Faculty & Staff

Ali Akarcesme

Ali Akarcesme is a filmmaker and educator whose work bridges theory and practice in the world of cinema and television. Since 2016, he has taught a wide range of courses in film and television production, history, and theory. His teaching emphasizes connecting industry-standard practices with critical media analysis.

Before entering academia, Akarcesme worked as a TV Producer for a production house providing non-fiction programming for RCN Cable. His professional background includes directing and producing a diverse array of projects, from socially conscious television documentaries to award-winning short narrative films. His short film Departures earned him Best Drama and Best Director awards on New York’s prestigious film festival circuit.

His creative work often explores real-world personal and social issues—ranging from immigrant and minority rights to family dynamics and the stories of underrepresented communities. Akarcesme remains active in the film and television industry, bringing contemporary production techniques into the classroom to help students navigate and contribute to today’s media landscape.

 

Ali Akarcesme black and white headshot

Assistant Professor

209A Rickenbach
610-683-4490

Education:
M.F.A, Creative Writing - William Paterson University, New Jersey
M.P.S,  Film Directing - School of Visual Arts, New York
B.A, Film and Media Arts - Temple University, Philadelphia

Courses Commonly Taught:

Narrative Video Production
Cinematography
American independent Cinema
Documentary Production
Audio Production
Post Production
Film and Media Theory

Scott Bastedo

Scott Bastedo is an Associate Professor of Cinema, Television and Media Production at Kutztown University, where he teaches courses in cinematography, lighting, scriptwriting, and live event production. With over a decade of higher education experience, Professor Bastedo has previously taught at Millersville University and Northland Community and Technical College.

As a filmmaker and screenwriter, Professor Bastedo’s work has earned awards and recognition at international festivals including the BlueCat Screenplay Competition.

Scott Bastedo

Associate Professor

209B Rickenbach
610-683-4495

Education:
American University, M.F.A. Film & Electronic Media
Central Michigan University, M.A. English Language & Literature: Creative Writing
Michigan State University, B.A. Telecommunication, Information Studies & Media
Michigan State University, B.A. English

Courses Commonly Taught:
Fundamentals of Studio Production
Live Event Production
Scriptwriting

Quentin Brown

Quentin Brown is CTM's Electronic Systems Technician, overseeing equipment, studio spaces, and KUTV's production trailer. He is an alum of the program, with experience working in sports broadcasting, video production, music production and recording, and sound design.

Quentin Brown

Electronic Systems Technician

13 Rickenbach
610-683-1545

Charles "Chad" Blevins

Chad Blevins is a filmmaker, director, and visual artist with a diverse background in feature films, television, and commercials. A graduate of Temple University, Chad brings real-world experience into the classroom, having worked in various roles, including director, editor, and art director. He art directed films such as The Art of Self-Defense (starring Jesse Eisenberg), The Clovehitch Killer, and Mom and Dad (starring Nicolas Cage). As a director, Chad has also led numerous short films and music videos, fostering his passion for creative storytelling. Through his work, he brings a strong visual approach and a commitment to detail, inspiring students to explore both the technical and artistic sides of filmmaking.

Chad Blevins

Instructor

207B Rickenbach
610-683-4491

Education:
Temple University M.F.A.  Film, Video and Media Arts
Indiana University SE B.A. English Concentration in Writing

Michael Johnston

Professor Johnston taught film and video production, film theory and history, and screenwriting at Temple University and Rowan University. His research interests include early cinema and architecture in film. His films have screened at national and international film festivals. His films, Irina and A Man Full of Trouble, have won multiple screenwriting and film festival awards.

Michael Johnston

Professor

203 Rickenbach
610-683-4497

Education:
Temple University, M.F.A. Film & Media Arts
Rowan University, B.A. Communication: Radio, TV, & Film


Courses Commonly Taught:

Scriptwriting
Narrative Video Production
Script to Screen

Jonathan Joy - Department Chair

Professor Joy is a media maker, video artist, sound designer, and editor. He has taught film/video production, film/media theory and history, and documentary production. His research interests include live cinema, "liveness," slow cinema, and a non-traditional spectatorial model. He is currently in production on an experimental video and live performance which addresses themes of gender, identity, expectation, Americana, temporality, and a heartbreaking account of the human condition.

Johnathan Joy headshot

Associate Professor, Department Chair

206 Rickenbach
610-683-4089

Education:
University at Buffalo, M.F.A. Media Arts Production
Clarion University, M.S. Mass Media Arts
Westminster College, B.A. Broadcast Communication

Courses Commonly Taught:
Cinematography
Post Production
Narrative Production

Jennifer Suwak

Jennifer Suwak is a filmmaker and film professor and has worked in the film/video industry since the ‘90’s. Her work has been primarily producing, directing, editing and camera for TV, news, film shorts and feature films. Her sculptures, stop-motion animation, and award-winning narrative and documentary films have screened internationally in art galleries and in several Academy Award/Bafta Award Qualifying Film Festivals.   

She is a tenured professor teaching film production and theory courses in the Cinema, Television & Media Production department at Kutztown University. 

Jen is presently working on films detailing WWII veteran stories, Lighter Than Air, Sailing and shipwreck history on the East Coast and New Jersey film history.  She is on the Ocean County Tourism Board and the Ocean County NJ Film Commission. She owns and operates a film company based in NJ & PA. 

Jennifer Suwak

Assistant Professor

137 Rickenbach
610-683-4498
suwak@kutztown.edu

Education:
Rutgers University, Mason Gross, M.F.A
Upsala College, B.A.

Courses Commonly Taught:
Documentary Production
Masterpieces of Cinema
Post Production

Scott Tice

Scott Tice, a graduate of Kutztown University's Electronic Media program, has been studying and working in the audio industry for 17 years. Shortly after graduating, he became an audio and video editor for news and sports television. Scott would work in the industry editing packages and reporting on location doing interviews with Elvis Costello, Mario Andretti, NASCAR, etc.

Scott Tice headshot

Instructor

137 Rickenbach
610-683-4496

Education:
Bloomsburg University, M.S. Instructional Design and Technology
Kutztown University, B.S. Electronic Media
Northampton Community College, A.A. Radio & TV

Courses Commonly Taught:
Audio Production