Our Faculty

Courses at Columbia College Hollywood are taught by a distinguished faculty of creative professionals who are experienced filmmakers, producers, directors, editors, writers, artists, sound engineers, game designers, media makers, cinematographers, and scholars.

Collectively, they have contributed talents, creativity, art, skill, knowledge, and expertise to dozens of studio and independent feature films, hundreds of hours of scripted, reality, and nonfiction television programming, and a vast array of digital media content. Their work has been seen in film festivals worldwide.

They’re active members of the entertainment industry’s most respected professional organizations and guilds, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy), the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Producers Guild of America (PGA), the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), the Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG), the Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA), and the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS).

The college’s adjunct general education faculty members have rich and diverse academic backgrounds in the humanities, natural and social sciences, technology, business, and art.

ALL FACULTY IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

Jawad Ali
MFA, Critical Studies, California Institute of the Arts, 2000
BS, Physics, University of California, Irvine, 1992
Humanities, Physical and Life Sciences

Maylene Au
BA, Motion Picture Television, University of California, Los Angeles, 1990
Cinema, Cinematography

Joe Barrera
MM, Music Composition, North Texas State University, 1976
BM, Composition, Music Theory, North Texas State University, 1974
Cinema, Sound

Linda Beal
MFA, Film and Television, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 1991
JD, Hastings College of Law, 1977
BA, Art History, University of California, Irvine, 1974
Cinema

David Benullo
BFA, Film & Television, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, 1992
Screenwriting

Ed Bishop
BA, Radio-TV-Film, Temple University, 1983
Cinema, Editing

Elizabeth Blakey, PhD
PhD, Sociology, University of Notre Dame, 2009
MA, Sociology, University of Notre Dame, 2007
BA, Liberal Studies, University of Notre Dame, 1983
Social and Behavioral Sciences

Charles Borg
MFA, Screenwriting, Chapman University, 2007
BA, Film Production, California State University, Long Beach, 2005
AA, Film Studies, San Francisco State University, 2002
Film and Cinema, Screenwriting

Jennifer Botich
MA, Interdisciplinary Studies, DePaul University, 2010
BS, Speech Communications, Illinois State University, 1998
Written and Oral Communication

Franco Castilla
MFA, Art, Ohio State University, 2005
BFA, Painting and Printmaking, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2002
Art, Visual Storytelling

Tommy Cho
MFA, Computer Art, School of Visual Arts, New York, 2002
BFA, Computer Art, School of Visual Arts, New York, 1998
Visual Effects

Donna Clesen
MA, Teaching, English Literature, Northeastern Illinois University, 1977
BS, English, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 1971
Humanities

Keith Coene
MFA, Cinema Television Production, University of Southern California, 1991
BA, Philosophy, University of California, Irvine, 1981
Cinema, Producing

Chris Cole
MFA, Experimental Sound Practices & Integrated Media, California Institute of the Arts, 2014
BA, English, Pomona College, Claremont, California, 2005
Cinema, Sound

Andrew S. Conklin
MFA, Fine Arts, The Academy of Art University, 2013
BFA, Electronic Design, The American Academy of Art, 2000
Graphic Design + Interactive Media, Art

Tim Conely
Master of Communication Management, Entertainment, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, 2011
BA, Communication Studies, California State University, Sacramento, 2000
Cinema

Tim Dailey
MFA, Digital Arts, Pratt Institute, 2013
BS, Film and Video, Grand Valley State University, 2008
Visual Effects

Kadina de Elejalde
MFA, Acting, Yale University, 1991
BA, Theater Arts, Barnard College, 1986
Cinema, Acting

Daniel Eaton
MFA, Music Composition, California Institute of the Arts, 2011
BM, Performance, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, 2008
Cinema, Sound

Scott Erlinder
MFA, Film & Video, Columbia College Chicago, 1996
Film and Cinema

Edwin Etolue-O’Chei
MS, Immunology and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Maine, 1990
BS, Medical Biology, University of New England, 1985
Physical and Life Sciences

James Evans
MFA, Theatre Arts & Playwriting, Columbia University, 2001
BA, Creative Writing & Theatre, Santa Fe College of Art and Design. 1993
Humanities

Gordon Firemark, Esq.
BA, Telecommunication and Film, University of Oregon, Eugene, 1998
JD, Southwestern School of Law, 1992
Entertainment Law

