Beverly Seckinger

Beverly Seckinger is a Professor at the University of Arizona in the School of Theatre, Film & Television and affiliated with the Graduate Interdisciplinary Program (GIDP) in Social/Cultural/Critical Theory. She previously served as Interim Director (2008-2010) and Associate Director (2004-2008) of the School of Media Arts. Her work focuses on documentary filmmaking addressing social issues, LGBTQ+ communities, and human rights.

Education: M.F.A. in Radio-Television-Film (Temple University, 1991), M.A. in Anthropology (University of Arizona, 1987), B.A. in English and French (University of Wyoming, 1981).

Research interests include documenting marginalized communities through film. Notable works include Hippie Family Values (2018) and Laramie Inside Out (2004), which explore rural counterculture and the aftermath of the Matthew Shepard murder. She co-directs the DocScapes screening series and leads the DocVisions outreach program teaching documentary skills to students and immigrant/refugee teens.

Current initiatives include establishing the University of Arizona’s Center for Documentary and teaching Advancing Human Rights through Documentary Media in the online Human Rights Practice graduate program. She has held leadership roles at New Day Films and the University Film & Video Association.

Her career includes Peace Corps service in Morocco (1981-83), literacy research (1985-86), and USAID consultancy in Tunisia (1993-1994).