolias, Black Lightning, Bull, Legacies, Station 19, Monk, Famous In Love, Devious Maids, The Quad,American Woman, and Hart of Dixie as well as Disney’s The Secret of Sulphur Springs and Wizards of Waverly Place as well as Sister Sister, Girlfriends, and The Game. She’s been nominated three times for Primetime Emmy for Comedy Directing of The Ms Pat Show. She also received another Emmy nomination in 2022 in the Children’s Programming category.

Through her teaching, she supports many of the vibrant diversity programs. She’s the co-author of four books: “The NEW Sitcom Career Book,” "Acting for Young Actors," "PERFORM: Acting for the Screen" and “Directors Tell the Story.” Currently, she’s a governor for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.