Adam C. Frommelt
MFA, Communication Design, Harrington College of Design, 2015
BFA, Communication Design, Harrington College of Design, 2010
Graphic Design + Interactive Media, Visual Communication

Emily Frydrych
MA, Social Sciences, University of Chicago, 2001
BA, Women’s Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2000
Social and Behavioral Sciences

Jennifer Fuller
MS, Digital Cinema, DePaul University, 2010
BFA, Visual Communication, University of Dayton, 2008
Visual Effects, Animation

Michael Galbincea
MFA, Film, Video and New Media, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2001
BA, Communications, Cleveland State University, 1999
Graphic Design + Interactive Media, Visual Effects, Animation

Maria Gavin
MA, Communications, Stanford University, 1987
BA, Communications, University of the Pacific, 1985
Cinema, Humanities

Michael Greenspan
MFA, Directing, American Film Institute, 2002
BFA, Film Production and Theory, York University, 1999
BA, Film Studies, Dawson College, 1995
Cinema, Directing

Adam Hall
MFA, Film Production, University of Southern California, 2011
BA, Political Science, Carson-Newman College, 2005
Cinema, Producing, Humanities

Lori Hammond
MFA, Computer Graphics, Pratt Institute, 2004
BFA, Studio Art – Fine Arts, Northern Illinois University, 2016
Graphic Design + Interactive Media

David Harris
MFA, Screenwriting, American Film Institute, 2003
BA, History, Washington University, 1997
Cinema, Producing

Oscar Harrison
MFA, University of Southern California, 1978
BFA, Howard University, 1972
Cinema, Producing

Ashley Hay
ME, Education: Curriculum and Instruction, Olivet Nazarene University, 2017
BS, Mathematics, Tuskegee University, 2014
BA, Mathematics Education, Tuskegee University, 2014
Mathematics

Killian Heilsberg
MFA, Film and Video Production, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, 1998
BA, Theatre, Berea College, 1992
Film and Cinema

Amen Igbinosun
MFA, Acting, Harvard University, 2013
BA, Business Administration and Theater, Fordham University, 2011
Cinema, Acting

Debra Isaac
MFA, Animation & Digital Arts, University of Southern California, 2009
BA, Design | Media Arts, UCLA School of Arts and Architecture, 2001
Visual Effects, Animation

Julie Janney
Acting, New York University
Member, The Actors Studio
Cinema, Acting

Rick Jesik, PhD
PhD, Physics, University of Illinois, Chicago, 1993
MS, Physics, University of Illinois, Chicago, 1989
Physical and Life Sciences

DeAnn Jordan
MA, English, California State University, Northridge, 2005
BA, English, Creative Writing, San Francisco State University, 1993
Written and Oral Communication

Kudisan Kai
BM, Music, Howard University, 1982
Cinema, Sound

Matt Kaluza
Doctorate of Natural Sciences, Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany, 1990
BS, Physics, Edvard Kardelj University, Slovenia, 1963
Physical and Life Sciences

Chuck Kawal
BA, Recording Arts, Columbia College Chicago, 1986
Recording Arts

Stephen Kniss
MFA, Cinema, DePaul University, 2017
BA, Digital Media, Vocal Performance, Eastern Mennonite University, 2011
Film and Cinema

Janna Lafferty, PhD
PhD, Global and Sociocultural Studies, Geography, Florida International University, 2018
MA, Religion, Duke University, 2013
BA, Study of Religion/Anthropology, University of San Diego, 2004
Social and Behavioral Sciences, Written and Oral Communication

Elizabeth Laidlaw
BFA, Theatre Arts, Illinois Wesleyan University, 1993
Film and Cinema, Acting

Leslie LaPage
MFA, Film and Video–Live Action, California Institute of the Arts, 1994
BA, Theatre Arts, California State University, Los Angeles, 1982
Cinema, Producing

Bradley LaRocco
BA, Liberal Arts, American Studies, Colorado State University, 2004
AAS, Film & Broadcast, Tribeca Flashpoint, 2014
Film and Cinema

Linus Lau
MFA, Film Production, University of Southern California, 2004
BA, Music Composition, Santa Clara University, 2000
Cinema, Sound

Jonathan LeMond
MFA, Film, Columbia University, 2002
BA, Political Science, Columbia University, 1994
Cinema, Directing

