Emily Ray Reese

Emily Ray Reese is a Lecturer in the Department of Communication at Santa Clara University's College of Arts and Sciences. She holds an MFA in Filmmaking from New York University. Her career spans filmmaking, theater, and storytelling, with a focus on social issues and narrative-driven projects.

• Education: MFA in Filmmaking, New York University

Reese’s work includes founding Gringuisimo, an educational theater group in El Salvador (2005), and producing award-winning short films such as Cecilia (premiered at festivals including Palm Springs ShortsFest) and The Visitors and OK Breathe, Auralee (Sundance-premiered). She has also written scripts like Baby LU, supported by the IFP Emerging Narrative Lab. Recently, she transitioned to live storytelling, winning a Moth Story Slam (2017), hosting How to Build a Fire, and co-founding Open Lore Policy. Her solo theater piece Lil’ Mama debuted in 2017 and evolved into a stage production for the Stand Up Rise Up festival.

Awards:

• 2013 New York Foundation of the Arts Geri Asher Screenwriting Fellowship

Reese teaches courses such as Introduction to Digital Filmmaking (Comm 30) at SCU. She actively engages in creative projects bridging film, theater, and communal dialogue on social topics.