Writer in Residence, CVPA
Professor, School of Theater and Film and Video Studies, CVPAHeather McDonald (MFA, NYU Tisch School of the Arts) is professor of theater and head of playwriting and dramaturgy concentration.
Academic Advisor and Admissions Coordinator, Film and Video Studies, CVPA
Madeline Portnoy (she/her) is the Academic Advisor and Admissions Coordinator for the Film and Video Studies program at Mason. She graduated from George Mason University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Law, and Society, and a minor in Atmospheric Science. Outside of her Film and Video Studies responsibilities, Maddie has academic interests in religion, culture and media, and food anthropology.
Adjunct Faculty, Film and Video Studies, CVPA
May Santiago is an emerging film scholar and micro-budget filmmaker. Her work focuses on themes of intersectional identity within mental health, queer identity, and decolonization.
Adjunct Faculty, Film and Video Studies, CVPA
Russell Santos is a filmmaker, music video editor, director and cinematographer.
Assistant Director, Film and Video Studies, CVPA
Adjunct Faculty, Arts Management, CVPA
Samantha Sinagra is Assistant Director of Film and Video Studies
Post-Production Coordinator, Film and Video Studies, CVPA
Melanie is the Post-Production Coordinator for the Film and Video Studies department at George Mason University. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Motion Picture Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in 2024, where her areas of focus were color management, color correction, and post-production workflows.
Associate Professor of Directing and Capstone, Film and Video Studies, CVPA
Benjamin Steger has been making films and videos since the 1990’s. He has considerable experience as a director, producer, documentary cinematographer, editor, and sound recordist for documentary, fiction and institutional films.
Associate Professor of Film Business and Producing, Film and Video Studies, CVPA
Producer Lisa Thrasher is an entertainment lawyer and Producer with 20 years of experience in Hollywood.
Term Assistant Professor, Film and Video Studies, CVPA
Professor Maura Ugarte is a filmmaker and editor whose work has appeared at True/False Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Cucalorus Film Festival, and Palm Springs International Film Festival, among others.
Term Assistant Professor, Film and Video Studies, CVPA
Rebekah Wingert-Jabi is a Peabody award-winning filmmaker and President of Storycatcher Productions. Recently, Rebekah produced and edited "Naila and the Uprising" (2017), which had its US premiere at DOCNYC, European premiere at IDFA and Middle East premiere at the Dubai Film Festival.
