Provost Updates: Thank You, Dean Joanne Moore

July 1, 2026

Dear LMU Community,

With gratitude for her contributions to the university, I share that Dean Joanne Moore has decided to conclude her tenure as dean of the LMU School of Film and Television to pursue other opportunities and creative endeavors.

Since joining LMU in June 2022, Dean Moore has brought to SFTV a rare combination of academic leadership; bringing industry experience, creative vision, and deep commitment to the formation of the next generation of storytellers. Before her career in higher education, Moore was an award-winning producer and executive in the film and television industries — all experience she brought to her role at LMU. Her leadership arrived at a pivotal moment for film and television education, as the entertainment industry continued to change rapidly, Dean Moore helped position SFTV to meet that moment with confidence, creativity, and purpose.

Under Dean Moore’s leadership, SFTV strengthened its national visibility and reputation by reaching and sustaining its place among the nation’s top five film schools. The school was ranked No. 5 by The Hollywood Reporter for the second consecutive year and No. 5 in The Wrap’s 2025 ranking of the top film schools. These recognitions reflect the increased strength of SFTV’s academic programs, faculty and staff, students and alumni, and industry partnerships.

Dean Moore also advanced SFTV’s work to prepare students for an industry experiencing technological change, new distribution models, shifting audience habits, and renewed attention to access, representation, and social impact. During her tenure, SFTV expanded industry engagement through increased guest speakers, professional mentorship, the Distinguished Artist in Residence program, and new curricular and co-curricular initiatives responsive to emerging developments in the field, including artificial intelligence. She also helped elevate SFTV’s visibility through programs and partnerships that connected students and alumni more directly to the creative industries, including the Innovators Film Festival and Hollywood Bootcamp.

Dean Moore’s commitment to access and student opportunity has strengthened philanthropic and partnership support for SFTV. In collaboration with University Advancement, industry partners, and friends of the school, she helped sustain and expand support for scholarships, student success, alumni opportunity, and socially engaged storytelling. This work includes LMU’s continued partnership with The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment, which seeks to equip the next generation of storytellers with the mentorship, tools, and confidence to thrive in an industry that needs new voices. She championed a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, which has helped provide full-cost-of-attendance scholarship opportunities for young women from underrepresented Los Angeles communities. Recently, the LMU/Sony Social Impact Filmmaking Lab was launched by Dean Moore to support alumni filmmakers with funding, mentorship, and access to advanced Sony technology.

Throughout her tenure, Dean Moore has championed inclusive storytelling, interdisciplinary collaboration, hands-on learning, and the formation of “citizen artists” who are prepared to lead with both technical excellence and moral imagination. She has worked closely with faculty, staff, alumni, industry leaders, donors, and university partners to strengthen SFTV’s programs and amplify the school’s distinctive role in Los Angeles and beyond.

Effective today, I am pleased to announce that Edward Siebert, S.J., acclaimed producer, founder and president of Loyola Productions, has agreed to serve as dean of the LMU School of Film and Television for the next two years. Father Siebert brings an uncommon combination of creative achievement, academic engagement, and deep commitment to LMU's mission. As an accomplished filmmaker, longtime educator, alumnus, former trustee, and respected leader in the entertainment industry, he is uniquely positioned to guide SFTV through this period of transition while building upon the school's extraordinary momentum. His longstanding relationships across the university and throughout the film and television community, together with his unwavering commitment to forming storytellers of talent, purpose, and conscience, position SFTV well for the years ahead.

Later this summer, Father Siebert and I will gather with SFTV faculty to listen, share perspectives, and discuss the opportunities ahead as we begin writing the next chapter for one of the nation's premier film schools.

Please join me in thanking Dean Joanne Moore for her leadership, service, and contributions to LMU and the LMU School of Film and Television. We are grateful for her energy, experience, and vision and we wish her well in the next chapter ahead.

With gratitude,
Kat

Kat Weaver, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
Professor of Biology
Loyola Marymount University