Major Advisors

Adding an Art Minor

Email the Art Department Administrative Support Coordinator, Bill Alley bill.alley@sjsu.edu, for more information about changing your major, adding a minor or applying for graduation.

Undergraduate and Graduate Major Advisors

Who are Major Advisors?

Major advisors are faculty who teach and are professional artists and historians in your intended major area. Faculty are on break durring winter and summer recess, if you need immediate assistance when classes are not in session, please contact the Art Department Administrative Support Coordinator, Bill Alley bill.alley@sjsu.edu.

What can Major Advisors help me with?

Major Advisors can advise you on the classes you need to take in the art department & career trajectory, but you will need to see a general advisor to make sure you are on-track with your General Education (GE) courses.  

List of Advisors

Quicklinks to Major Advisors:

• Bachelor of Art (BA) in Studio Practice
• Bachelor of Art (BA) in Studio Practice - Preparation for Teaching
• Digital Media Art MFA & BFA
• Photography MFA & BFA
• Pictorial Art MFA & BFA
• Spatial Art MFA & BFA

Bachelor of Art (BA) in Studio Practice

BA Studio Practice majors should see an advisor from their area of emphasis (Photography, Pictoiral Art, Spatial Art, or Digital Media Art).

ON SABBATICAL -  NOT AVAILABLE FALL 2024 -Prof. Binh Danh (Photography)
Office: DH 401C
binh.danh@sjsu.edu 
(408) 924-4489

Prof. Valerie Mendoza (Photography Emphasis)
Office: DH 401C & IS 219
valerie.mendoza@sjsu.edu 
(408) 924-4693
Office Hours: W 2:00pm - 4:00pm via Zoom (email for link) or in person (must schedule in advance)

Prof. Shaun O'Dell (Pictorial Art Emphasis)
Office: Online
shaun.odell@sjsu.edu 
(408)924-4369
Office Hours: T 8:00am - 10:00am  via Zoom (email for link)

Prof. Carla Fisher Schwartz: (Pictorial Emphasis & DMA Emphasis: Last Names beginning with Te-Z)
Office: ART 319
carla.fisherschwartz@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: W 4:00pm – 6:00pm (In Person)*  

Prof. Adam Shiverdecker (Spatial Art Emphasis)
Office: IS 124C
adam.shiverdecker@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: MW 11:00am – 12:00pm

Prof. Shannon Wright (Spatial Art Emphasis)
Office: ART 108
shannon.wright@sjsu.edu 
R 12:30 - 2:30 PM via Zoom

Prof. Andrew Blanton - Last Names beginning with Aa-Ht (DMA Emphasis)
Office: ART 311
andrew.blanton@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: TR 11:00am – 12:00pm (In Person)

Prof. Esteban Garcia: Last Names beginning with Hu-Mas (DMA Emphasis)
Office: ART Building 317
esteban.garciabravo@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: T 1:00pm - 3:00pm (In Person)

Prof. Rajorshi Ghosh -  Last Names beginning with Mar-Td (DMA Emphasis)
Office: Online
rajorshi.ghosh@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: W 1:00pm – 3:00pm via Zoom (email to schedule and recieve zoom link)

ON SABBATICAL -  NOT AVAILABLE FALL 2024 - Prof. Craig Hobbs (DMA Emphasis)
Office: ART 319
gcraig.hobbs@sjsu.edu 

BA Studio - Preparation for Teaching

Susan W. Trimingham
Office: Online
susan.trimingham@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: R 3:00pm – 4:30pm via Zoom (email for link)

Art History and Visual Culture

Anthony Raynsford
Office: Online
anthony.raynsford@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: W 10:00am – 11:00am via Zoom (email for link)

Sarah Mills
Office: ART 123
sarah.mills@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: T 3:00pm – 5:00pm (In Person)

Bachelor Of Fine Arts – B.F.A Degree and Master of Fine Arts – MFA Degree

Digital Media Art MFA/BFA

DMA Majors are assigned to a major advisor according to the first few letters of the student's last name.*

Major Advisors are Professors teaching within your degree program, they are only available for advising during certain days and times. If you have a class during your advisor's scheduled office hours, we suggest respectfully asking the professor teaching your class if you can step out for a bit to meet with your advisor.  

Many answers to student questions can be found in the the DMA Advising Guide.

Prof. Andrew Blanton - Last Names beginning with Aa-Ht
Office: ART 311
andrew.blanton@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: TR 11:00am – 12:00pm

Prof. Esteban Garcia: Last Names beginning with Hu-Mas
Office: ART 317
esteban.garciabravo@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: T 1:00pm - 3:00pm (In Person)

Prof. Rajorshi Ghosh -  Last Names beginning with Mar-Td
Office: Online
rajorshi.ghosh@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: W 1:00pm – 3:00pm via Zoom (email for link)

Prof. Carla Schwartz: Last Names beginning with Te-Z
Office: ART 319
carla.fisherschwartz@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: W 4:00pm – 6:00pm (In-Person)*

ON SABBATICAL -  NOT AVAILABLE FALL 2024 - Prof. Craig Hobbs 
Office: ART 319
gcraig.hobbs@sjsu.edu 

Photography MFA & BFA

ON SABBATICAL -  NOT AVAILABLE FALL 2024 - Prof. Binh Danh
Office: DH 401C
binh.danh@sjsu.edu 
(408) 924-4489

Prof. Valerie Mendoza (Last Name A - Lu)
Office: DH 401C
valerie.mendoza@sjsu.edu 
(408) 924-4693
Office Hours: W 2:00pm - 4:00pm via Zoom (email for link or schedule an appointment for on campus)

Prof. Adam Shiverdecker (Last Name Lv - Re,  Fall 2024 Only)
Office: IS 124C
adam.shiverdecker@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: MW 11:00am – 12:00pm

Prof. Shannon Wright (Last Name Rf - Z,  Fall 2024 Only)
Office: ART 108
shannon.wright@sjsu.edu 
T 9:45-10:45 AM,  12:15 - 1:15 PM  (In Person)

Pictorial Art MFA & BFA

Prof. Shaun O'Dell
Office: Online
shaun.odell@sjsu.edu 
(408)924-4404
Office Hours: R 8:00am – 10:00am via Zoom (email for link)

Prof. Carla Fisher Schwartz
Office: ART 319
carla.fisherschwartz@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: W 4:00pm – 6:00pm (In Person)*

*On Wed Oct 9th, 2024 Professor Scwartz will hold her office hours 2:30 - 4:30pm 

Spatial Art MFA & BFA

Prof. Adam Shiverdecker
Office: IS 124C
adam.shiverdecker@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: MW 11:00am – 12:00pm

Prof. Shannon Wright (Spatial Art Emphasis)
Office: ART 108
shannon.wright@sjsu.edu 
R 12:30 - 2:30 PM via Zoom