Media & Cinema Studies | DEV College of Media

College of Media faculty, staff lead workshops for high schoolers at Illini Summer Academies

high school participants at Media summer academy

July 7, 2026 | Kelly Youngblood

Several faculty and staff members from the College of Media led workshops for high-school-aged youth in Illinois during Illini Summer Academies, held June 21-25, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Illini Summer Academies, which is presented by Illinois 4-H, the youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, partners with various departments and colleges across campus every summer to give high school students an opportunity to experience college life and explore a career of their choice.

Twelve students from across Illinois registered for the College of Media program, which marked the college’s first year of participation in the 4-H Summer Academies.

“As the coordinator for the program as well as one of its instructors, I think it went great,” said Jason P. Chambers, professor in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising and associate dean for access and engagement.

“I think that the program helped build student awareness about the majors available in the college and the types of jobs they can get with an education in the College of Media.”

Chambers led the workshop “Exploring Public Service Advertising,” which gave students an overview of the ad industry, including discussions about the different types of advertising, tools, and approaches used to attract an audience.

summer workshop at Richmond Studio — (Photo of broadcast workshop by Disha Rai, youth photographer)

Students developed a public service advertising campaign on a topic of their choice, such as excess phone usage among teens, distracted driving, and voting.

“I think the big things that students get from these workshops are [learning] that there is an entire industry that works to produce all the advertising that they see [and] that it takes a lot of time and work to create an average advertisement, let alone one that really engages an audience and gets them to pay attention,” Chambers said.

Marisa Peacock, senior lecturer in the Sandage Department of Advertising, led “Create, Connect, and Think: Discovering Your Voice on Social Media,” where students explored how social media shapes identity, creativity, and communication.

Peacock said the workshop was designed to connect participants with college life and future careers, encourage collaboration and peer learning, and build students’ confidence and agency as creators, innovators, and problem-solvers—not just consumers of information.

“It was really fun, and I was impressed by the thoughtful responses from students and admired their understanding of how technology, creativity, and problem-solving can be applied to real-world challenges and future opportunities,” Peacock said.

Other Media faculty and staff who participated in Illini Summer Academies were Angela Aguayo, associate professor in the Department of Media & Cinema Studies; Daniel Almanza, assistant director of Media Career Services; Ken Erdey, instructor and technical coordinator for broadcast operations in the Department of Journalism; and Mike Yao, professor in the Sandage Department of Advertising and director of the Institute of Communications Research. Cassie Arner, executive senior associate director of athletics, sport administration at Illinois Athletics, helped organize a workshop that focused on sports media.

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Media alumni at ‘Chicago Tribune’ win 2026 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting

June 4, 2026

Five College of Media alumni have won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting for their contributions to a Chicago Tribune piece on immigration.

Angie Leventis Lourgos (BS ’03, journalism), Dan Petrella (BS ’06, journalism; BA ’06, LAS; MS ’10, journalism), Marianne Mather (BS ’96, media studies), Bob McCoppin (BS ’85, journalism), and John J. Kim (BS ’97, advertising) were part of a team that produced the winning work, cited as “powerful coverage of the Trump administration’s militarized immigration sweep of the city that described in vivid, muscular prose how the siege-like incursion of ICE agents unified Chicagoans in resistance.”

The coverage was also recognized as a 2026 Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Public Service.

Kim previously won a Pulitzer Prize in 2011 for Local Reporting for his photography in multiple Chicago Sun-Times’ articles that documented violence in Chicago neighborhoods.

Chicago Tribune newsroom staff — *Chicago Tribune* newsroom staff; not pictured is John J. Kim, who was out on assignment. (Photo courtesy of the *Chicago Tribune.)*

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Media studies alum Stephen Feder named 2026 College of Media Distinguished Alumni Award winner

May 21, 2026 | Kelly Youngblood

Veteran producer and executive Stephen Feder’s (BS ’02, media studies) career ranges from working alongside both independent and major studios spanning television, film, and global franchises, with a recent move up to senior vice president of production at Disney Live Action.

Feder’s impressive career achievements, along with his continued engagement with the college, have earned him the 2026 College of Media Distinguished Alumni Award.

“Stephen Feder has had an illustrative career and has been closely connected to the College of Media, from sharing advice with students at Media Career Night panels to inspiring graduates at our Media Convocation ceremony to participating as a film guest at Roger Ebert’s Film Festival,” said Dean Tracy Sulkin. “He is most deserving of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award.”

