Join us online for a Faculty Q&A!
From screenwriters to 3d artists, entrepreneurs and CEOs, JPCatholic’s faculty hold an incredible amount of experience, and many of them still actively work in their field. Join us for a Q&A panel discussion via Zoom Conferencing to get to know them! You’ll get to hear more about their background, their insights and advice on their industry, and most importantly, answers to your own questions!
- Each event is free, online, and will last 30 minutes.
- Each Q&A discussion will be hosted by a professor and an admissions representative.
- You won’t need to connect your audio or video; you’ll be able to ask your questions live via chat.
- You can download Zoom Conferencing for free here.
Upcoming Events:
We are working on getting our next Faculty Conversations scheduled - please check back soon!
Chris Riley, Professor of Screenwriting
Thursday, January 30, 4:00pm PST
Prof. Chris Riley is a screenwriter with 20 years of experience. He is a veteran of the Warner Bros. script department and the author of The Hollywood Standard: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style. He wrote After the Truth, an award-winning courtroom thriller German film. He holds a BS in Telecommunications from Oral Roberts University and was a National Merit Scholar.
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Life as a Disney Animator: Q&A with Prof. Jamie Oliff
Wednesday, January 15, 5:00-5:30pm PT
Jamie is an animator at Disney, and his extensive career in animation includes The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tarzan, Hercules, Mulan, and The Emperor’s New Groove. At this event, he'll share his insights on how to be successful in the animation industry, what his 2d animation courses cover at JPCatholic, and answers to your own questions!
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Kaitlyn Krikorian, Feature Film Production Manager
Wednesday, December 4, 4:00pm PT
Prof. Krikorian grew up just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She has worked in the industry as a photographer, cinematographer, editor, director and producer. She co-founded an organization that aids in artist networking, facilitating paid work, and supporting artists' mental health. Most recently she has worked producing and directing music videos for multiple Southern California based artists. At JPCatholic, she is the production manager of our Feature Films and is facilitating the latest Feature Film, Pickle for Pickleball.
During her faculty conversation Q&A, she will share her experience and opportunities in our Feature Film program, where students of all majors can collaborate.
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Matthew Gray, Chair of New Evangelization Program
Tuesday, November 26, 4:00-4:30 pm PT
Prof. Gray holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and Master of Arts in Theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary. He has been heavily involved in catechesis, evangelization, and the pro-life movement for many years, and his background also includes teaching high school theology.
In this Q&A, we'll discuss JPCatholic's unique New Evangelization emphasis, which prepares students for mission through a deep study of theology and philosophy, along with training in practical means of communicating the Faith, with elective tracks in media, music, public speaking, and non-profit leadership.
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Joe Connolly, Professor of Business
Monday, November 18, 4:00pm-4:30 pm PT
Prof. Connolly brings diverse and broad start-up operations experience from his work in business. He has been a Chief Operating Officer, a Director of Production, a Sales & Distribution manager, logistics coordinator and brewer. This Q&A will cover JPCatholic's hands-on approach to business and entrepreneurship, the Business LaunchPad experience, and how to develop a successful career in marketing, management, sales, and more.
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Dr. Robert Giracello, Adjunct Professor of Music
Wednesday, November 13, 5:00pm-5:30 pm PT
Prof. Robert is an award winning composer, performer, and educator. He received his PhD from the University of California, Riverside where he specialized in the theatrical works of Stephen Sondheim, the compositions and writings of Arthur Farwell, and electronic music composition using ChucK music programming. As a performer and composer, Robert has appeared throughout the United States and Europe, most notably in a special audience for Pope John Paul II, at the United Nations UNESCO concert in Paris, and at a special anniversary celebration in Cologne, Germany. He has recorded six studio albums and written two novels, most notably Three Landscapes, for which he received a MACRO award.
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Max Hulburt, Chair of Visual Arts
Monday, October 28, 4:00-4:30pm PT
Max is a visual artist who specializes in 3D modeling and texturing with additional skills in rigging, lighting, animation, and rendering. He holds an MFA in Animation and VFX from the Academy of Art University, and his career in animation and motion graphics has included work for CBS Interactive (gamespot.com), Comic-Con, E3, and the San Francisco Giants. As chair of the Visual Arts programs at JPCatholic, Max mentors students through career discernment, networking, and portfolio development.
This Q&A will focus on career opportunities and strategies within Animation, Game Development, Graphic Design, and Illustration.
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Megan Eccles, Professor of Creative Writing
Thursday, April 25, 5:00pm PT
Prof. Eccles Megan writes dark, speculative fiction for young adults and is represented by Laura Galit of LKG Agency. She is editorial assistant and social media manager for Hill Nadell Literary Agency. This Q&A will help you learn about the creative writing courses at JPCatholic and how to develop a successful career as a published author.
