As an artist, filmmaker, and educator, my professional practice is rooted in the belief that creative expression thrives when grounded in inclusivity, empathy, and cross-cultural dialogue. Over the past several years, I have worked to cultivate learning environments where students not only develop technical proficiency in film and animation but also learn to view art as a means of communication across cultures, disciplines, and experiences.

My teaching philosophy emphasizes that every student brings a distinct voice and vision to the classroom. During my time at the International Summer School of Scotland, I taught students from more than eighty countries in an intensive film program. That experience profoundly shaped my approach to instruction, teaching me how to adapt lessons to diverse learning styles and to help students draw from their personal experiences as creative material. Encouraging students to express their identities and worldviews through film and animation leads to powerful storytelling and fosters genuine community within the classroom.

My professional and creative research likewise focuses on the intersection of narrative, representation, and social awareness. I collaborated with documentary filmmaker Cathleen Ashworth and animator Atia Neuman, and members of the Iroquois Nation to produce a multimedia project that visually interpreted their creation story. This experience reinforced my commitment to ethical storytelling and to honoring marginalized voices within the film and art industries. Similarly, my thesis film, Her Eyes, advocates for greater awareness and empathy toward individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease, demonstrating how film can generate compassion and social change.

At St. Olaf College, I am eager to continue developing this dialogue between art, culture, and empathy. I seek to inspire students to see animation and filmmaking not just as aesthetic practices, but as tools for civic engagement and human connection. By bridging technical mastery with reflective inquiry, I aim to guide students toward a deeper understanding of how visual art shapes—and is shaped by—the diverse experiences of our global community.