Newhouse Assistant Professor Recognized Nationally for Innovation in Teaching
Milton Santiago, assistant professor of visual communications in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, has received the 2026 Innovation in Teaching Award (BEA)—one of the organization’s most prestigious honors for media educators.
The award recognizes Santiago’s progressive, hands-on approach to teaching cinematography and visual storytelling, including his work exploring the ethical and practical applications of generative artificial intelligence in . He will be recognized at BEA’s annual convention in Las Vegas on April 17.
brings more than 15 years of professional experience in the film and television industry to the classroom. Before joining the Newhouse School in 2021 he worked as a freelance cinematographer and content creator in Los Angeles, shooting feature films and documentaries that screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, the Copenhagen International Film Festival and SXSW EDU. He has created content for brands including Disney, Procter & Gamble and Levi’s, and previously held production roles at Showtime Networks and Sundance Channel.
In November 2025, Santiago launched the Newhouse School’s in partnership with Adam Peruta, an associate professor and director of the . The two-day program combined hands-on workshops with a fast-paced content creation competition to explore how generative AI is transforming creative workflows.
At Newhouse, Santiago also serves as director of the program, a longstanding initiative that trains active-duty service members in communications, photography, design and video production.
His teaching has earned multiple honors, including Syracuse University’s Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Teaching Recognition Award for Early Performance, and the University Film and Video Association Teaching Excellence Award for Junior Faculty.
