Shawn Kildea

Dr. Shawn Kildea is an Associate Professor and Department Chairperson in the Department of Media Arts at Rider University. He holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University and specializes in Film and Television, with a focus on documentary production. His courses emphasize studio and documentary filmmaking, integrating historical and social justice themes into pedagogical projects.

Kildea’s research explores documentary narratives tied to historical trauma and social change, including the Civil Rights Movement, Holocaust survival, and the experiences of Black soldiers in WWI/WWII. His collaborative student films have screened at festivals, universities (e.g., Morehouse College, Miami University), and cultural institutions like the Museum of Tolerance in New York City.

He is the co-founder/advisor of Tapestry and has overseen productions broadcast on public television, though no specific awards, grants, or labs are detailed in the source text.