In his new role, Feder will bring his breadth of experience to Disney’s live action film slate.

“I really feel very lucky and very happy to be here. The mentality of Disney is to create experiences for audiences and ultimately to make them feel good when they go into a theater. Just knowing that I get to be a part of that culture is such a blessing, especially at this time in my life,” said Feder, who has a young son.

Feder has always appreciated film, theater, and the arts, even participating in the Illini Union Board musicals when he attended Illinois. But he realized early on his greatest contribution to the field was in supporting and understanding how the creative process works.

“I really have dedicated much of my life, whether it’s being a producer on a particular project or an executive who oversees a slate of projects, to really championing and creating an environment for the artist to succeed in,” he said.

Feder began his career in Chicago, after earning his master’s degree at the London School of Economics. His first job was working as a producer on the Jerry Springer Show, a popular 1990s tabloid-style, daytime talk show known for its altercations between guests. Despite the raucous environment, Feder said he learned about the power of telling a story.

I really have dedicated much of my life, whether it’s being a producer on a particular project or an executive who oversees a slate of projects, to really championing and creating an environment for the artist to succeed in.

Stephen Feder

Senior Vice President of Production at Disney Live Action

After a year, he moved on to Towers Productions in Chicago as a series producer on the NBC docu-comedy series Sports Action Team, which was a comedy show shot like a documentary, before he decided to try his luck in Los Angeles.

He got his break after connecting with actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen on the making of Brüno, which became a pivotal moment in Feder’s career trajectory. The experience introduced him to people who became his network as he built his career.

“A lot of other opportunities led from that particular one, which is kind of how it works. Once you get going you start to build this network of people and advocates,” Feder said.

Feder has managed to excel on a variety of film projects with success across independent and large-scale motion picture companies.

Feder was a founding member of Annapurna Pictures, overseeing development and production on acclaimed projects like Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some!!, Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster, and Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers.

From 2016 to 2019, he served as vice president of film development at Lucasfilm, managing production for films like Solo: A Star Wars Story. Following his post at Lucasfilm, Feder joined Rian Johnson’s T-Street Productions team, along with producer Kiri Hart, known for her work on the Star Wars franchise. Feder and Hart also launched a new production label Counterculture, producing projects like Rock Springs, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2026.

Feder was executive producer on Kumaré, which received the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2011. Two years later, the film was shown at Ebertfest, which was a great honor for Feder who always admired Roger Ebert and recognized the impact Ebert had on his career.

“His love of movies permeated society, and his spirited way that he would talk about [movies], and the conviction of his opinions around movies is really what drove me to [realize] that a single story could spark such a debate. That alone opened my mind to how important that medium is,” he said.

Feder, who served as the alumni speaker at the college’s 2022 convocation, believes his education at the College of Media laid a foundation for him to understand the power of a story, whether that’s in the form of an ad, an article, or a film.

“I think there’s elements of ethics that you learn, like how you need to understand that the words that you’re putting out into the world matter, how they’re going to be interpreted. It’s not only understanding your audience but understanding the power behind the story that you’re telling,” he said.

“Film is a very powerful medium because it can reach so many people, if you’re so lucky.”

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Nathan Murphy

Get to know some of our College of Media students! Nathan Murphy is a Class of 2026 media and cinema studies major.

What first interested you in the media and cinema studies (MACS) major?

Ever since I was young, I’ve loved watching movies, but as I got older, I became more interested in how they were made—the behind-the-scenes work, the “how did they actually do that?” side of things. MACS lets me explore this question by gaining hands-on experience with creating short films. I also really enjoy helping bring others’ ideas to the screen. I have my own visions but being a part of a team and helping someone else realize theirs is incredibly rewarding.

What makes the MACS program at the University of Illinois College of Media stand out?

A big factor in choosing Illinois was the location. I am from the area, so staying close to home really mattered to me. What really made the MACS program stand out to me was when I came to visit for Admitted Student Day and first met senior lecturer Victor Font. He led a workshop in Gregory Hall called the 2001: A Space Odyssey Green Screen Workshop. He had a student greenscreen a scene from the film and walked us through how to shoot and edit it. It was surprisingly informative because it showed just how much access to technology students actually have. That workshop is what ultimately sealed the deal for me as it showed me what MACS looks like in practice and made the program feel like the right fit.