Tess Lesniak
MS, Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, 2012
BS, Biology, DePaul University, 2006
Physical and Life Sciences

David Lewis
MFA, Film and Television, University of California, Los Angeles, 2002
BA, Radio-Television-Film, Temple University, 1989
Cinema, Directing

Fang Li
MFA, Art, Claremont Graduate University, 2016
BA, Studio Art, University of California, Riverside, 2013
Visual Effects, Animation

Jonathan London
MFA, Film Production, Columbia University, 2006
BA, Communications, University of Pennsylvania, 2001
Cinema, Directing, New Media

Mark Lownentrout
MFA, Theater, University of Utah, 1995
BA, Music, California State University, Long Beach, 1982
Humanities

Philip Malamuth
MFA, Cinema Television, University of California, Los Angeles, 1986
BA, Psychology, University of Southern California, 1979
Cinema, Editing

Pete Markiewicz, PhD
PhD, Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, 1984
BS, Biology, Loyola University, New Orleans, 1978
Physical and Life Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Graphic Design + Interactive Media

Alaric Martin
BA, Broadcast Communications, Columbia College Chicago, 1982
Film and Cinema, Editin

Howard McCain
MFA, Film and Television, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, 1992
BFA, English, Bowdoin College, 1985
Cinema

Amera McCoy, PhD
PhD, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 2018
MS, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, University of Phoenix, 2013
BA, Psychology, Aurora University, Aurora, IL, 2010
Social and Behavioral Sciences

Ed McGinty
MFA, Directing, Columbia University, 2006
BA, Business Administration, Temple University, 1989
Cinema, Directing

Andrew McNary, PhD
PhD, Physics, University of California, Riverside, 2005
MS, Soil & Water Sciences, University of California, Riverside, 2004
MS, Physics, University of New Orleans, 1999
BS, Mathematics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994
BS, Physics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994
Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences

Brian Mellen
MFA, Digital Cinema, DePaul University, 2014
BS, Journalism, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007
Film and Cinema, Editing

Evanthia Milara
MFA, Motion Pictures & Television, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, 1996
BFA, Graphic Design, Vakalo Art & Design College, Athens, Greece, 1986
Graphic Design

Steve Miller
BA, Telecommunications, University of Southern California, 1973
Cinema

Mikhail Morozov
MA, Education, Antioch University, 2008
MS, Education, Mathematics & Physics, Pridnestrovian State University, Republic of Moldova, 1977
Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences

James Napoli
MFA, Film, London Film School, 1984
BFA, Film, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, 1982
Humanities

Will Nedved
MFA, Film & Television Writing, University of Southern California, 2009
MA, Theatre Studies, University of New South Wales, 2002
BA, Theater Arts, University of Iowa, 2001
Theater History and Criticism, Humanities

Ahmad Nooraldeen
PhD, Philosophy, Anna University, India, 2009
MS, Physics, University of Technology, Iraq, 2001
BS, Physics, Ministry of Education, Iraq, 1984
Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences

Helen Oh-Conklin
MFA, Communication Design, Harrington College of Design, 2014
BFA, Fine Art, Columbia College Chicago, 2011
Art

John Otterbacher
MFA, Film, Vermont College of Fine Arts, 2015
MS, Communications, Grand Valley State University, 2005
BA, Film Production, Grand Valley State University, 2003
Film and Cinema

Sue Palmer
MFA, Cinema-Television, University of Southern California, 2009
BA, Theatre, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2000
Cinema, Screenwriting

Vicki Peterson
MFA, Writing for Stage and Screen, New Hampshire Institute of Art, 2015
BA, Theatre Arts, University of California, San Diego, 1995
Cinema, Screenwriting, Humanities

John Quinn
BA, Film & Video Editing, Columbia College, Chicago, 1999
Cinema, Editing

Mica Racine
MFA, Creative Writing, Columbia College Chicago, 2000
BA, Mass Communications, Sioux Falls College, 1989
Written and Oral Communication, Literature Studies

Andy Rattinger
MFA, Directing, Columbia University, 2007
BA, Communications, Universidad Iberoamericana, 1997
Cinema, Editing

Vedran Residbegovic
BFA, Film, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2001
BFA, Graphic Design, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2001
Film and Cinema, Cinema and Media Studies

Alaric Rocha
MFA, Digital Cinema, DePaul University, 2014
BM, Music Composition, Lawrence University, 2002
Cinema, Editing

