TIME Magazine recently released its annual TIME100 Next list, a collection of culturally significant individuals on the rise in their careers. Similar to the TIME100 List, which celebrates leaders making an impact in their field, the TIME100 Next list celebrates those who have only just gotten started. Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs said, "Our goal with each project is to provide a snapshot of the moment and to recognize those who we feel are truly changing the world this year."
This year, 4 NYU Tisch alumni made the TIME100 Next list. See the Tisch alumni representation below and see the full list here.
Artists
Monica Barbaro '10 (BFA, Dance)
It’s really easy to root for Monica Barbaro. She carries herself with a quiet and grounded confidence. From the first time I met her on the set of Top Gun: Maverick, I knew right away that we would be friends for life. She’s a total star but, more importantly, she’s a good person. As an actor, Monica is driven by curiosity—not ego—and she approaches her work with a thoughtfulness that allows her to really tap into the characters and people she plays. Watching the way that she totally transformed into Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown was extraordinary. It’s not easy to embody the spirit of another person and bring it to life onscreen, but she made it look effortless, garnering an Oscar nomination as a result. I really think this is the beginning of a long run for Monica, and I’m excited to see what she does next. Anything she sets her mind to, she can accomplish. The sky is the limit for her. By Glen Powell
Jack Quaid (Drama)
Where to begin? It’s a struggle to start not because of a dearth of positive things to say about Jack Quaid; rather, there are so many. What sustains actors is a combination of charisma, talent, and collaborative spirit. Jack has all these in such quantity that his legacy as the progeny of two very famous actors has been rapidly eclipsed by his own body of work, including this year’s Novocaine. Now, call me soppy but I believe the keystone to his meteoric rise is his heart. His talent and charisma come as standard, like power steering and cup holders. They are undoubtedly in his blood. He has, however, chosen to be a good person. He is humble, caring, irresistibly friendly, and doggedly determined to collaborate. Watching him on set when working together on The Boys, I see his maturity and understanding of the world, unfettered by insecurity or an inflated sense of self. His emotional intelligence and professional kindness permeate the air around him. His parents sure as hell raised him right, and for that we should all be grateful. By Simon Pegg
Phenoms
Cristóbal Valenzuela '18 (MPS, ITP)
Entertainment has always transformed alongside technology. From silent films to talkies, black-and-white reels to bursts of Technicolor, groundbreaking cameras to wide-screen formats, each leap forward has reshaped how stories are told. At Runway, CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela is inspiring the industry to evolve even further. Built by artists for artists, Runway is an AI company with storytelling at its core. By designing AI systems tailored to audiovisual content, Cristóbal is lowering the barrier of entry—building a new creative class with access to powerful tools, especially with the launch of the Hundred Film Fund, which awards grants to filmmakers using Runway’s technology. Having been in the business for 40 years, I love what Cristóbal is doing. He’s creating a new kind of accessible art form, and it is exciting to watch. By Jane Rosenthal
Innovators
Sanaz Toossi '18 (MFA, Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing)
I live for those incomparable moments when you encounter the work of an artist who opens a door to reveal a fresh perspective on the world. This transformative experience happened for me when I sat in the audience of Sanaz Toossi’s beautifully crafted, Pulitzer Prize–winning play English, which debuted on Broadway in 2025, earning five Tony nominations, including Best Play. The play is immersive, provocative, and immensely moving; set in Iran, it follows a small group of individuals in an English-language class, each searching for new forms of communication and, ultimately, liberation. Sanaz’s work poses profound questions about what it means to navigate and embrace different modes of expression, and how this shapes our identities. Within the play, there is both humor and genuine tenderness, qualities that permeate all of Sanaz’s work. These elements allow her to venture into difficult terrain, finding a delicate and beautiful balance between the personal and the political. Her curiosity and compassion make her a special writer and a keen observer of the world, and now, more than ever, we need voices like hers. By Lynn Nottage