What had also drawn me to MACS was the size and feel of the College of Media. MACS is smaller compared to other programs, which often have huge lectures. College of Media professors and lecturers actually know your names, talk to you regularly, and check in on your projects. That kind of relationship-building is important to me.

What has been your favorite MACS class?

On the production side, my favorite class has been MACS 480: Advanced Filmmaking. It was one of the first times I got to work on a truly professional short film with a serious crew. We shot at an Airbnb over several days. It was intense, long hours, and a lot of work, but also incredibly energizing. I made friends and connections I still have today. By the end, I was exhausted, but it felt like I had really earned that sleep. Seeing the finished project was genuinely fulfilling.

I also loved MACS 282: A World of Death and Blood: The Horror Movie with senior lecturer Jonathan Knipp. He’s passionate, engaging, and really committed to helping students understand film beyond just “liking” or “disliking” it. Even when I didn’t like a particular movie, the way he breaks down the technical aspects, themes, and the real-world influences made me appreciate what the filmmakers were doing. His screening helped me see horror, and film in general, in a much deeper way.

What media-related RSOs are you involved in?

I’m currently the vice president of Illinois Film and Video (IFV). I’ve been involved with IFV for four years, but I became active in my junior year, and then joined the executive board that spring. IFV has been an amazing way to meet people who are passionate about film, regardless of their major. You get [to meet students from] a broader campus community including other College of Media students, business students, and more, rather than just staying within the same MACS circle.

We host film challenges in which we encourage members to make short films and screen their own work for the group. We also hold pitch days, where people share ideas before they even have a script, which helps generate interest and collaboration early on. On top of that, we bring in guest speakers to create great networking opportunities locally and beyond. Overall, IFV has been a huge part of my experience here. Between projects, meetings, and just hanging out with members, it’s been incredibly rewarding.

Since starting college, how have your career goals developed, and what experiences pushed you in that direction?

When I first started college, I imagined myself becoming the next Oscar-winning director and creating the greatest film of all time entirely on my own. But once I got deeper into the MACS program, I quickly realized filmmaking is never a solo process—you need a crew, and collaboration is really what brings a vision to life.

Through my production classes, I was able to try a lot of different roles including sound, cinematography, and eventually production. As I moved into higher-level courses, I was given more responsibility on the producing side, and that experience really shaped the direction I’m pursuing now. I found that producing was the role where I felt the most fulfilled. Working with different crews, taking on leadership roles in advanced classes, and even coming back to help senior lecturer Victor Font with production courses all pushed me toward seeing myself not just as a filmmaker, but as someone who thrives in a collaborative environment. Those experiences helped shift [my perspective] from wanting to be a director to becoming a producer and help bring an entire team’s vision to life.

—Interview by Lia Roa-Hernandez, New Voices Intern

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Highlights of student-produced work from Spring 2026

May 18, 2026

See a selection of College of Media student-produced work created this spring, including broadcasts, documentaries, short films, advertising brand systems, and more.

Advertising

In ADV 498: The Sandage Project, students integrate the concepts, experiences, and skills that have been learned throughout the advertising curriculum with a service-learning project. See a project students created for Lincoln250, for the clients Lincoln Group of DC and the Abraham Lincoln Association, to expand the reach of Lincoln250.org.

In ADV 290: Advertising Design and Direction, students created a brand system for a fictional business and designed a 12-page annual report. See an example for White Lotus by Bella Chasen, junior in advertising.

Advertising Design and Direction annual report cover

Journalism

Oskees Live Pre-Show Coverage

UI7 Newsroom went live from the Orange Carpet for the 2026 Oskees on April 27 as Fighting Illini Athletics celebrated more than just performance on the field, but also highlighted the student-athletes behind the success. The team of UI7 reporters spoke with players and coaches to capture what this event truly means to the Illini community.

Illinois in Session

Watch a broadcast by UI7 Newsroom journalism students Nathan Gonzalez and Mary Piacente, featuring interviews with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Republican nominee Darren Bailey. This is the first time UI7 students have conducted an interview with a sitting governor, said Kenneth Erdey, journalism instructor and technical coordinator for Richmond Studio. They also spoke with the two nominees for Illinois comptroller.

