Faculty and Staff
The faculty at Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts are experienced professionals with award-winning work and degrees from some of the best film schools in the world. They bring academic rigor, cinematic prowess and spiritual insight to every classroom.
Explore their expertise on The Faculty Cut.
Tom Halleen
- Dean, Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts
Tom Halleen, former executive vice president of programming strategy, acquisitions and scheduling at AMC Networks, is the founding dean of Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts. Through his nearly 30 years as an entertainment industry executive, Halleen has experience in all divisions of programming national television networks including acquisitions, scheduling, development, production, operations, viewer services, research, legal, standards and practices, and promo/media planning....
Marcieanna Klaustermeyer
- Associate Professor
Marcieanna Klaustermeyer began working professionally on Broadway and Hollywood over 20 years ago. An internship with the legendary screenwriter, director, and producer Garry Marshall (Princess Diaries, Pretty Woman, Beaches) led to her first job as an Associate to the late Benjamin Mordecai and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson (Fences, The Piano Lesson). Her early Playbill production credits include King Hedley (Broadway), Jitney and If It Was [sic] Easy ...
Dean Yamada
- Professor, Cinema and Media Arts
“As an educator it is my job to challenge students to find their voices and then empower them to tell their stories.”
An M.F.A. graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Dean Yamada teaches Visual Aesthetics, Intermediate and Advanced Directing, and oversees the biannual, university-funded film, known as Biola Film. In addition, Yamada brings a class of students to the Sundance Film Festival every January and has traveled numerous times to Tokyo, Berlin and Jakarta with classes of...
Jim Hope
- Assistant Professor, Cinema and Media Arts and Writing for Film and Television
James (Jim) Hope is a three-time Emmy nominated writer/producer who has worked on everything from feature films and network sitcoms to talk shows, game shows and animated web series. His credits include NBC’s “Later,” FOX’s “Titus", ABC’s “George Lopez,” Nickelodeon’s “Planet Sheen,” and Disney’s “Dog with a Blog.” He is currently developing animated and live-action projects with various studios and networks. Hope is also a stand-up comedian and actor who has made over fifty TV appearances....
Michael Steffen
- Associate Professor of Game Design & Interactive Media
Michael Steffen is creative director at Lantern Tower Games, which makes story-driven games with themes grounded in a Christian worldview. Steffen’s background as an award-winning filmmaker and software developer has enabled him to create a Game Design program at Biola University that trains students in both the narrative and technical aspects of game development. He has previously worked for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Sony Pictures. His research includes volumetric video,...
John Schmidt
- Associate Professor, Cinema and Media Arts
"I love my students! My greatest desire is to see them excel not only in their chosen field, but in life." John has worked on over 40 films as director, writer, producer or editor. His feature credits include The Climb, Trade of Innocents, and Bobby Jones. In television: A Vow to Cherish, Road to Redemption and Something to Sing About. His feature screenplay, Mountain of Fire, is in pre-production. John teaches cinematography, editing, sound design and documentary.
John Schmidt has...
Angela Ang
- Adjunct, Cinema and Media Arts
“Those hungry film students…always eager to know how to ‘kill it’ with sound.” Angela is an established sound editor whose work can be heard in films such as Tenet (2020), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) and Bill and Ted Face the Music (2020). Her unforeseen career in sound began when she was admitted into a tight crew of twelve film students who traveled with Professor-Director Dean Yamada to shoot his film in Japan. And the rest, as they say, is history.
William Hellmuth
- Adjunct, Cinema and Media Arts
William is a director of photography who strives to create meaningful images that visually reinforce the story or themes of whatever he is shooting whether drama or docs. He has shot for brands like NERF, Blizzard, Sony, Honda, Listerine, and many more. He has a keen eye for detail and the work he delivers is always outstanding. Besides filmmaking, William enjoys spending time with his wife and kids and playing nerdy tabletop games. He teaches a course in Advanced Cinematography.
Jonathan Hensley
- Adjunct, Cinema and Media Arts
Jonathan Hensley is an award-winning trailer editor. Since graduating Biola in 2012, Jonathan has worked for some of the top entertainment marketing firms in Hollywood, editing trailers and TV spots for clients including Netflix, HBO, Sony, Universal, and Amazon Prime Video; as well as montages that aired during the 90th and 91st Academy Awards.