Barbara Romain
MFA, Otis College of Art and Design, 1995
BFA, Philadelphia College of Art, 1969
Art, Art History and Criticism

Chelsea Rowe
MFA, College Teaching: Art, Maryland Institute College of Art, 2014
BFA, Art, University of Florida, 2015
Art, Visual Effects

Kathleen Rowell
MFA, Professional Writing, University of Southern California, 1978
BA, Motion Picture/Television, University of California, Los Angeles, 1973
Cinema, Screenwriting

Mark-Austin Rowell
MFA, Theater Arts, San Diego State University, 2001
BA, Theater Arts, California State University, East Bay, 1998
Art, Art History and Criticism

Bill Rubenstein
MA, Cinema Television, University of Southern California, 1993
BA, Harvard College, 1978
Humanities, Cinema and Media Studies

Melissa Runnels
MA, Journalism, University of Southern California, 2014
BA, French, Stephen F. Austin State University, 2006
Humanities

Ron Schmidtling
MS, Geology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1995
BA, Design Studies in Archeology & Paleontology, University of Southern Mississippi, 1985
Physical and Life Sciences

Anna Scott
MA, Humanities, University of Chicago, 2011
BS, Journalism, Boston University, 2002
Written and Oral Communication, Humanities

Kenneth Selden
MFA, Film, American Film Institute Conservatory, 1986
BA, Philosophy, Yale University, 1980
Cinema, Screenwriting

Christine Shin
MFA, Cinema-Television, University of Southern California, 2005
BA, Communication and English Literature, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2001
Cinema, Directing

Lauren Steffen
MFA, Film Production, University of California, Los Angeles, 2004
BA, Mass Media Communication and Theater, Ursinus College, 1998
Cinema, Editing, Sound

John Swanbeck
MA, Theater, University of California, Los Angeles, 2003
BS, Speech, Northwestern University, 1983
Cinema, Directing

Ben Sztajnkrycer
MFA, Film and Television, University of California, Los Angeles, 2008
BA, Motion Picture/Television, University of California, Los Angeles, 1993
Cinema, Screenwriting

Susan Taaffe
MFA, Art, The Ohio State University, 1984
BFA, Drawing-Painting-Printmaking, The Ohio State University, 1980
Visual Effects, Animation

Napoleon Tavale
MFA, Acting, University of Virginia, 2011
BA, Theater Arts, Whittier College, 2007
Acting

Chris Tedin
MFA, Art-Studio, School of Art and Design, Northern Illinois University, 1992
BA, Art, Gonzaga University, 1987
Visual Effects, Animation

James Teitelbaum
BA, Interdisciplinary Studies, Northeastern Illinois University, 2018
SA, Recording Arts, Full Sail University, 1993
Recording Arts

Bridget Terry
BS, Journalism, Northwestern University, 1974
Cinema, Producing

Daniel Tinkler
MA, Sound Arts and Industries, Northwestern University, 2018
BS, Audio Engineering, Illinois Institute of Art, 2014
Recording Arts

Vince Toto
BS, Communication and Filmmaking, State University of New York, 1985
Cinema, Cinematography

Jennie Lew Tugend
Art & Technique Filmmaking, London Film School
Cinema, Producing

Anthony Vasto
BA, Film & Video, Columbia College, Chicago, 2000
Cinema

Ronald E. Wade
MFA, Computer Animation, Miami International University of Art and Design, 2008
BA, Art & Design, Columbia College Chicago, 1987
Visual Effects, Animation

Erin Washington
MLA, Acting, Harvard University, 2018
BFA, Acting, Purchase College, State University of New York, 2013

Mark Wassermann
MFA, Creative Writing, Arizona State University, 1993
BA, English, Skidmore College, 1989
Written and Oral Communication, Humanities

Samantha Kate Weisberg
MFA, Writing, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2007
BFA, Creative Writing, Roger Williams University, 2003
Written and Oral Communication, Humanities

Brandon Wilson
MFA, Film Production (Directing), University of California, Los Angeles, 1999
BA, African American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, 1994
Humanities

James Zolliecoffer
MFA, Screenwriting, Loyola Marymount University, 2012
BA, Radio, TV & Film, University of Wisconsin-OshKosh, 1984
Cinema

Kenneth Zunder
BA, Harvard University, 1973
BA, Stanford University, 1976
Cinema