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George Castro, Adjunct Professor of Animation
Thursday, April 25, 4:30pm PT
George is a Senior Technical Animator at High Moon Studios, where he has worked since 2006 on franchises such as Destiny and Call of Duty. His career has spanned both the video game and animation industries. He began his career in 2003 working in pre-viz and character animation for Sony Cinematics Solutions Group. He worked for Omation Studios as a Character Finaler on the animated feature The Barnyard. He then returned to Sony (SCEA) before moving to High Moon Studios, where he has worked as a cinematic artist and animator.
In this Q&A, we’ll discuss careers within animation and game development, the courses he teaches at JPCatholic, and his advice for those interested in 3d art and animation.
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George Simon, Professor of Film Production
Tuesday, April 23, 5:00pm PT
Prof. George Simon is the Chair of Communications Media at JPCatholic. His writer-director credits include Almost Home, an award winning short from the 8Beats Anthology, The Scar, a high-concept fantasy epic, and the feature film Don’t Get Eaten, a family comedy. His recent producing credits include No Time Off For Good Behavior, written and directed by colleague Christopher Riley, and O, Brawling Love! the inaugural project for the feature film program at JPCatholic.
At this Q&A, George will discuss careers in the film industry, JPCatholic's unique approach to film production, and an in-depth look at our Feature Film Program which gives students the opportunity to collaborate with faculty to write, pitch, create, and distribute full-length movies.
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Courtney Balaker, Professor of Film & Acting
Wednesday, March 27, 4:00pm PT
Prof. Balaker is an award-winning filmmaker, theatre director, and co-founder of Korchula Productions. She wrote, directed, and produced Little Pink House, an award-winning feature film about Susette Kelo’s historic fight to save her home and neighborhood.
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Katelyn Slater, Professor of Acting
Monday, March 11, 5:00pm PT
Prof. Slater has worked with several local theaters, including North Coast Repertory Theatre, Onstage Playhouse, Trinity Theatre Company, and Community Actor’s Theatre. Regionally, she acted in a fall touring production of Romeo and Juliet with Nebraska Shakespeare, in addition to being a teaching artist for the company. She loves collaborative story-telling that delves into the richness and humor of humanity.
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Jacqueline Gold, Professor of Drawing and Illustration
Thursday, March 07, 4:00-4:30pm PT
Prof. Jacqueline provides instruction in Life Drawing, Portrait Drawing and Painting and Anatomy in her San Diego studio and provides instruction with life drawing and anatomy to the in-house animators at Sony Online Entertainment. She has worked as an illustrator for a product manufacturing company whose clientele included such well-known motion-picture studios as Disney, Warner Brothers and Lucas Films. Jacqueline received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration under the direction of Dick Oden at California State University Long Beach, and an MFA from the Laguna College of Art and Design.
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Prof. Rodney Figueroa, Adjunct Professor of Game Design
Tuesday, February 27, 5:00-5:30pm PT
Rodney is a gameplay designer and artist with experience in cinema, games, and virtual reality. He has worked as a Senior Gameplay Designer and 3d Artist for Animate Objects, and was also a Stereo Depth Artist for Legend 3d, creating stereoscopic 3d effects for films such as The Amazing Spider-Man, Man of Steel, and Shrek. This Q&A will cover JPCatholic's game development program, publishing a game in the senior project experience, and careers in the gaming industry.
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Prof. Cristina Weinheimer, Adjunct Professor of Graphic Design
Monday, February 12, 4:00-4:30pm PT
Professor Weinheimer is a seasoned Creative Director with over 13 years of senior-level designer expertise in the advertising industry and a diverse portfolio of 60+ brands. She has extensive experience in graphic design, art direction, copywriting, branding, corporate identity, retail marketing, and designing for consumer packaged goods. Her experience spans multiple outlets, including print, digital, social, TV, radio, podcast, and experiential spaces! This Q&A will cover JPCatholic's graphic design program and careers in the design industry.
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Prof. Joe Shoopack, Adjunct Professor of Game Development
Wednesday, November 29, 5:00-5:30pm PT
Joe is a Game Developer with over 30 years of experience in the creation of Interactive Digital Entertainment. His career includes work at Blue Sky Software / SEGA, 989 Studios, and Sony Online Entertainment: serving as Director of Art Development for 16 years. During his development career he has contributed to over 65 game titles.
At this Q&A we'll discuss careers in the game development industry, interactive storytelling, how to design fun experiences, and more!
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Prof. Joe Shoopack, Adjunct Professor of Game Development
Wednesday, November 29, 5:00-5:30pm PT
Joe is a Game Developer with over 30 years of experience in the creation of Interactive Digital Entertainment. His career includes work at Blue Sky Software / SEGA, 989 Studios, and Sony Online Entertainment: serving as Director of Art Development for 16 years. During his development career he has contributed to over 65 game titles.
