We are pleased to announce the recipients of the Robert Stanley Scholarship for Spring 2026.
The Robert Stanley Scholarship honors the memory of longtime Hunter College faculty member Professor Robert Stanley with $1500 scholarships for select IMA students who are rigorously engaged with creative media production and are active members of the program community. This cycle, we are proud to recognize three students whose projects span documentary film, narrative fiction, and installation art.
Anisa Hodzic – Media Artist · Film, Photo & Installation
Anisa Hodzic is a Bosniak-Albanian-American media artist whose practice spans film, photography, and installation. Her work is rooted in Balkan gender-based domestic rituals, mythology, and archival reimagination — weaving together cultural memory and material form. She is currently developing her MFA thesis project, Mother Tower, an ambitious work that integrates animation, metal weaving, physical computing, and interactive installation.
“This award provides meaningful practical support, allowing me to dedicate more time to the technical demands of my installation and the physical materials required for my sculptural work. Creatively, it offers the mental space to focus deeply on the integration of physical computing and media art as I move toward thesis production. I am very grateful to be a part of the IMA community and to have the opportunity to honor Robert Stanley’s legacy through my continued work.”
Santiago Mendez Rivera – Filmmaker, Artist & Educator · Documentary
Santiago Mendez Rivera is a filmmaker, artist, and educator whose work explores community, migration, and belonging. He is currently in production on a short documentary about the queer ballroom community in Buenos Aires — a project that centers migration stories and the ways individuals build community and find connection far from home. With a first cut already taking shape, Santiago is approaching his thesis with both momentum and depth.
“This award is an incredible opportunity and support, allowing me to dedicate more time and energy to a project that is already coming together, with the potential for additional filming. As I approach my thesis, this award is a crucial form of support. It allows me to focus on my studies and creative interests without the constant concern of financial strain. I’ve also had the privilege of collaborating with many members of the IMA community, and this recognition encourages me to continue contributing to and growing within that community. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.”
Junaid Arif – Filmmaker · Narrative Fiction
Junaid Arif is an international student from Pakistan who moved to New York City three years ago to pursue his MFA in Integrated Media Arts. His creative practice centers on narrative fiction that sits at the intersection of family, politics, and philosophy, and he is deeply invested in film as a tool for decolonizing mindsets and raising voices against injustice.
He is currently completing his thesis short film, Eternal Soup — the story of an undocumented Pakistani immigrant working at a soup shop who receives word that his father is critically ill back home. The film moves between present and memory, tracing the emotional weight of distance and sacrifice that defines working-class immigrant family life. It is also, Junaid shares, a direct expression of his own fear: that one day he will receive that same call, and won’t be able to make it home.
“This support will help cover part of my production costs. The film requires detailed production design to portray memories in a surreal, visually compelling way, and this funding will allow me to realize that vision more effectively. I deeply appreciate the IMA community for its diversity and commitment to artistic practice. Being part of such a vibrant and varied environment has exposed me to a wide range of perspectives, which continues to shape and enrich my work.”