Prairie Fire

Students in JOUR 440: Advanced Documentary Storytelling and Production produced segments to air on Illinois Public Media’s magazine show, Prairie Fire, premiering on May 21:

“The Space” – produced by Amelia Benson, Jonathan Mathew, and Tristan Starzec
“Live at the Mirror” – produced by Wilson Tripp Nichols, Adam Edwards, and Jude Panlilio
“Skeuwep” – produced by Ethan Ashley-Ferguson, Elissa Eaton, and Mike Rock
“Central Illinois Aikikai” – produced by Florence Lin, Paige Whiteside, and Sophia Alvarez
“Orange Krush Senior Night” – produced by Sam Yohnka, Brandon Hood, and Isaiah Adeleke

Media & Cinema Studies

Illinois Student Film Festival

Watch the Illinois Student Film Festival, produced by students in MACS 366: Film Festivals, featuring work by students across the University of Illinois campus.

Program 1

Program 2

MACS Student Showcase

Watch the MACS Student Showcase, a faculty-curated selection of student work from media and cinema studies courses throughout the academic year. See program credits with timestamps.

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Take 5 with Media Alumni: Alex Hedlund

May 15, 2026

Los Angeles-based film and television producer Alex Hedlund (BS ’05, media studies; MS ’06, journalism) knew he wanted to make movies at a young age. When he was just 10 years old, he wrote a letter to Stephen King’s publisher seeking the famed author’s autograph. Hedlund still has his signed copy of Needful Things to this day.

Hedlund has three major projects set to premiere this year, including a 10-episode remake of Cape Fear for Apple TV starring Javier Bardem and Amy Adams; a feature adaptation of Verity starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett; and the independent horror film River.

Learn more about this College of Media alum who has empowered writers and directors for the last two decades, and find out which film or TV show he will champion next.

1. What first drew you to filmmaking and production, and how did that evolve into your current role today?

Ever since I was a kid, I told people, “I want to make movies,” before I even knew what that meant or how that would even be possible. All I knew is that I craved escapism through movies, TV, novels, and video games, and for my 10th birthday, I only wanted one thing—Stephen King’s autograph. I wrote a letter to his publisher with this request and received a hard copy of Needful Things signed by the man himself! (I still have and cherish it.) That moment subconsciously unlocked something for me that became a big part of my career, which is identifying uncompromising stories and reaching out to connect with world-class storytellers. As a career producer, I’m constantly looking to empower writers and directors who have a story to tell.

2. What do you consider your biggest career accomplishment? Is there one project that has felt especially meaningful to you?

I’m celebrating 20 years in Los Angeles this year, so I consider my survival in this industry a tremendous accomplishment as a baseline. Project-wise, 2026 is a very meaningful year for me with the premiere of three projects I produced (all of which are seven long years in the making!). The first is a 10-episode series reimagining of Cape Fear for Apple TV in June that stars Javier Bardem and Amy Adams. As a fan of the novel and having seen the Martin Scorsese film as a child (long before I should have!), being a producer on this one was a full-circle moment for me. I also have a feature adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling erotic thriller Verity that drops in theaters October 2. The film stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, all of whom are fantastic in the film and incredible to work with personally. That’s a big-budget studio film, whereas my next film River is a low-budget indie debut from a writer-director that I discovered and championed. The horror film will premiere this fall, and I couldn’t be prouder.

3. In addition to two degrees at Illinois, you then earned your MFA in the producers program at UCLA. What advice would you give to students who want to break into directing or production but don’t know where to start?

I used to say you absolutely need to move to Los Angeles, though I don’t believe that’s essential anymore. YouTube, MasterClass, Zoom, and social media has democratized everything so you can make a lot of connections and gain knowledge that way. If you want to be a director, you can now shoot a film on your iPhone and upload it online for the world to see. Just create something and get it out there! Or try to get an entry-level job on set or intern at a production company. No matter what, check your ego at the door and be unabashed about your desire for mentorship.

4. The media landscape is constantly changing—how do you keep your work both current and true to your vision?

I always internalize that the only certainty in entertainment is uncertainty, and not to stress about external factors that I cannot control. What I can control though is my taste and what I want to see. If I’m not first in line for a film on its opening night, I know that I’m not the right producer to advocate for it. I think it’s a huge mistake to try and “chase the market” or pursue something for cynical, surface-level reasons—for me, it has to be love at first sight. I need to lose sleep thinking about a project. I’m constantly gut-checking myself to see if this is something my 10-year-old self would have wanted to see—and most likely have to beg my parents to let me see it!