At this Q&A we'll discuss careers in the game development industry, interactive storytelling, how to design fun experiences, and more!
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Prof. Fr. Ankido Sipo, Adjunct Professor of Theology
Tuesday, November 14, 5:00-5:30pm PT
Fr. Ankido is a a priest for the Chaldean rite Catholic Church. He received his BS Degree in Communications Media with an emphasis in New Evangelization in 2013. Currently, he is the Superior of the monastic order of the Sons of the Covenant.
At this Q&A we'll discuss about JPCatholic's Theology Program and Chaldean Catholicism
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Prof. Rebecca Huber, Professor of Vocal Performance
Tuesday, October 24, 4:00-4:30pm PT
Rebecca is a licensed speech-language pathologist and vocal music director with rich clinical experience, energy, and passion for her work. She is a professional vocalist with her accomplishments including the mastery of various styles of music such as musical theater, big band, barbershop, Renaissance, classical, choral, pop, and original compositions.
At this Q&A, we’ll discuss Professor Huber’s expertice as a musician and you can learn more about our new major offering in Digital Music!
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Marc Burch, Adjunct Professor of Business & Launchpad Mentor
Thursday, July 20, 4:00-4:30pm PT
Prof. Marc is a founder and VP of Business Development at ComoBlue - a software application development company for social networks. He served as Entrepreneur-in-residence, subject matter expert, judge and mentor for funding grants at the Center of Commercialization of Advanced Technology for Homeland Security. He is also an angel investor and executive entrepreneur providing early-stage capital. He has over 20 years of marketing, sales, business development, strategic partnerships and executive management experience in technology companies, including Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Actra (Netscape and GE Joint Venture), and MarketFirst.
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Prof. Bill Marsilii, Adjunct Professor of Screenwriting
Friday, July 14, 4:00-4:30pm PT
Bill co-wrote Déjà vu - a romantic time-travel thriller, which at the time was the highest-priced spec screenplay of all time after selling to Jerry Bruckheimer and Touchstone Pictures for $5 million. Déjà vu, which starred Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Val Kilmer and Jim Caviezel, grossed more than $180 million worldwide. Marsilii sold 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo to Walt Disney Pictures, and with his Deja Vu partner Terry Rossio, sold Lightspeed, a space adventure to Bruckheimer/Disney. More recently, Marsilii adapted the sci-fi comic Sebastian X for producer Gale Anne Hurd and director Martin Campbell, and sold an original project, Cold, to Lionsgate with Reese Witherspoon attached to star and produce. Marsilii has been a guest lecturer at a wide variety of film and screenwriting programs, including those at UCLA TFT, USC, NYU, and Pepperdine. He has served as a mentor for the Act One Screenwriting Program.
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Kathryn Smith-McGlynn, Adjunct Professor of Acting
Tuesday, July 18, 4:00-4:30pm PT
She raised millions of dollars in NYC as a former fundraising consultant and executive. She also served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso where she developed and taught groundbreaking courses. She studied at the famed Moscow Art Theatre and hold MFA in Acting from Carnegie Mellon University.
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Nathan Scoggins, Professor of Film
Wednesday, April 19, 4:00pm PT
Nathan is an award-winning filmmaker, whose credits include The Least of These, released in 2011 by Universal and starring Isaiah Washington (Grey's Anatomy) and Robert Loggia (Independence Day); the TV movie The Perfect Summer, starring Eric Roberts; and the 2022 film What Remains starring Cress Williams (Black Lightning), Kellan Lutz (Twilight), and Anne Heche (Volcano). He won the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest in 2012 and 2013 with “Sling Baby” and “Fashionista Daddy”. In addition, two of his award-winning short films were released by Lionsgate on DVD in 2008. He has written and developed projects for many companies in Hollywood. Nathan holds a BA in English and Film from Wesleyan University.
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Fr. Sam Keyes, Professor of Theology
Thursday, April 20, 4:00pm PT
Fr. Keyes is a recent convert to Catholicism from Anglicanism. He is beginning the process of formation to the priesthood through the Ordinariate of St. Peter. Dr. Keyes' impressive academic background includes a Ph.D. in Theology from Boston College and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. He brings with him deep academic expertise and a passion for the mission of JPCatholic to Impact Culture for Christ.
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Nate Sjogren, Professor of Graphic Design
Monday, February 20, 4:00pm PT
Prof. Sjogren is a Creative Director and Founder of Akimbo Studio. He has almost a decade of experience in branding, design and animation. He was a motion designer at Drive Studio, which is a design and production resource specializing in network branding, identity creation, show packages, promotion and new media outlets. During his time at Drive Studio, he has worked incredible projects such as FOX Sports Super Bowl LIV insert, Bleacher Report UEFA Champions League, 2018 FIFA World Cup, TNF on FOX and others.
