USV Faculty

Learn from industry veterans and creative leaders with real credits in games, film, business, and tech. Your mentors at USV bring Silicon Valley experience straight into the classroom.

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About Deborah Baxtrom

Digital Art & Animation

Deborah Baxtrom is an adjunct faculty member in the Digital Art & Animation Department at the University of Silicon Valley. Originally from Wisconsin, she currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Deborah holds an MFA in Film—Screenwriting/Directing from Columbia University in New York City and a BA in Communication from Southern Adventist University.

At USV, she teaches and develops curriculum for courses such as Digital Video Production and Storyboarding. Previously, she taught media arts at Los Angeles Valley College, West Virginia University, and the Art Institute.

Professionally, Deborah has written numerous screenplays, including the game script for Clue Syndicate 3. Her original feature film screenplay, Mary’s Monster, is currently in pre-production. She also wrote and directed the award-winning short film Ethel’s Sofa, which was featured in over 30 film festivals around the world, and created the web series Living with Frankenstein.

In addition to her screenwriting and directing work, Deborah is the author of You Can Make a Short Film with Your Digital Camera and is currently working on a historical fiction novel.

Formal Education

MFA in Film—Screenwriting/Directing, Columbia University
BA in Communication, Southern Adventist University

Industry Experience

Curriculum Developer & Instructor, University of Silicon Valley
Media Arts Instructor, Los Angeles Valley College
Media Arts Instructor, West Virginia University
Media Arts Instructor, The Art Institute
Screenwriter, Clue Syndicate 3
Screenwriter, Mary’s Monster
Writer & Director, Ethel’s Sofa
Writer & Director, Living with Frankenstein
Author, You Can Make a Short Film with Your Digital Camera

Copyright © 2025 University of Silicon Valley | All Rights Reserved

University of Silicon Valley is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway Suite 500 Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001www.wscuc.org.  WSCUC is an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. University of Silicon Valley is not regulated in Texas under Chapter 132 of the Texas Education Code. University of Silicon Valley is a private institution and is approved to operate by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) in the State of California. www.bppe.ca.gov.  Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the minimum standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. Any question a student may have that has not been satisfactorily answered by the University may be directed to the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. 1747 N. Market Blvd, Suite 225, Sacramento, CA 95834 or PO Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA  95798-0818.  www.bppe.ca.gov(888) 370-7589 or (916) 431-6959. Fax: (916) 263-1897. University of Silicon Valley is approved/exempt for distance education in AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, IL, IA, LA, ME, MO, NV, NH, ND, NJ, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, and WA. For important regulatory information, please visit our Disclosures Page.

Copyright © 2025 University of Silicon Valley | All Rights Reserved

University of Silicon Valley is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway Suite 500 Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001www.wscuc.org.  WSCUC is an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. University of Silicon Valley is not regulated in Texas under Chapter 132 of the Texas Education Code. University of Silicon Valley is a private institution and is approved to operate by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) in the State of California. www.bppe.ca.gov.  Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the minimum standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. Any question a student may have that has not been satisfactorily answered by the University may be directed to the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. 1747 N. Market Blvd, Suite 225, Sacramento, CA 95834 or PO Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA  95798-0818.  www.bppe.ca.gov(888) 370-7589 or (916) 431-6959. Fax: (916) 263-1897. University of Silicon Valley is approved/exempt for distance education in AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, IL, IA, LA, ME, MO, NV, NH, ND, NJ, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, and WA. For important regulatory information, please visit our Disclosures Page.

Copyright © 2025 University of Silicon Valley | All Rights Reserved

University of Silicon Valley is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway Suite 500 Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001www.wscuc.org.  WSCUC is an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. University of Silicon Valley is not regulated in Texas under Chapter 132 of the Texas Education Code. University of Silicon Valley is a private institution and is approved to operate by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) in the State of California. www.bppe.ca.gov.  Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the minimum standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. Any question a student may have that has not been satisfactorily answered by the University may be directed to the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. 1747 N. Market Blvd, Suite 225, Sacramento, CA 95834 or PO Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA  95798-0818.  www.bppe.ca.gov(888) 370-7589 or (916) 431-6959. Fax: (916) 263-1897. University of Silicon Valley is approved/exempt for distance education in AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, IL, IA, LA, ME, MO, NV, NH, ND, NJ, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, and WA. For important regulatory information, please visit our Disclosures Page.

Copyright © 2025 University of Silicon Valley | All Rights Reserved

University of Silicon Valley is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway Suite 500 Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001www.wscuc.org.  WSCUC is an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. University of Silicon Valley is not regulated in Texas under Chapter 132 of the Texas Education Code. University of Silicon Valley is a private institution and is approved to operate by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) in the State of California. www.bppe.ca.gov.  Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the minimum standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. Any question a student may have that has not been satisfactorily answered by the University may be directed to the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. 1747 N. Market Blvd, Suite 225, Sacramento, CA 95834 or PO Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA  95798-0818.  www.bppe.ca.gov(888) 370-7589 or (916) 431-6959. Fax: (916) 263-1897. University of Silicon Valley is approved/exempt for distance education in AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, IL, IA, LA, ME, MO, NV, NH, ND, NJ, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, and WA. For important regulatory information, please visit our Disclosures Page.

Copyright © 2025 University of Silicon Valley | All Rights Reserved

University of Silicon Valley is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway Suite 500 Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001www.wscuc.org.  WSCUC is an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. University of Silicon Valley is not regulated in Texas under Chapter 132 of the Texas Education Code. University of Silicon Valley is a private institution and is approved to operate by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) in the State of California. www.bppe.ca.gov.  Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the minimum standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. Any question a student may have that has not been satisfactorily answered by the University may be directed to the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. 1747 N. Market Blvd, Suite 225, Sacramento, CA 95834 or PO Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA  95798-0818.  www.bppe.ca.gov(888) 370-7589 or (916) 431-6959. Fax: (916) 263-1897. University of Silicon Valley is approved/exempt for distance education in AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, IL, IA, LA, ME, MO, NV, NH, ND, NJ, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, and WA. For important regulatory information, please visit our Disclosures Page.