Our Skilled Faculty & Staff
Ali Akarcesme
Akarcesme started his career in various schools teaching both Film/TV production and theory in 2016. In the industry, he has produced and directed everything from socially conscious TV documentaries to short narrative films. His short film Departures has led him to win Best Drama and Best Director on New York’s prestigious film festival circuit. His projects are mostly centered around the real personal and social issues of human beings such as immigrant/minority rights, underrepresented groups and family dilemmas.
Akarcesme is still actively working in film/TV industry and aims to utilize those techniques in the classroom and bridge the gap between production and theory.
Instructor
209A Rickenbach
610-683-4494
akarcesme@kutztown.edu
Education:
NY School of Visual Arts, Master’s, Film
Temple University, B.A, Film and Media Arts
Courses Commonly Taught:
Intro to CTM, Film History, Film Theory, Video/Film Production, Scriptwriting, Documentary Production, Video Editing, Short Film Production
Scott Bastedo
Professor Bastedo has taught and developed coursework in audio and video production, graphic design, motion graphics, 3D animation, and mass media as an instructor at Northland Community and Technical College and at Millersville University. He has worked as a freelancer on commercials, documentaries, and short films in the Washington, DC area. His areas of interest include cinematography and screenwriting.
Assistant Professor
207B Rickenbach
610-683-4495
bastedo@kutztown.edu
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
Cara Cotellese
Professor Cotellese came to KU in the Fall of 2008 after teaching for 18 years in the Cinema/Video Program at Bucks County Community college in Newtown, PA. She is an alum of the CTM department (formerly EM) and continues to do freelance work in the field.
Associate Professor
209B Rickenbach
610-683-4493
cotelles@kutztown.edu
Education:
Kutztown University, M.S. Telecommunications
Kutztown University, B.S. Telecommunications
Courses Commonly Taught:
Live Event Production
Senior Seminar
Fundamentals of Studio Production
Michael Johnston - Department Chair
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.
Associate Professor, Department Chair
206 Rickenbach
610-683-4497
johnston@kutztown.edu
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
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.
Assistant Professor
204 Rickenbach
610-683-4089
joy@kutztown.edu
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
Mike Richman
Mike is a graduate of Kutztown University's CTM Program. His interests include Live Video Production, generating custom graphics, as well as 3D modeling. He continues to develop himself as a freelancer & in his free time Mike is the coach of Kutztown's Ultimate Frisbee Team.
Electronic Systems Engineer
13G Rickenbach
610-683-1545
richman@kutztown.edu
Education:
Kutztown University of PA, B.S. Cinema, Television and Media Production
Jennifer Suwak
Professor Suwak has worked in the film/video field since 1990. She has worked as a producer, reporter, editor, director, sound recordist, and cameraman for the news and feature films. Her sculptures, animation, and award-winning documentary films have been shown in galleries and in film festivals including two runs at Austin Film Festival, San Francisco DocFest, Black Maria, and many others. She currently continues her freelance career while teaching production and theory courses at Kutztown University.
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.
Instructor
137 Rickenbach
610-683-4496
tice@kutztown.edu
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