Jay Walitalo has been a member of the full-time faculty at John Jay College since 2009. After receiving his master's degree from the University of Illinois, and prior to receiving full-time status at John Jay, Jay taught various English and film-related undergraduate courses at the New School, Hunter College, and Polytechnic University, as well as a graduate writing course at Pace University. At John Jay, Jay teaches first-year writing, film and creative writing courses in the English department and is the principal academic advisor for and coordinator of the Film Studies program. A professional screenwriter, Jay is interested in providing students an academic experience that reflects the professional realities of the working world, emphasizes the importance of creativity and personal expression, and embraces the increasingly visual and interactive nature of the world in which they live.