Student Information
Graduate Student
English
The College of Lib Arts & Sci
Long Bio
Barbara VanDenburgh oversees communications and events for The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, working one-on-one with leadership in Arizona and California to define and communicate their vision to stakeholders, current and prospective students, donors and media in multiple markets.
A longtime arts and entertainment journalist with a passion for the intersection of art and society, Barbara puts her successful background of community building and skills as a writer, editor, organizer and communicator to work helping to build a vibrant film culture at ASU. As the school’s chief storyteller, Barbara triumphs the successes of The Poitier Film School’s students, faculty and alumni, and her managed events in Arizona and Los Angeles bring Oscar and Emmy award-winning guest artists for public engagements and masterclasses.
Prior to joining The Poitier Film School, Barbara worked nearly 20 years for the USA TODAY Network, serving as Books Editor for USA TODAY and as an arts and entertainment journalist and film critic for The Arizona Republic. Barbara is a critic and member of the Phoenix Critics Circle and a volunteer presenter for the Phoenix Film Festival. She is also the founder and host of the First Draft Book Club, a popular and long-running book club discussing recently published works of literary fiction at Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix.