NYU Tisch appoints producer Peter Saraf as Chair of Undergraduate Film and Television Department

New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts has appointed producer Peter Saraf as Chair of the Undergraduate Film and Television Department, the university announced Monday. The appointment places Saraf at the center of undergraduate instruction and departmental oversight for NYU Tisch’s film and television program.

Saraf’s career has focused on producing feature films and television projects. Deadline, reporting on the appointment, described him as a producer whose work includes Little Miss Sunshine and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, two titles associated with his production background.

The chair role represents a shift for Saraf into an academic leadership position at an institution where he has not previously held a similar department-level position, according to Deadline’s account of the move. In this capacity, the department chair is expected to help shape curriculum direction and program management across NYU Tisch’s undergraduate film and television offerings.

NYU Tisch’s undergraduate film and television department is part of the school’s broader arts training ecosystem, where academic leadership can influence course development, student project guidance, and how the program structures professional learning. Saraf’s selection reflects the school’s decision to bring industry production experience into that governance and teaching role, as described in the Deadline report.

Deadline’s report framed the appointment as a notable transition for Saraf after years as a working producer, positioning the chair job as new territory within higher education. The publication also noted that his experience producing award-recognized work, including titles tied to his film and television résumé, will inform his work overseeing the undergraduate department’s educational priorities.

The appointment takes effect as part of NYU Tisch’s continuing efforts to staff senior academic leadership with professionals from the media industry. Details including Saraf’s start date, the specific scope of departmental responsibilities, and whether he will continue producing while serving in the role were not included in the information provided with the announcement.

NYU Tisch and Saraf have not publicly detailed, in the information available here, how the department’s day-to-day operations will change under the new chair. Students and faculty will likely see updates through university channels as the department prepares for the incoming academic term and faculty planning cycle.

As of Monday’s announcement, the chair appointment is the latest development in NYU Tisch’s ongoing efforts to align its undergraduate programs with the practical demands of film and television production. Further details about Saraf’s goals for the undergraduate department and his administrative timeline are expected to be released by NYU Tisch through formal university communications.