LEADERSHIP
& SERVICE
My leadership and service work at SUNY Cortland is grounded in the development and stewardship of sustainable creative systems that support students, programs, and the broader community. Rather than existing as isolated committee roles, this work is centered on long-term responsibility and institutional continuity, most notably through my role as founder and Executive/Artistic Director of the Blackbird Film Festival, which intersects directly with my teaching and program leadership in Media Production. In addition, I serve as a primary point of support for Media Production students through program oversight, senior thesis advising, and mentorship that extends well beyond formal teaching assignments. Together, these roles reflect a sustained commitment to leadership that is student-centered, program-focused, and deeply integrated with the mission of the department and the university.
Please refer to the listed leadership/service items to the right for an overview of each.
#1. Blackbird Film Festival
Founder & Executive / Artistic Director
My most significant and sustained leadership role is as founder and Executive/Artistic Director of the Blackbird Film Festival, a position I have held continuously since establishing the festival in 2015. Blackbird is not a single annual event, but a year-round creative institution that requires ongoing leadership in programming, grant writing, fundraising, community partnerships, student mentorship, and organizational planning. Through this work, I have built and sustained a platform that serves SUNY Cortland students, regional audiences, and independent filmmakers working outside of commercial distribution systems. The festival functions as both a professional arts organization and an educational environment, providing students with hands-on experience in festival operations while offering filmmakers a meaningful space for exhibition, dialogue, and connection.
To understand the full scope of this decade-long undertaking, evaluators are encouraged to click the "Visit Festival Archive" link below and browse the various links spanning 2016 to 2025 as to get a sense for the various forms the festival as taken over the years.
#2. Media Production & Cinema Leadership
Curricular Development, Instruction, and Student Support
Within the Communication and Media Studies Department, I serve as a central point of leadership and continuity for both the Media Production and Cinema Studies programs. I teach the majority of production-focused courses across both majors, including the core, intermediate, and advanced hands-on production classes that anchor each curriculum. In addition to ongoing instructional responsibilities, I was a key contributor in the design and development of the BS in Media Production, which launched in Fall 2020. This work involved curriculum planning, course development, and the articulation of a production-focused pathway that balances creative practice, critical analysis, and professional preparation.
Because of the integrated and resource-intensive nature of production education, my role extends beyond teaching individual courses to include sustained mentorship, advising, and program stewardship. I regularly support students navigating complex creative projects, equipment workflows, and post-graduation pathways, serving as a consistent point of guidance within programs that rely heavily on continuity and institutional knowledge. This leadership is embedded in day-to-day student-facing work and reflects an ongoing commitment to maintaining the quality, coherence, and forward momentum of Media Production and Cinema Studies at SUNY Cortland.
#3. Senior Thesis Advising & Student Mentorship
Capstone Supervision as Sustained Advising
In addition to my role as an academic advisor to 20+ students, I also serve as the primary Senior Thesis advisor for students in both the Media Production and Cinema Studies majors. Since 2022, this work has involved supervising between six and eight thesis students each semester enrolled in COM 499 and CIN 499. The scope of this responsibility extends well beyond standard advising and includes regular individual meetings, proposal development, script and research review, production oversight, creative problem-solving, and final project evaluation. In practice, this level of sustained mentorship functions as the equivalent of an additional course each semester, layered on top of my assigned teaching load.
This thesis advising work is currently uncompensated and not formally recognized as part of my teaching assignment; however, it is essential to student success and to maintaining the academic and creative standards of both programs. Because senior theses in Media Production and Cinema Studies require intensive, individualized guidance, particularly for production-based projects, I have continued to undertake this responsibility to ensure students receive the mentorship necessary to complete ambitious, high-quality capstone work. I view this role as a critical form of service to students, the department, and the long-term health of the programs, and I respectfully submit it as a significant and ongoing leadership and service contribution.
#4. Departmental Leadership & Faculty Review
Program Engagement and Faculty Support
Within the Communication and Media Studies Department, I have maintained sustained service through departmental leadership and faculty review. Since my promotion to Associate Professor in 2019, I have served consistently on the Personnel Committee, where I have participated in the review of reappointment, tenure, and promotion materials for the majority of my junior colleagues. This work requires careful evaluation, discretion, and a strong understanding of departmental expectations and institutional standards. To this end, I pride myself on being a supportive colleague in this endeavor and enjoy supporting my peers in their pursuits. I have also served on the Curriculum Committee when matters of Media Production and Cinema Studies are concerns, contributing to the ongoing development and refinement of departmental programs and coursework.
In Spring 2023, I served as one of two external reviewers for SUNY Brockport's Journalism and Broadcast Program alongside Dr. Partricia Swann from Utica University.
Currently, I serve as Chair of the ongoing search committee for the Assistant Professor of Media Production position, a role that involves active leadership in candidate review, campus visit coordination, and long-term planning for the future of the Media Production program. Taken together, these roles reflect sustained departmental trust and an ongoing commitment to supporting faculty development, curricular quality, and program continuity.
#5. Community & Professional Leadership
Regional Arts Advocacy, Cultural Development
Beyond SUNY Cortland, I have contributed to regional arts, cultural development, and professional service through a variety of leadership and advisory roles. From January to November 2021, I served on the Cortland County Convention and Visitor Bureau Board under Executive Director Meghan N. Lawton, supporting initiatives related to tourism, community engagement, and cultural programming.
I have also served as a CNY Arts grant application reviewer for Onondaga County, providing peer review and evaluative feedback for arts organizations and creative professionals across the region.
Additionally, from August 2019 through May 2020, I served as the first Director of the Academy at Syracuse Studios, where I designed and led an in-person internship program connected to American High in Syracuse, New York. Although the program was forced to shift to a remote format due to the onset of COVID-19 during the second half and was later suspended following the withdrawal of its executive sponsor (HULU), the initial success of the program reflected a strong model for experiential learning and industry partnership.