PSFA E-CONNECT - February 2009

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Spring Semester is in full swing, and as you will see with this issue of E-Connect, the new semester and new year have brought many exciting developments for PSFA faculty, students and alumni. A special congratulations to our School of Television Theatre in Film, who during this awards season boast both an Academy Award Nominee in alumnus Kathleen Kennedy, producer of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” and a Jury Prize from Sundance, for graduate student Destin Cretton’s short film “Short Term 12.” Congratulations to you all, and be sure to root for Kathleen and “Benjamin Button” during the Oscar telecast on February 22!

Joyce M. Gattas, Dean
College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts

In the News

Graduate Student Wins At Sundance

Congratulations to film graduate student Destin Cretton, who was the proud recipient of the 2009 Jury Prize in U.S. Short Filmmaking for his film "Short Term 12" at the Sundance Film Festival. The award was presented at the Festival’s Shorts Awards and Party held the evening of January 20th.

Although Cretton has written and directed four award-winning short films, "Short Term 12" was his inaugural film at Sundance, and is one of four U.S. films competing in France’s 2009 Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival. To view a short video of Cretton discussing his film, please visit click here.

Marriott Foundation Invests $2.4 Million in School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) has received a $2.4 million donation from The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. The endowment will fund the school's newly renamed The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Student Center for Professional Development. The Student Center for Professional Development helps HTM students to find internships required to earn their degree and assists students in finding part-time, summer positions and full-time employment after graduation. More than 100 HTM students have completed internships with Marriott, and there's a strong correlation between internship and job placement, according to Brian Blake, director of the Student Center for Professional Development. The HTM program boasts a 99 percent placement rate. Bill Marriott, chairman and C.E.O. of Marriott International, presented the $2.4 million check at a naming ceremony on January 28 at 3 p.m. in the College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts Dean's Office.

Alumni Highlights

Alum on Broadway National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar

PSFA alumnus Joseph Almohaya (BM Performance, '06) is playing the role of 3rd Priest in the North American Broadway National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Jesus Christ Superstar." Joseph is a recent graduate of the MFA in Musical Theatre Program. In an e-mail correspondence, he wrote: "I am absolutely in love with tour. It is most definitely everything, (and then some) that I hoped for."

Greg Smith Retires from San Diego County After Distinguished Career

Gregory J. Smith (MPA, ’73), recently retired from his position as San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk. Smith worked for San Diego County for 32 years, and was the assessor – an elected office – for 25 years. Smith’s time as San Diego County’s Assessor, and later, as the County’s Assessor/Recorder/Clerk, made him the most-tenured assessor in the state, and longest-serving assessor in San Diego County history. Smith has also taught in the public administration program in the School of Public Affairs at SDSU since 1986, teaching primarily public finance; and was the 2008 PSFA Commencement speaker. Greg, thank you for your years of service to San Diego County and SDSU, and best of luck in your future endeavors!

Student Spotlight

SDSU Students Produce Television Pilot

Everyone in the School of Theatre, Television and Film is extremely proud of the work that went into making “Hollywood Heights”, a project that involved over 200 students from all areas of the school, and is currently in post-production. The one hour, dramatic television pilot gave SDSU students the opportunity to get hands-on experience working on a real set and was made possible through funding from alums Mary Ellen Trainor Zemeckis (Journalism, ’75) and Kathleen Kennedy (Television, Film and New Media, ’79) and the President’s Leadership Fund.

The project was conceived by television and film professors Tim Powell and Lee Marshall, who hope to change the film school model, allowing students to acquire experience that will make them more viable in the real world. Click here to view a short video about the making of “Hollywood Heights."

Graduate Student to Present Top Paper at Conference

In the January 2009 issue of the Western States Communication Association (WSCA) Newsletter, it was announced that School of Communication MA student Makenzie Phillips will be presenting the Top Student Debut Paper in Interpersonal Communication at the WSCA Conference, which will be held in Mesa, Arizona from February 13-17. The title of Makenzie’s paper is, MySpace or Yours? Connections Between the Use of Social Networking Sites and Cyber-Surveillance in Romantic Relationships.

Faculty Focus

Dance Professor Earns Rave Reviews

Leslie Seiters, Assistant Professor of Dance in the School of Music and Dance received a highly complimentary review for her company, leslie seiters little known dance theater, recent performance at Sushi Visual and Performing Arts. The performance, “Incidental Fear of Numbers,” was created in conjunction with Tijuana-based Dance Company Lux Boreal and combined design and visual movement. "Her work abounds with strong images and artistic, yet quirky choreography,” wrote Kris Eitland of SignonSanDiego. "Incidental" is an ambitious production that has grown out of many small experiments. It is inventive and visually stunning."

Music Professor Releases First Solo CD

Marian Liebowitz, Professor of Clarinet, has released her first solo CD, Jewish Friends and Neighbors on the ACM label. Jewish Friends and Neighbors presents a unique blending of traditional Jewish melodic constructs with the rich influences of various New World idioms. Associate Professor of Jazz Richard Thompson is the pianist on the CD while Associate Professor of violin, Felix Olschofka, is also featured in a trio by Srul Irving Glick entitled “The Klezmer’s Wedding”.The CD can be purchased by contacting Dr. Liebowitz at liebowit@mail.sdsu.edu.