Noelle Griffis

Noelle Griffis is an Associate Professor and Assistant Division Chair in the Department of Communication and Media Arts at MMM University. Her academic work bridges film and media studies with urbanism, focusing on historical and cultural intersections of media production, city life, and identity. She is actively involved in scholarly communities, serving as co-chair of the Urbanism/Geography/Architecture Scholarly Interest Group for the Society of Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS) and on the editorial board of Mediapolis: a Journal of Cities and Culture.

• Ph.D., Indiana University
• M.A., New York University
• B.A., University of Alabama

Her research explores film and television history, American independent cinema, New York City filmmaking, race and gender in media, production cultures, and media policy. She investigates how urban environments shape and are shaped by media narratives, particularly through the lenses of gentrification, identity, and industrial practices. Her work often centers on marginalized voices and institutional barriers in media production.

Recent publications analyze gentrification in television, minority apprentice programs in urban filming, and the rebranding of cities through media. Her forthcoming work includes a collaborative oral history on women’s film collectives and a manuscript on 1960s–70s New York film production and urban development. These works reflect a sustained engagement with media’s role in urban transformation and social equity.

Noelle has presented her research at major conferences including the American Studies Association, Screen Conference, and Society of Cinema and Media Studies. She also co-organized the 2026 Vassar Institute Signature Program on women’s independent film histories.

She teaches courses such as Introduction to Cinema Studies, American Independent Cinema, and Cinema & the City. Her advising and professional service include editorial work, conference organizing, and leadership in scholarly interest groups, reflecting a strong commitment to both pedagogy and academic community building.

She is based in Nugent Hall, Room 560E, and holds office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2pm during the Fall 2025 semester or by appointment.