A computer science major turned Emmy-award-winning filmmaker. That is alumnus Kevin Christensen’s (B.S. ’06) journey. While earning his degree in computer science at Biola University, Christensen was drawn into the world of film.

“While I was studying code by day, I was quietly falling in love with filmmaking on the side,” said Christensen. “I was working on personal 3-D animation projects and started entering the Biola Film Festival in 2003 and 2004. Those films ended up winning a few awards, including Best Overall Film at the 2004 festival, which was a pretty big moment for me.”

What made his Biola experience memorable was the film students and professors who took him under their wing.

“Even more impactful were the friendships I made with film students and professors along the way. They welcomed me in even though I was very much a computer science guy wandering into film land,” said Christensen.

Winning awards at Biola film festivals was just the beginning for the alumnus. Christensen’s work with Storyteller Studios in Springfield, Illinois, began in 2020, where he still works on films used for marketing for businesses and nonprofits. Over the past five years, those videos have earned him Telly Awards, Communicator Awards, and three Mid-America Emmy Awards, which are regional Emmy Awards for the U.S.

image shows Kevin and his wife
Kevin Christensen and his wife, Kristin, posing with his Mid-America Emmy award

“In 2023, I won two Mid-America Emmys. One was for a film called Warning Signs, which explored Abraham Lincoln and the decade leading up to the Civil War, and the other was for cinematography,” said Christensen. “Most recently, in 2025, I won a Mid-America Emmy for The Life and Legacy of Julius Rosenwald. The film tells the story of Rosenwald, the Jewish philanthropist and influential CEO of Sears and Roebuck in the 1920s, who partnered with Booker T. Washington to help build over 5,000 schools for Black children in the American South. Receiving that recognition was incredibly meaningful, especially for a project rooted so deeply in history, education and legacy.”

Christensen’s filmmaking profession has also brought him to beautiful places, including national parks and the vast outdoors. His work has been shown to tourists from all over, making his work’s influence endless.

“After graduating, I joined Finley-Holiday Films, where I worked alongside several fellow Biola grads. I stayed there for 13 years and really honed my video production skills,” said Christensen. “I had the chance to work on some very rewarding projects, including producing theater films for places like Moab, Utah, near Arches National Park, and Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area outside Las Vegas. Those films play in visitor centers for thousands of tourists, which is always fun to think about when you’re standing there watching people watch your work.”

Christensen is no stranger to seeing the world, as he grew up in a missionary family in Papua New Guinea. After high school, Christensen came to Biola, and the scholarship he received supported his experience. However, the lasting support from Biola faculty has been the most lasting.

“What stands out to me most is how supportive Biola was as an environment. The film professors and students were incredibly welcoming to me as an outsider. I learned so much by working on their projects and even auditing a few classes. That generosity left a lasting impression on me,” said Christensen. “At the same time, I loved my computer science professors as well. The combination of technical training and creative encouragement turned out to be incredibly valuable. Biola helped me grow both skill-wise and personally, and I still value the relationships and experiences I had there.”

Scholarships like the one Christensen received are still transformative in Biola students' lives. on February 24 brings together Biola friends, families, students, alumni and others to support the Biolans currently being equipped for excellence in their vocations and to contend together for the faith of the gospel.

Students who earn a bachelor's degree in computer science from Biola University's in the School of Science, Technology and Health develop the software engineering, artificial intelligence and leadership skills to transform the world redemptively. The Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts is one of the 27 best film schools in North America, where students have the opportunity to create stories that stand out. Learn more and apply today for the fall 2026 semester.

Written by Sarah Dougher, media relations specialist. For more information, email media.relations@biola.edu.