Dr. Frances Gateward has been appointed as the next director of the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television. She will begin her appointment this summer.
Gateward currently serves as professor and chair of the Department of Communication, Culture, and Media Studies at Howard University. Previously, she was professor of cinema and television arts at California State University, Northridge (CTVA), where she also served as associate chair and director of the Media Theory and Criticism option. With more than 1,700 majors, CTVA has been listed among the top 25 film schools in the U.S. by Variety and the Hollywood Reporter.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Gateward to the University of Arizona,” stated Dr. Andrew Schulz, vice president for the arts and dean of the College of Fine Arts.
“Frances is a proven leader who has compiled an impressive range of accomplishments, experiences, and credentials across several institutions. Equally important, she possesses very strong interpersonal skills, a collaborative spirit, and a deep sense of empathy, all of which will be vital in effectively leading TFTV. From my conversations with her, I know that Frances has a deep commitment to faculty, and that she shares our Arizona Arts and U of A belief that student success is our ‘prime directive.’”
National Leadership Experience
Gateward brings national leadership experience to the role. Since 2022, she has served on the board of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies, the leading scholarly organization in the U.S. dedicated to advancing the study of film, television and media. Gateward also serves as an advisor to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
She earned her B.A. in Radio/TV/Film from Temple University, and she holds an M.A. in Communication Arts and Theater and a PhD in Film Studies, both earned at the University of Maryland College Park. Her research focuses on the relation between aesthetics and ideology in film, television, and popular culture.
She is the author and editor of several acclaimed books, including Seoul Searching: Cultural Identity and Korean Cinema—one of the first English-language books on Korean film—Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice: Cinemas of Girlhood, and The Blacker the Ink: Constructions of Black Identity in Comics and Sequential Art, which received multiple awards.
“I’m Ecstatic”
Gateward said she is eager to step into her new role.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Gateward. “Students, faculty, and staff in the School of TFTV can expect a director who is deeply committed to their success—someone who listens with intention, responds with care, and serves as an advocate within the broader University community.
“I entered academia because I was passionate about sharing a subject I love—but over time, what’s brought me the greatest pride has been supporting students as they grow. There’s nothing more fulfilling than helping students realize their academic, professional, and personal potential, and witnessing their successes as they carve out their own paths.
“I am looking forward to collaborating with some fantastic colleagues – both faculty and staff – committed to student success.”
Positive Momentum
Recently ranked the No. 2 public film school in the nation, TFTV is experiencing positive momentum. Faculty include Peabody Award winner Jacob Bricca, ACE (Missing in Brooks County); Emmy-nominated writer/performer Greg Pierotti (The Laramie Project); director Peter Lauer (Emily in Paris); and author Barbara Selznick (TV’s American Dream). Student and alumni films are gaining global recognition, with support from Outreach and Industry Director Kerryn Negus, and screenings at festivals such as Urbanworld, Palm Springs ShortFest, BFI Flare, and San Diego Comic Con. Students benefit from mentorship by alumni like Craig T. Nelson, who will collaborate on an upcoming thesis film (and recently endowed a scholarship). The school recently successfully launched an online Film & Television degree and a new industry-aligned BA in Live and Screened Performance, focused on performance for theatre, screen, and new media.
The search advisory committee—chaired by Duane Cyrus, director of the School of Dance—was commended by Dean Schulz for their work bringing forward three outstanding finalists.
Gateward succeeds Dr. Brant Pope, who has served as interim director since May 2022.
Originally posted to Arizona Arts.