5. What’s one dream project you’d love to direct or produce in the future?

Too many to name, though one of my “white whales” I actually just set up as a feature at Netflix! It’s an adaptation of an award-winning graphic novel called Torso by the brilliant artists Brian Michael Bendis and Marc Andreyko. It’s a true story about Elliott Ness hunting America’s first serial killer in the 1930s. You might say it’s The Untouchables meets Zodiac. [It’s an] incredible, stranger-than-fiction story that was first published decades ago and I’ve been tracking it ever since. I always thought it would make an amazing film, so I’m pinching myself that I was finally able to get my arms around it and hopefully champion it into finally getting made!

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Media alum Jordyn Poulter named to Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026

May 8, 2026

Jordyn Poulter (BS ’18, media and cinema studies) is among eight legendary athletes named to the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 by the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Poulter, a two-time Olympian, along with seven other elite Illini athletes, will be honored at the Hall of Fame Gala and Induction Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 11, at State Farm Center.

Poulter helped lead the United States to Olympic Gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games and Silver at the 2024 Paris Games, while being named “Best Setter” at the 2020 Games.

She earned All-America honors three times at Illinois, including First-Team honors as a senior in 2018 when Poulter led the Illini to the NCAA National Semifinals. She ranked second nationally with 1,521 assists in 2018, when she was named the AVCA Northeast Region Player of the Year.

The Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame began in 2017 and now has 162 total members, with representatives from each current varsity sport. University of Illinois varsity athletics started with baseball in 1879 and now has 21 teams competing at the NCAA Division I level.

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Nick Roacho

Get to know some of our College of Media students! Nick Roacho is a Class of 2027 media and cinema studies major.

Why did you choose to major in media and cinema studies (MACS)? How did you decide that the College of Media was the right fit for you?

In the College of Media, I chose to specialize more in film criticism because of the world-renowned film critic [and University of Illinois College of Media alum] Roger Ebert. Movies are something I’ve always loved since I was a kid, and it became almost like a hobby for me. The MACS program has given me the opportunity to bring those interests together, by combining the study of film theory with hands-on experience in video production.

Tell me about your time at Illini Film and Video (IFV)?

I joined IFV in my freshman year and later became an executive member. We meet weekly and either do a workshop or a small lecture on parts of the filmmaking process and host guest speakers from Champaign. We also host students who give presentations on their filmmaking experience. IFV even hosted a 48-hour film challenge in which members write and edit a film in two days, which is then presented during an award ceremony.

Currently, I am the president of IFV, and what has really helped me grow as a MACS student is knowing how to meet people. I wouldn’t be where I am without meeting different people in IFV and making connections aside from filmmaking. This RSO allows you to meet other people from the same field, whom you might even run into and work with in the future.

Are there any achievements you are most proud of from your time at the College of Media?

Last year in Fall 2025, as part of MACS 260: Film Production, I co-directed a short film with friends titled Milk Run, which was selected and screened at the Illinois Student Film Festival to a live audience. Experiencing viewers’ reaction in real time, specifically, during the moments we had written jokes, was an incredibly rewarding experience. It has by far been one of the most memorable experiences here at Illinois, but also a great learning experience by creating a short film.

What are you involved in that has helped you build different skills?

I am the operations director for WPGU, the alternative student radio station. I have been able to work on delegating and setting priorities for the station while working with others to create the best radio station in town. This hands-on experience has allowed me to build my leadership skills both in my personal and professional life as it relates to the film projects I am working on.

I am also the president of Illini Watchers, where we watch and review films every week. Since I want to focus on film criticism, it was a welcoming experience to help run these discussions and be able to criticize or praise scenes with constructive criticism when it felt vulnerable.

What advice would you give to other incoming students majoring in media and cinema studies?

I would say to meet other people and take advantage of the time away from home. Something I appreciate about the College of Media is that it’s small. You have to get out of your shell and just speak to others because you never know where it’s going to end up.

—Interview by Paulina Alvarez, New Voices Intern

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Francisco Albarran

Get to know some of our College of Media students! Francisco Albarran is a Class of 2026 media and cinema studies major.

Why did you choose to major in media and cinema studies (MACS), and how did you decide that it was the right fit for you?

