Susan Zeig

Susan Zeig is a Professor of Film at Long Island University, Post campus, affiliated with the School of Visual Arts, Communications and Digital Technologies. She serves as the Director of the Film Program, where she contributes to shaping curriculum and guiding students in documentary and independent filmmaking.

Research Interests: Professor Zeig specializes in documentaries that address pressing social concerns, particularly in the realm of urban education reform. Her work explores how communities are revitalizing educational outcomes in underserved neighborhoods. She is also deeply engaged in independent filmmaking and Latin American cinema, often highlighting cultural expression and grassroots movements through film.

Her recent film A Community Concern has been widely screened across the United States on PBS and in community and academic venues including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago, Boston, and Detroit. Other notable works include Plena is Work, Plena is Song, featured in the Alan Lomax Collection at the Smithsonian, and Manos A La Obra: The Story of Operation Bootstrap, broadcast on PBS and cable networks.

Scientific Awards and Grants: Her projects have been supported by a wide array of prestigious foundations and institutions, including:

• C.S. Mott Foundation
• Ford Foundation
• Surdna Foundation
• Barr Foundation
• Irvine Foundation
• The Nellie Mae Foundation
• California Endowment
• Stuart Foundation
• Walter and Elise Hass Fund
• Rockefeller Foundation
• National Latino Communications Center
• New York Foundation for the Arts
• National Endowment for the Humanities
• National Endowment for the Arts
• New York State Council on the Humanities
• New York State Council for the Arts
• Film Fund
• Research Committee of Long Island University

Advising and Grants: As Director of the Film Program, Professor Zeig plays a key role in mentoring students and advancing film education at LIU. She has secured extensive external funding for her documentary projects, demonstrating sustained success in grant acquisition and project leadership. Though specific advisees are not listed, her leadership position implies active engagement with students and emerging filmmakers.

Labs and Teams: While no formal lab or research team is named, her collaborative filmmaking projects suggest strong partnerships with community organizations, educational institutions, and public broadcasting networks. Her screenings and speaking engagements at universities and policy forums indicate an interdisciplinary and community-integrated approach to her work.