Niki Rousso-Schindler

Niki Rousso-Schindler is a visual anthropologist and happiness researcher who has been writing and teaching a variety of social science and cultural studies courses in the School of Critical Studies at CalArts since 2006.

Courses explore topics such as visual representation in ethnographic films, cross-cultural approaches to death and dying, interpreting and writing life stories, relationships between food and culture, and pursuing happiness from multiple pathways including Buddhism and positive psychology.  

Niki has also taught courses in documentary photography and environmental art through the CalArts Community Arts Partnership (CAP) program.  Prior to teaching at CalArts, Niki directed and co-produced the PBS documentary “Our Mother’s Recipe” and was the founder and executive director of Mango Tree Productions, a non-profit organization created to help fund cultural research and assist anthropologists and filmmakers with collaborative visual projects.