"Ellen Perry" '12 is an award-winning film director, writer, producer and cinematographer. She attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Her first feature documentary, Great Wall Across the Yangtze, aired nationally on PBS in 2000. Narrated by Martin Sheen, the film investigates the Three Gorges Dam project, on China's Yangtze River. It won the Grand Festival Award at the Berkeley Film Festival.[http://www.falloffujimori.com/html/filmmakers.html The Filmmakers]

Her documentary film on the Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, The Fall of Fujimori, garnered much acclaim. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005. The Fall of Fujimori was nominated for an Emmy for Best Feature Documentary in 2006. It was also nominated by the Writers Guild for Best Documentary Screenplay in 2005 and was an official selection at over 30 film festivals worldwide. The Fall of Fujimori was awarded the CINE Golden Eagle, Grand Jury Prize at the Independent Film Festival of Boston, Special Jury Prize at the Milan International Film Festival, Director’s Choice at the Biografilm Festival and Audience Choice at the Toronto International Latin Film Festival.

More Ellen Perry on Wikipedia.

What is really unique about her is that she is from here. I think that is going to give her a sense of concern for the place and the people that maybe we haven't seen before.

I liked the fact that she spoke so clearly about her connections to people and her interest in being here. She also talked about students, faculty, staff, and all of us learning from each other and helping one another.

The are definitely issues with staff morale. I think there have been a great deal of emotions regarding discouragement on the part of the staff, like uncertainty about positions and the direction that we are going. We do have hope in her, I think she will address these issues and take them seriously.

It seems like she wants to hear from people individually rather than just focusing on making a list of things that need to be addressed. She wants to get to know us and make decisions based on the staff's input.

It gives you a glimpse into the mind of a dictator.