Campus Celebrity: Mat Schottenfeld

Mat Schottenfeld is probably not the most recognizable name or face around Fordham’s campus. In fact, many people may have never seen him at all. As a behind-the-scenes kind-of guy, Mat isn’t usually in the spotlight, but that spotlight won’t work without Mat’s technological ingenuity. He is the person behind all the production work of the Fordham Nightly News, as well as all taped Fordham lectures and programs. Mat also teaches the technical and production aspects within Fordham’s BronxNet course. His permanent home on campus is at the TV studio, nestled in the basement of the Walsh Library.

What is your job at Fordham and how long have you held it?
 
My job title at Fordham is Television Production Manager. This is my 12th year at Fordham.
 
What’s the most interesting part of your job?

The most interesting part of my job is teaching and creating television programming, I do what I love every day: create productions. It is creative, challenging, hard work and rewarding… what could be better?
 
What’s your favorite thing about Fordham?

My favorite thing about Fordham is the beautiful television studio I have been allowed to build and operate.
 
How long have you been involved with the Fordham Nightly News?

I started Fordham Nightly News around 8 years ago. We started with 4 people. I built all of the sets and graphics for the show. At first we didn’t have enough people to go live so we would video tape the show
every morning at 7am and I would edit it together every day. It was so much work the first few years.
 
What have been some of FNN’s most successful moments over the years?

The most successful moments at FNN, has been every year when I watch seniors graduate and find work in television and video production. I have had a long professional career before teaching and I really enjoy
passing on the knowledge in the same way it was passed on to me when I started working professionally at the age of 16.
 
You have some interesting hobbies. What are they? 

I like to mountain climb. I have climbed mountains (ice and rock) all over the world for over 20 years. [These mountains include] the Himalayas in Kashmir, India, Kyrgyzstan, French and Italian Alps, the Andes in Peru, Norway, Korea, Canada, and just about every state in the US that has a mountain or a crag. Injuries have started to catch up to me lately and I have started to slow down.
 
You’ve traveled to several countries. Where have you been and how do you
communicate with the people when you only speak English?

I have been all over the world several times, mostly climbing. I really enjoy traveling, experiencing different cultures and people. I mostly spent my time over the last few years in Asia, China, Korea, and Japan. I plan to go back this summer for my 6th trip to Italy. I can’t speak any languages [other than English] so I communicate with pointing and a big smile, most of the time I find people to help me. Whenever I see a foreign traveler in NYC I go out of my way to help them… just returning the favor!
 
What did you do professionally before you came to Fordham?

I was a professional composer, musician, producer and recording engineer before coming to Fordham. I was on the faculty at Hunter College CUNY for 7 years, where I received tenure teaching electronic music composition, and a music production course. Before Hunter I worked in recording studios for 15 years with some of the biggest names in music. Mick Jagger, Guns and Roses, U2, Carly Simon, Pretenders, Harry Bellefonti, Run DMC, Lenny White, just to name a few. I was one of the first musicians in NYC to use synthesizers extensively on recordings.