Ryan Coogler’s Former Professor Quotes Joy Connolly in Mercury News

Rosemary Graham, the St. Mary’s College professor whom Ryan Coogler credits with encouraging his filmmaking career, reflected on his historic Oscar wins in a March 15, 2026 Mercury News article. Coogler took home Best Original Screenplay at this week’s 98th Academy Awards for his film Sinners, which won four Oscars in total.

In the piece, Graham cited ACLS President Joy Connolly’s recent quote in the New York Times that the film’s $280 million domestic box office demonstrates that Americans are eager to engage with their history, however painful and complicated it may be.