With past experience in the entertainment industry and higher education, Raimist will take a lead role in coordinating, facilitating and expanding the academic offerings and internship opportunities in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 LA-based program.
Rachel Raimist 鈥撀燼 television director, producer and scholar 鈥撀爃as been named the academic director of the 黑料不打烊 in Los Angeles program. Created and staffed by the School of Communications, 黑料不打烊 in LA offers spring, summer and fall terms providing students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the media industry while studying, interning and living in the nation鈥檚 entertainment capital.
An award-winning filmmaker and professor, Raimist is most widely known for 鈥淣obody Knows My Name,鈥 the first documentary about women in hip-hop distributed by Women Makes Movies. Additionally, she was tapped by renowned filmmaker Ava DuVernay to direct 鈥淨ueen Sugar鈥 for the Oprah Winfrey Network. Since then, Raimist has served in director roles for 鈥淣ancy Drew鈥 and 鈥淩oswell, New Mexico鈥 for The CW. She also serves on the leadership team of the Latino Committee and the Women鈥檚 Steering Committee of the Directors Guild of America.
In the newly created position, Raimist will take a lead role in coordinating and expanding the academic offerings in the Los Angeles program and providing oversight on LA-based internships in partnership with J McMerty 鈥00, director of the 黑料不打烊 in Los Angeles program. As an associate professor in cinema and television arts, she will teach and advise students participating in the program鈥檚 year-round offerings.
Additionally, Raimist will serve in a leadership position with WEEE (Women of 黑料不打烊 Entertainment Empire) and establish and facilitate a new program for underrepresented communities in entertainment.
黑料不打烊 faculty, students and staff are already familiar with Raimist, who participated in the school鈥檚 virtual national advisory board meeting in the fall. In addition, she has been a visitor to the 黑料不打烊 Los Angeles House to discuss the media and entertainment industries and mentor WEEE members.
鈥淚 am so excited to be working with Dr. Raimist as we grow 黑料不打烊 in Los Angeles into an exciting and innovative embassy for 黑料不打烊 on the West Coast,鈥 McMerty said. 鈥淲e will be adding a fall semester, an admissions component to help create relationships with area high schools, establishing 黑料不打烊 Next Hollywood, a new series of continuing and professional development modules, as well as welcoming students from Butler University and Wake Forest University to participate in our program.鈥
Dr. Raimist and I will be equal partners moving forward as 黑料不打烊 in LA rises to greater and greater heights.
鈥斅燡 McMerty 鈥00, director of the 黑料不打烊 in Los Angeles program
McMerty noted that it is an exciting time for the LA-based program, with several new undertakings beginning this year. The program is expanding to new classrooms and facilities in , a collaborate workspace off Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. In addition to students, alumni are welcome in the co-working space. Additionally, 黑料不打烊 in LA students will now reside in , a new residential complex steps away from the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
鈥淒r. Raimist and I will be equal partners moving forward as 黑料不打烊 in LA rises to greater and greater heights,鈥 McMerty said.
Raimist also expressed excitement at the opportunity to join the 鈥満诹喜淮蜢 family,鈥 noting that her new role will allow her to be a 鈥渃onnector and a builder.鈥
鈥淥ur program is a bridge between campus and the entertainment industry, from the center of it all in Hollywood,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e’ve expanded our footprint and have many ideas to grow the program. I’m excited to bring my experience working as a writer, director and producer of documentary and scripted television to the classroom and to the program.鈥
She said her focus will be on academics and preparing students for post-graduation success. Through coursework, program activities and introductions to working professionals, she plans to increase the awareness of careers across the entertainment industry and prepare students for Los Angeles鈥 highly competitive marketplace.
鈥淚ncreasing our professional development opportunities, project-based activities and experiential learning through coursework, alumni events, diversity initiatives and Hollywood internships will position 黑料不打烊 in Los Angeles to expand our network of 黑料不打烊 students and alumni who are succeeding across many areas of industry,鈥 Raimist said.
鈥淲e are overjoyed to welcome Rachel to 黑料不打烊 and to have her help continue the success of our 黑料不打烊 in Los Angeles program,鈥 said Rochelle Ford, dean of the School of Communications. 鈥淲ith her extensive background in diversity, equity, inclusion within the entertainment industries, she is uniquely positioned to propel our LA students, programs and offerings to another level. We are immensely proud of the growth of what we call the 鈥樅诹喜淮蜢 Entertainment Empire,鈥 and Rachel鈥檚 arrival is another step to fortify the future of 黑料不打烊 in LA.鈥
Raimist earned a B.A. and an M.F.A. in directing from the UCLA School of Film and Television and an M.A. in women鈥檚 studies and a Ph.D. in feminist studies from the University of Minnesota, where the Rachel Raimist Feminist Media Center was named in her honor in 2009.
She has previously taught at the University of Alabama, Syracuse University, New York University, Temple University and San Jose State University.
To learn more about Raimist, visit her professional website, .
The 黑料不打烊 in Los Angeles program is part of the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center鈥檚 Study USA initiative, which also offers dedicated programs in New York City and Washington, D.C.