MaryLynn Schiavi, Correspondent
She is an award-winning filmmaker, an educator adored by her students who credit her with raising significant funding, and developing innovative digital filmmaking programs at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Brunswick, but despite Dena Seidel’s accomplishments, her contract was not renewed, and 39 students and alumni have asked for an explanation from university administration but have received no response, they said.
Until June 2015, Seidel was the director of the Rutgers Center for Digital Filmmaking (RCDF) Certificate Program. According to her students, she successfully championed a new Digital Filmmaking Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program offered for the first time this fall.
Natalie James, a former student of Seidel, emailed a letter to Robert L. Barchi, president, Rutgers University and Richard L. Edwards, chancellor, Rutgers University New Brunswick Campus, on July 23 with 39 signatures composed of students and alumni.
On Wednesday, a formal grievance was filed on behalf of Seidel by the union representing Rutgers University faculty, according to B.J. Walker, senior staff representative, Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, American Association of University Professors, American Federation of Teachers.
“The grievance cites several policy violations with regard to renewable appointments,” Walker said.
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