Alyse is a documentary director, producer, and professor whose films explore the invisible architecture of democratic life. Through cinematic portraits and Americana landscapes, her stories reveal how language, institutions, and power converge to shape the public sphere.
She has a background in journalism and investigative reporting, and her work has been featured on HBO, Netflix, FX, HULU, VICE, CBS, CNN, and in the New York Times. Her projects are supported by Impact Partners, Chicken & Egg, the Ford Foundation, and others.
Alyse is currently directing a film about C-SPAN. She’s also producing “The Empire of Ebony,” about John Johnson, the creator of Ebony and Jet magazines. In 2024, she produced The Debutantes - a film about a revival of a Black debutante ball in post-industrial Ohio, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival.
Her work has been honored with two Emmys, a Peabody, and a Gracie. In 2023, she was selected to be part of the DOC NYC 40 Under 40 and was accepted to the 2022 PANO Cinematographers Lab.
When she’s not making things, Alyse is an assistant professor at Rutgers University. Her side hustle is helping other women succeed.