About CITIL

The Center for Inclusive Teaching and Innovative Learning launched in 2025 to foster the growth of an inclusive, equitable, and transformative educational environment at CalArts. Funded in part by the Maxwell | Hanrahan Foundation. 

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Mission

The Center for Inclusive Teaching and Innovative Learning at CalArts is dedicated to building a dynamic educational ecosystem that propels artistic innovation while centering inclusive pedagogical excellence. Our mission is to provide faculty with tools, facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration, and champion diverse perspectives in the arts. Through tailored workshops, resource development, and ongoing support, we equip instructors with the skills to create transformative classroom and studio environments that resonate with all students. By promoting adaptive teaching methods and encouraging reflective practice, faculty prepare young artists who are not only technically proficient but also socially conscious and culturally responsive. We strive to cultivate a community of teachers and learners who think and play critically, embrace experimentation, questions hierarchy, and prioritize equitable teaching and learning experiences. Ultimately, our goal is to position CalArts at the forefront of inclusive arts education, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to fully realize their creative potential and contribute to the evolving landscape of contemporary art and culture. 

Vision

The Center for Inclusive Teaching and Innovative Learning at CalArts envisions a transformative artistic and educational environment where creativity thrives, diversity is celebrated, and all voices are empowered. We aspire to be a catalyst for change, fostering a learning culture that transcends traditional boundaries and interrogates systematic barriers. 

With a deep commitment to inclusion, equity, and a rigorous attention to access, the Center will enact an empathetic criticality towards ongoing pedagogical evolution. We aim to inspire both faculty and students to push the limits of their artistic potential while embracing the richness of diverse perspectives.

By providing resources, workshops, and a supportive community, the Center will support faculty in creating environments to help students cultivate a deep understanding of their own artistic agency and a strong sense of societal impact. 

Our Center will provide a space for intentional engagement with inquiry, where artists leave CalArts with a meaningful, informed, and sustainable practice.

Advisory Council

• Lee Anne Schmitt

  School of Film/Video;
  Director, Film Directing ;
  Faculty, Film Directing

  Email address: lschmitt@calarts.edu

  Phone number: (661) 554-9839 x2152

  Room number: E204F

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• Julie Bour

  School of Dance;
  MFA Program Director;
  Faculty

  Email address: jbour@calarts.edu

  Phone number: (661) 554-0755 x6237

  Room number: E123D

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• Muriel Leung

  School of Critical Studies;
  Faculty, MFA Creative Writing Program

  Email address: mleung@calarts.edu

  Phone number: 661-255-2282

  Room number: E116

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• Maija Burnett

  School of Film/Video;
  Assistant Dean;
  Director, Character Animation

  Email address: mburnett@calarts.edu

  Phone number: (661) 222-2761

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• Mariela DeMaio

  Office of the President;
  IDEA Administrative Coordinator

  Email address: mdemaio@calarts.edu

  Phone number: 661-255-2663

  Room number: Vista Village, 211

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Contact CITIL

The Center for Inclusive Teaching and Innovative Learning

Email: provost@calarts.edu
Room: A207 E