Davy McCall
- Adjunct, Cinema and Media Arts
Originally from wine country in Northern California, Davy McCall is an accomplished writer, director, and producer with over 14 years of experience in the film industry. McCall, a Biola Cinema and Media Arts alumnus, graduated from USC's M.F.A Film and Television Production program. McCall has written, directed, and produced a range of award-winning films, including his upcoming feature Just Be There, which is currently in post-production. His written feature film The Phantom is actively...
Elmar Hashimov
- Associate Professor of English
Elmar Hashimov researches and teaches writing, philology, rhetoric, digital literacy, and film. Elmar’s work seeks to bridge the classical liberal arts tradition and current empirical research. His focus areas include genre studies, epistemic and ontological rhetoric, activity and network theories, qualitative research methods, European and (post-)Soviet literature and cinema, and artificial intelligence. He also directs the Rhetoric & Writing Center and coordinates Writing in the Disciplines...
Justin Wells
- Adjunct, Cinema and Media Arts
Justin Wells has an eclectic educational background, having studied Communications at Vanguard University of Southern California (B.A.), Philosophy at California State University Long Beach (M.A.), Theology and Art at Fuller Theological Seminary, and finally Art and Documentary Film at Art Center College of Design (M.F.A). He is a member of the International Cinematographer’s Guild and actively works in the business as a camera technician and documentarian. His recent book, How To Film Truth...
Sena Shin
- Executive Assistant, Academic Office Manager
"My favorite part of the job is working with students so please stop by the office to say hello!" Sena brings administrative and organizational excellence to Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts as the cinema and media arts program’s Academic Coordinator. Her coordination of CMA courses and curriculum support students during their time at school. Sena processes applications and assists students in enrolling into their first semester of courses. She also monitors student...
Nate Bell
- Internship Manager, Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts
“I experience joy when a student discovers their God-given calling.” Nate is passionate about helping CMA students use their knowledge and creativity to find their vocation within the entertainment and media industry through internships, mentorships, and job placement. He assists students with film festivals and tracks and supports alumni as they progress in their careers. Nate is a practicing film critic for LA Weekly and loves chatting about all things cinematic.
Mark Spicer
- Director of Studio Operations
“There is beauty in design and value in the process.” Mark grew up playing with audio adapters, home electronics, games, and electric guitars, disassembling and reassembling them to suit. Mark’s love for every level of gear fuels his role as Production Center Manager. He oversees studio facilities, system design, installation, and $3 million in media production equipment with a passion for making it all work for students. He loves talking shop about the latest equipment with anyone.
Josh Kozycz Curiel
- Media Equipment Technician
“There are stories inside that only we can, and sometimes need to release”. Josh maintains the production equipment. If it breaks, he will find a way to fix it and keep equipment in the hands of the students. His passion for creating was birthed in the local scene, working on projects and shooting videos with artists all over LA County. Josh looks forward to working with students as they tell their stories through the visual medium of film, television, or game design.
Sandra Lee
- Professor, Cinema and Media Arts, Writing for Film and Television
Writer, director, producer Sandra Lee has served as a professor to thousands of filmmakers since 2006 at top ranked film schools across the country, including Emerson College, Baylor University, and Regis University’s Colorado Film School teaching screenwriting, directing, producing and production coursework. Lee's independent screenwriting, directing and producing work has been awarded at film festivals worldwide. Prior to her career as a professor, Lee worked in Los Angeles for Miramax...
Matthew Hawksworth
- Manager, Production Office
"Bringing a story to life is a complicated process but sometimes you just have to jump in and learn by actually doing it."
As Production Coordinator for the Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts, Matthew helps students navigate the production workflow: whether by answering questions about greenlight approval, location permits, industry guild compliance, safety guidelines, insurance issues, or any of the other details it takes to to complete a production. Matthew brings a range of experience...
Lisa Kim
- Manager of Strategic Marketing and Events
Suzanne Macshane
- Executive Assistant