معرفی
Nicola Waugh is a part-time Lecturer in the Art + Film Department within the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt. She serves as Communications & Marketing Lead for CAHSS and teaches FILM 260. Based in Arcata, California with professional connections to Calgary, Canada, Waugh bridges academic instruction with professional film production and strategic communications work.
Her educational background includes:
- M.A. in Communication and Culture from Toronto Metropolitan University/York University
- B.A. (Honours) in Communications from University of Calgary
Waugh's professional focus spans film production, theory, criticism, promotion, and festival strategy. Her creative work demonstrates deep engagement with documentary filmmaking, particularly projects highlighting Indigenous stories and cultural preservation. She has produced award-winning narrative and documentary features distributed internationally, with recent works addressing climate change, Indigenous language revitalization, mental health, and socio-economic challenges. Her films have been featured in numerous international festivals including Vancouver Film Festival, Calgary International Film Festival, ImagineNATIVE Film Festival, and Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian's Native Cinema Showcase.
Waugh's filmography reveals consistent thematic concerns across both narrative and documentary formats. Recent works show increasing attention to environmental issues while maintaining her commitment to authentic community storytelling. Her 2025 experimental short Climate Control explores the intersection of climate crisis and generative AI, while her 2023 documentary A-t'i Xwee-ghayt-nish (Still, We Live On) documents language revitalization efforts with the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation.
As a communications specialist, Waugh has developed strategic communications plans for University of Calgary, Visit Eureka, Cal Poly Humboldt, Berkeley Disaster Lab, and California Center for Rural Policy. She has extensive experience with film festivals and artist-run centers including Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers, Calgary Underground Film Festival, and Reel Asian Film Festival. She is the co-founder of LUMA Quarterly, an online film and media art publication.
Her professional activities include:
- Co-owner of Calgary-based Kino Sum Productions (2017-23)
- Producer of multiple award-winning films distributed internationally
- Strategic communications planning for educational and non-profit organizations
- Collaborative work with Indigenous communities on cultural documentation projects
- Film programming and criticism through various festival and publication venues
