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

THE SCHEDULE BELOW IS FOR FALL 2024 - REGULAR MAJOR ADVISING OFFICE HOURS FOR SPRING 2025 WILL BEGIN MONDAY JAN 27th, PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES

Quicklinks to Major Advisors:

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

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).

Prof. Binh Danh (Photography)
Office: DH 401C
binh.danh@sjsu.edu  
408-924-4489
Office Hours: TR 11:00am – 12:00pm in person and via Zoom by appointment

Prof. Valerie Mendoza (Photography Emphasis)
Office: DH 401C 
valerie.mendoza@sjsu.edu 
(408) 924-4693
Office Hours: W 2:00pm - 4:00pm in person and via Zoom by appointment 

Prof. Shaun O'Dell (Pictorial Art Emphasis)
Office: Online
shaun.odell@sjsu.edu 
(408)924-4369
Office Hours: TR 8:00am – 10:00am via Zoom

Prof. Carla Fisher Schwartz: (Pictorial Emphasis & DMA Emphasis: Last Names beginning with Vao - Z)
Office: ART 319
carla.fisherschwartz@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: W 10:00am– 12:00pm via Zoom

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

Prof. Shannon Wright (Spatial Art Emphasis)
Office: ART 119
shannon.wright@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: W 9:00am – 11:00am via Zoom

Prof. Andrew Blanton - Last Names beginning with Aa - Fa (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 Fb - Lee (DMA Emphasis)
Office: ART 317
esteban.garciabravo@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: W 1:00pm - 3:00pm via Zoom

Prof. Rajorshi Ghosh -  Last Names beginning with Lef - Ph (DMA Emphasis)
Office: Online
rajorshi.ghosh@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: W 1:00pm – 3:00pm via Zoom by appointment 

Prof. Craig Hobbs - Last Names beginning with Pi - Van (DMA Emphasis)
Office: ART 319
gcraig.hobbs@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: R 1:00pm – 3:00pm via Zoom

BA Studio - Preparation for Teaching & Minor in Art Education

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

Art History and Visual Culture MA, BA, & Minors

Anthony Raynsford
Office: ART 123 & Online
anthony.raynsford@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: T 3:00pm – 4:00pm in person & W 10:00am – 11:00am via Zoom

Sarah Mills
Office: ART 123
sarah.mills@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: R 3:00pm – 4:30pm in person

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

Digital Media Art MFA, BFA, & Minor

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 - Fa
Office: ART 311
andrew.blanton@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: TR 11:00am – 12:00pm in person

Prof. Esteban Garcia: Last Names beginning with Fb - Lee
Office: ART 317
esteban.garciabravo@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: W 1:00pm – 3:00pm in person

Prof. Rajorshi Ghosh -  Last Names beginning with Lef - Ph
Office: Online
rajorshi.ghosh@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: W 1:00pm – 3:00pm via Zoom by appointment 

Prof. Craig Hobbs Last Names beginning with Pi - Van
Office: ART 319
gcraig.hobbs@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: R 1:00pm – 3:00pm via Zoom

Prof. Carla Schwartz: Last Names beginning with Vao - Z
Office: ART 319
carla.fisherschwartz@sjsu.edu
Office Hours: W 10:00am– 12:00pm via Zoom, email for link

Photography MFA, BFA,& Minor

Prof. Binh Danh
Office: DH 401C
binh.danh@sjsu.edu 
408-924-4489
Office Hours: TR 11:00am – 12:00pm in person and via Zoom by appointment

Prof. Valerie Mendoza
Office: DH 401C 
valerie.mendoza@sjsu.edu  
(408) 924-4693
Office Hours: W 2:00pm - 4:00pm in person and via Zoom by appointment 

Pictorial Art MFA, BFA, & Minor

Prof. Shaun O'Dell
Office: Online
shaun.odell@sjsu.edu 
(408)924-4369
Office Hours: TR 8:00am – 10:00am via Zoom

Prof. Carla Fisher Schwartz
Office: ART 319
carla.fisherschwartz@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: W 10:00am– 12:00pm via Zoom

Spatial Art MFA , BFA, & Minors

Prof. Adam Shiverdecker (All Majors & Ceramic Minors)
Office: IS 124C
adam.shiverdecker@sjsu.edu  
Office Hours: MW 11:00am – 12:00pm in person

Prof. Shannon Wright (All Majors and Spatial Minors)
Office: ART 119
shannon.wright@sjsu.edu 
Office Hours: W 9:00am – 11:00am via Zoom