Faculty and Staff

For questions regarding Film at Mason, please email us at film@gmu.edu

Program Director, Associate Professor - Cynthia Fuchs

  • Justin Plakas

    Assistant Professor, School of Art & Film and Video Studies, CVPA

     

    Justin Plakas is an artist and designer whose work spans photography, video and animation, performance, and sound. He is a faculty member of the CVPA Film and Video Studies program.
  • Madeline Portnoy
    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.
  • May Santiago

    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.
  • Russell Santos

    Adjunct Faculty, Film and Video Studies, CVPA

    Russell Santos is a filmmaker, music video editor, director and cinematographer. 
  • Samantha Sinagra

    Academic and Program Manager, Film and Video Studies, CVPA

    Samantha Sinagra joined Film at Mason in 2017. She holds a Master of Arts in Arts Management and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Visual Technology from George Mason University.
  • Anjuli Singh

    Exhibitions and Office Coordinator, Film and Video Studies, CVPA

    Anjuli M. Singh is a film historian and curator who has worked in museums and cultural institutions across the country creating exhibitions exploring the history of cinema.
  • Benjamin Steger

    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.
  • Lisa Thrasher is an entertainment lawyer and Producer with 20 years of experience in Hollywood.

    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.
  • Maura Ugarte

    Assistant Professor of Directing and Editing, 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.
  • Rebekah Wingert-Jabi

    Adjunct Faculty, 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.