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Fr. Simon Esshaki, Professor of New Evangelization
Thursday, March 9, 4:00pm PT
Fr. Simon Esshaki is a Chaldean Catholic priest of the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle for the Western United States. He joined the Chaldean Catholic Seminary of Mar Abba the Great in 2009 and completed his studies in 2015 with a Masters degree in Biblical Theology. He was ordained a priest that same year and serves as the administrator of St. Michael’s Chaldean Catholic Church in El Cajon, CA. He is currently in the process of becoming a Canon lawyer as he is in the JCL program at the Catholic University of America.
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Stephen Kramp, Professor of Creative Writing
Wednesday, January 25, 4:00pm PT
Prof. Steve is a theologian and prize-winning poet. Prior to coming to JPCatholic he taught courses in writing, literature, and cultural history at a number of universities and colleges, including the University of California, Merced, and the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He holds a BA in English from the University of Oregon, an MFA in Creative Writing from the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and an MA in Theology and Christian Ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville.
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Amanda LoCoco, Professor of Business Leadership
Thursday, January 12, 5:00pm PT
Prof. Amanda graduated from JPCatholic with an MA in Biblical Theology in 2014. She is finishing her EdD in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University where her dissertation focuses on the lack of leadership and management preparation for Diocesan priests in seminary education. She has written a speech textbook distributed through Apple iBooks and has written and developed several UC courses.
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Nate Sartain, Adjunct Professor of Game Art & Design
Thursday, April 20, 4:00-4:30pm PT
Prof. Sartain is a Senior Environment Artist who has worked at Sony PlayStation, 2K, and High Moon Studios. Throughout his 10+ years in the video game industry, he has worked on franchises such as Call of Duty, Destiny, and The Last of Us. He has been teaching animation and game development students at JPCatholic since 2016 and specializes in 3d modeling, texturing, and lighting.
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Lee Eskey, Professor & Chair of Acting
Wednesday, April 20, 3:00pm PT
Prof. Lee has been a professional actor, director and teacher for 20 years. Theatres include The Folger Theatre, The Denver Center Theatre Company, the Kentucky and Virginia Shakespeare Festivals and The National Players, as well as The Actor's Playground, a Los Angeles theatre company which he co-founded with Rick Wasserman. In LA he has also served on the faculty of Holy Wood Acting Studio and the Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio. Lee incorporates Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body (TOB) into his work with artists. Lee holds an MFA in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory and a BA in Drama from The Catholic University of America.
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Dr. Shalina Stilley, Professor of Theology
Tuesday, July 20, 4:00pm PT
Dr. Stilley has an MA and PhD in Philosophy from Marquette University with a dissertation on natural law theory, a Masters in Theology from University of Dallas, and a BA in Philosophy from Northern Arizona University. In addition, she has over 10 years of international teaching experience, including at Conception Seminary College, Beltei International University, and Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia.
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Chris Clark, Adjunct Professor of Design
Friday, July 23, 4:00pm PT
Prof. Chris is an award-winning advertising copywriter, designer and professor. He has produced work for such brands as Intel, Qualcomm, Shure Audio, Red Envelope, Total Gym, and The Corky McMillin Companies. He holds an MFA in Advertising from Academy of Art University and specializes in copywriting, editorial writing, graphic design, art/creative direction, motion graphics/animation, copyediting, commercial audio production and composing. Providing instruction from a real-world perspective, Chris passionately seeks to create the strongest of creative practitioners, ones that have both the design-mindedness to conceive strong conceptual solutions and the production skills to bring them to life.
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Ken Sharrar, Career Services Advisor
Wednesday, March 17, 4:00pm PT
As a coach and mentor for many years, Ken’s mission throughout his professional career has never changed - he seeks “to make a positive difference in people’s lives every day.” He advises students through 1-on-1 appointments and interactive group workshops. He motivates those who sincerely desire to secure part-time jobs, internships, and full-time opportunities after graduation. Ken teaches job-seeking skills, strategic employment planning , and imparts industry-specific strategies to further students’ growth in the career development process.
This event for prospective students and their parents will provide information on alumni success, what supports JPCatholic offers for internships and employment, and the chance for you to ask your own questions!
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Bob Keith, Professor of Creative Entrepreneurship
Friday, February 26, 4:00pm PT
Prof. Bob Keith is a broad-based executive with more than 30 years of experience and a demonstrated record of achievement in building and growing innovative businesses. His journey has included stops at multinational corporations, mid-cap growth companies, venture-backed startups, and a new breed of not-for-profit/for-profit hybrid enterprises launched by long-term, impact-oriented investors. Bob earned his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, his MCP from the University of Pennsylvania, and his BA from The George Washington University. He has advised more than 50 spiritual entrepreneurs and related initiatives, including Young Catholic Professionals, Catholic Creatives, and OSV Innovation Challenge.
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