Emmy Award Winner Jan Yanehiro To Direct New Communications Program At Academy Of Art University

Academy of Art University has long been the top art school for Fashion, Animation, Advertising and Photography in the Bay Area, drawing in droves of recent high school graduates and returning students alike for these nationally acclaimed, WASC accredited programs. Now Academy of Art University is excited to welcome a brand new program, and a new face as its spokesperson.

Local celebrity, and trusted anchor woman, Jan Yanehiro has joined Academy of Art University’s full time faculty as Director of the new Multimedia Communications school, with classes being offered beginning Fall semester, 2008.

Jan brings wealth of experience from the journalism and broadcasting industry to AAU’s students. Jan is best known for co-hosting Evening Magazine, which aired on San Francisco’s KPIX (CBS Channel 5) for 15 years. She is the producer of Pacific Fusion on KRON 4 (formerly an NBC affiliate station), a television news magazine program that focuses on the modern Asian American lifestyle.

She has also hosted Appraise It! on HGTV, the home and garden channel, as well as Forced Out, a public television documentary on the effects of internment in California during World War II. Her work has garnered her several Emmy Awards, induction into the Academy of Television and Radio Hall of Fame, and receipt of the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award from the United Nations in San Francisco, among other achievements.

Multimedia classes and communications classes offered in the fall include Short Film Production, Short Film Series Production, On Camera Communications and On Camera Interview and Speaking Techniques. Students will be able to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree or Master of Arts degree in the field.

Yanehiro is a firm believer in the hands-on approach in this educational field. Says Yanehiro, “What makes this program stand out is that we are making it possible for students to really dive in; write, produce, direct and literally pick up a camera and shoot pieces right away. It’s really exciting.”