Conversations

Jennifer Ramos, associate professor of political science, studies the causes and consequences of political change, U.S. public opinion and foreign policy, drone warfare, and religion and foreign policy preferences. She is the author of “Changing Norms Through Actions: The Evolution of Sovereignty” and teaches in the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts. Ramos was interviewed by Editor Joseph Wakelee-Lynch.

When Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., gave his inauguration address in October, he outlined a vision for higher education based on imagination and creativity and rooted in magis, which he defines as the restless urge to do more for those who are here, for those to come and for the earth itself. A few weeks later, we met with LMU’s 16th president to explore that vision further. Snyder was interviewed by Editor Joseph Wakelee-Lynch.

Susan Scheibler is associate professor of film, TV and media studies in the School of Film and Television. Her areas of expertise include film theory, television studies and documentaries. She was interviewed by Editor Joseph Wakelee-Lynch.

For the past several months, thousands of migrants have been leaving war-torn areas of the Middle East, many of them attempting to reach welcoming nations in Europe and elsewhere. We asked Najwa Al-Qattan, associate professor of Ottoman and modern Middle Eastern history in the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, for her perspective on the crisis. Al-Qattan was interviewed by Editor Joseph Wakelee-Lynch.

In February 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration released proposed regulations governing civil unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones. Mark Pestana ’75, a former NASA research pilot, consulted with the FAA as it formulated its rules. Pestana is an expert in aircraft user interfaces and has flown drones to fight fires. We spoke to him about the emerging technology that will impact privacy laws, aviation safety and the nation’s economic health. Pestana was interviewed by Doug McInnis.

Nathalie Sánchez ’07 is a full-time teaching artist with P.S. Arts and works in two Los Angeles charter schools. She is co-founder of Ceramic Studio 153, in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Sánchez earned her bachelor’s degree in the College of Communication and Fine Arts with a double major in studio arts and art history. Follow her @Ceramics153. She was interviewed by Editor Joseph Wakelee-Lynch.

Victoria Graf, professor in the School of Education, is the former director of SOE’s Special Education program. In December 2013, she was named a member of California’s Statewide Special Education Task Force, which will analyze the state’s systems for serving students with disabilities and make recommendations by the end of 2014. She was interviewed by Editor Joseph Wakelee-Lynch.

Angela James, trained as a sociologist and demographer, is an associate professor of African American Studies. Her areas of expertise include race and ethnicity, urban demography, and family studies. One of James’ freshman courses is “Metropolitan Los Angeles,” about black Los Angeles, which concludes with a tour of important African American historical and cultural sites. She was interviewed by Editor Joseph Wakelee-Lynch.

Lesley Leighton ’84, who is a graduate of Westchester High School as well as Loyola Marymount University, is associate conductor of the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Academy Award-winner William Friedkin has directed several seminal films, including “The Exorcist,” “To Live and Die in L.A.” and “The French Connection.” Friedkin spoke on campus in late March as part of the School of Film and Television’s “The Hollywood Masters” series. Vanessa Newell, associate professor of film production in SFTV, spoke to him about his work and the film industry.