During the lockdown in 2020, I really got into watching movies and TV shows. I fell in love with the concept of putting my ideas onto the big screen, but I was also really inspired by [University of Illinois College of Media alum] Roger Ebert and his history with film reviews. When I started school here at Illinois, I knew it was the right fit since the college really felt like a village with everyone in MACS helping and learning alongside each other.

Talk about your internship at Flyover Film Studios.

During one of my MACS classes, we took a field trip to Flyover with senior lecturer Victor Font, where we toured the studio and learned about the internship, which was available in the fall semester. I got to meet the founders Sarah Sharp and Rob Stern, who talked about Flyover and the internship program they offered. I was one of the first recipients of the internship, which was really exciting.

That summer and fall, I worked on films like Chili Finger, Moses the Black, and even The Bear. I typically worked in construction for the movie sets, as a driver for cast members, or as a production assistant. Each day on set felt like a different adventure. It was an amazing experience to have celebrities give words of encouragement and advice on filmmaking. While working on these sets, I got to meet a lot of the cast members, including Bryan Cranston, Wiz Khalifa, and Deontay Wilder.

Are there any other opportunities at the College of Media that helped you grow in media and cinema studies?

Currently, I am in the process of starring, writing, and directing a Mexican immigrant boxing film titled Where You Land. This film was a huge step out of my comfort zone, and I was incredibly nervous to start, but I hope I can send my message to other young Mexican immigrants. It’s a great opportunity to be able to work on something I’m passionate about, and get to do things I’ve never done before, like acting.

What course within the College of Media would you recommend to other students?

I would highly recommend both MACS 480: Advanced Filmmaking and MACS 481: Advanced Filmmaking Studio. Since the College of Media is small, I had a community of film students who were just as passionate as me. At first, I didn’t get involved, but getting to know other students in these courses helped me learn from so many new people.

What advice would you give to incoming students majoring in MACS?

If I could go back to my freshman year, I would tell myself to start putting out work early, such as submitting projects to film festivals. It’s such a great benefit to do as a freshman compared to doing it later. Some other things I would encourage incoming students to do is to get out of their comfort zone and believe in themselves because there is no such thing as failing, only experiencing and learning for later on. As a student in class, or in a film studio, you will learn something new every day—from something or someone you would never expect to learn from—which is the beauty of the filmmaking process.

—Interview by Paulina Alvarez, New Voices Intern

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Ella Yoder

Get to know some of our College of Media students! Ella Yoder is a Class of 2027 media and cinema studies major.

What made you choose the media and cinema studies (MACS) major?

During my search for universities, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign stuck out quickly, specifically, the media and cinema studies (MACS) major. MACS allows its students to engage with film production as soon as freshman year, while other universities I was looking at set a limit for production courses to juniors and seniors. Personally, I knew I had a desire to learn about films and wanted a university that would give me hands-on learning opportunities that I could take advantage of the minute I got to campus. I am so happy that I found the College of Media because of the standards they set for their students with the required engagement that offers a holistic view of the film and cinema industry.

How did you first get interested in your major?

As a kid I always enjoyed making little movie projects. I was the type of person who spent their free time making up funny stories and filming them as a movie rather than going outside. This interest in producing movies only grew as I got older. Starting off as a child with a vision, to now, being a junior in college, I have begun working as a production assistant at a local production studio to continue my passion for filmmaking. While I am on set for these larger productions, I am reflecting on my younger self who had no idea the College of Media was waiting for me to pick up that camera.

What College of Media resources have you found helpful in navigating college?

A resource I will forever promote is the Media Technology Center. There are so many similar offices on campus. The College of Media has their own dedicated unit that is open to students in Media courses in the college to rent out different required items. The range of available equipment may vary per location, but typically there will always be microphones, tripods, lighting, and even green screens ready to be used! The rentable equipment has been particularly useful for me when trying to work on my class projects. With the easy-to-use check-in and check-out system, I truly recommend more students to utilize this resource.

Are there any professors who have been critical to your academics?

Even before the start of my first year, I knew that the professors of media and cinema studies in the College of Media were going to be beyond helpful to my future. This is because I reached out to a few instructors during the summer ahead of my first classes—and there were quite a few who responded with a desire to meet with me and explain the major and all that encompasses studying as a MACS major. This brief introduction into the friendly environment of the faculty stuck with me as I proceeded throughout my time at the University of Illinois.

—Interview by Evita Zimmerman, New Voices Intern