Assistant Professor (Mass Communication, Television, Radio and Film)

Dan Tinianow studied Mass Communication, with minors in Psychology and Art at Oberlin College. After living in Japan for a year, he began graduate studies at The S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University. First completing a Master of Science degree in Television/Radio/Film, he later completed a Doctorate in Mass Communication. His dissertation examined the technology of virtual reality from a Mass Communication disciplinary perspective.

After teaching for seven years at Austin College in Texas, Dr. Tinianow moved to Los Angeles to take a break from academia while renewing ties in the entertainment industry and catching up on the state of the media art. During this time, he served as senior researcher for a History Channel series, "Secret Passages," wrote numerous TV and radio advertisements, wrote and directed a short film, and actively developed two television series which, unfortunately, were never picked up for production.

Dr. Tinianow has a special interest in technology that stretches back to his childhood - his older brothers nicknamed him "the electronic brain," and his mother says it may be genetic, since her father was also a gadget fan, as well as the first physician in Berlin to own a fluoroscope in a private practice. In particular, his interest lies in human factors in technology: how do people use technology, and how does technology influence culture (and vice-versa).

A strong interest in creative pursuits is the other side of his coin. Dr. Tinianow likes writing short and long form teleplays, mostly tending toward comedy. He has also acted in over a dozen stage productions from his teen years onward.

Specialized areas of interest include Asian film (in particular, Akira Kurosawa), comic books and science fiction.