The faculty members who teach our online courses are the same nationally recognized experts who teach on-campus DMD undergraduate and graduate-level courses. Each brings a wealth of real-world work experience from all over the country to “class.” And they are committed to continually adapting the curriculum to reflect new DMD strategies, technologies, and platforms. Because the program is part of the School of Fine Arts, credits can be applied to a Master of Arts or a Master of Fine Arts should this be something you’re interested in pursuing.
Miao Guo
Dr. Miao Guo is an Assistant Professor in the Digital Media & Design Department at the University of Connecticut. Her research interests include audience behavior analysis, data analytics, communication technologies, as well as media economics and management. She has published articles in the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, International Journal on Media Management, Journal of Media Business Studies, Journalism Practice, and Media and Communication, etc. Dr. Guo’s research work has been funded by industry sponsors including Time Warner Company. She is also the recipient of the 2016 Broadcast Education Association (BEA) New Faculty Research Award and 2013 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Emerging Scholar Award. Dr. Guo is a Faculty Fellow of the National Association of Television Program Executives, International Radio and Television Society, and AEJMC’s Institute for Diverse Leadership. She is a social media visiting professor of Scripps Howard Foundation and ANA Educational Foundations. She has held leadership positions in the professional associations including the BEA and AEJMC.
Email: miao@uconn.edu
Nikki Stier Justice
Nikki Stier Justice is an independent producer and seasoned entertainment executive with a background in film production and distribution. She started her career at 20th Century Fox working in feature film development/production on projects including The Maze Runner and Ford v. Ferrari. In 2014, she moved to start-up production company Good Deed Entertainment (GDE), where she helped grow the company into a multi-million dollar studio. As Chief Operating Officer she oversaw development, financing, production, distribution, corporate branding and marketing on a slate of 7-10 releases a year.
Ms. Justice has produced multiple projects including latino thriller, Coyote Lake, starring Camila Mendes and Adriana Barraza, as well as horror anthology Nightmare Cinema from acclaimed directors Joe Dante, David Slade, Mick Garris, Ryuhei Kitamura and Alejandro Brugues. In 2017 she helped launch the distribution arm of GDE by bringing in the Oscar® nominated Van Gogh biopic, Loving Vincent. She has overseen the release of 30 films including All Nighter, Extra Ordinary, Journey’s End, Tell It to the Bees, Lucky Grandma, To Dust and This Changes Everything.
As a producer, distributor and instructor, Ms. Justice’s focus is on films from diverse voices that are designed to transform viewer opinions, influence change and successfully recoup production costs.
Email: nicole.justice@uconn.edu
Dan joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut in fall 2013 with over 15 years of digital animation design and production experience on a wide range of projects, from medical animation and product pre-visualization to television and home video entertainment.
Email: dan.pejril@uconn.edu
Joel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Digital Media and Design. A UConn alum and long-time member of the University community, he joined the Digital Media and Design faculty in fall 2013. His portfolio includes several years as a web and mobile developer for the UConn Office of Communications and a stint as Lead Interactive Developer for a digital marketing agency in Washington, DC.
Email: joel@uconn.edu