RTF Staff

Milaka Falk

Office Manager 
E-mail: milaka.falk@austin.utexas.edu
Office: CMA 6.120
Phone: 512-471-4191
Pronouns: she/her

Milaka earned her B.S. in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas and is beside herself to be back on the 40 Acres. In the interim between graduation and return, she has been a haunted house manager, comedy writer, singer, middle school and high school fine arts teacher, summer camp director and college advisor. The achievement she is most proud of, however, is raising two amazing children with her husband, Gordon. 

Milaka oversees day-to-day operations in the main RTF office and serves as the first point of contact for the department, responding to inquiries via department phones, email, and walk-in traffic. She orders office supplies, ensures office equipment is working properly,  and assists faculty and students with room reservation requests and travel needs. Milaka also maintains department directories and processes background checks and I-9s for new employees.

Drew Saplin

Student Production Coordinator/Set Safety Coordinator
E-mail: Drew.saplin@austin.utexas.edu or rtf-safety@austin.utexas.edu
Phone: 512-468-6748 
Pronouns: He/They  

Drew joined RTF and Moody College in Spring 2024. He works with production students to educate them on set etiquette and approving safety plans for their productions. He also coordinates production insurance, travel for productions, and the student production resource center, The Hub.

Wendy Stuessy

Senior Financial Analyst
E-mail: Wendy.stuessy@austin.utexas.edu
Office: CMA 6.116
Phone: 512-471-4136

Wendy serves as a full-time accountant and purchasing supervisor for all department accounts.  She meets regularly with faculty, staff and students regarding a variety of fiscal matters and is responsible for maintaining and communicating current Moody and UT policy information. Wendy makes long-term and short-term fiscal projections and works closely with Assistant Director to establish the annual operating budget. She prepares and distributes regular financial reports for Department Chair, Assistant Director, various stakeholders, conference managers and event leaders. 

Teresa Valente

Academic Program Coordinator
E-mail: teresa.valente@austin.utexas.edu
Office: CMA 6.120
Phone: 512-471-1906

Teresa earned her B.A. in communication with a focus in Media production from the University of Houston and has 9 years of film experience. Some may call her a Disney addict…When she is not planning her next Disney trip she is spending time with her family or relaxing at home with her dog, Charlie.

Teresa works with Course Scheduling (including CES reports and grade reporting), tracking alumni accomplishments and industry contacts, and assisting students with festival/script submissions.

 

Elana Wakeman

Senior Programs & Events Coordinator
E-mail: ewakeman@austin.utexas.edu
Office: CMA 6.104
Phone: 512-471-6617
Pronouns: she/her

Elana manages all aspects of department-sponsored summer camps. She also serves as the department's event coordinator, produces promotional materials, and coordinates the Longhorn Denius showcase and other RTF initiatives and events. She has a background in film and has worked in the industry in various roles. She earned her M.F.A. in film production from Florida State University and holds a B.A. in English, with a concentration in film studies, from Duke University. Before coming to the department in August of 2012, she worked for 12 years as the Publications Manager at UT's Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk. She has played poker with two Academy Award-winning actors (lost to one, beat the other).

Teresa Warner

Sr. Academic Program Coordinator (Graduate Programs)
E-mail: teresa.warner@austin.utexas.edu
Office: CMA 6.118
Phone: 512-471-3532
Pronouns: she/her

Teresa received her MFA in Screenwriting from The University of Texas at Austin Department of Radio-Television-Film in 2014. She’s worked in LA for the NFL Network and the DGA, but was called back to Austin by breakfast tacos.  She’s excited to be a part of the department again and enjoys working with and supporting the faculty, staff, and students.