Hometown: Chicago
Degrees earned: Ph.D. in radio, TV and film from Northwestern University; M.A. in communication from NIU; B.S. in chemistry from Loyola University, Chicago
Arrive at NIU: August 2000
Classes taught: Media production, including short-form video production and documentaries
What’s your mission in academia?
Part of my mission is to inspire students to do intelligent and creative work. Additionally, I do creative research in documentary production. I love both parts of my job.
What’s in your job description?
Primarily, I teach media production, but I also do my own production work. Students respect me as a professional in the area of production because I do what I say—I put my own work before the public for critique. I am also very interested in issues of sex and gender in communication, particularly in the media.
How did you become interested in your subject area?
I really became interested in media production while working on my master’s degree at NIU. I always knew I wanted to teach at the college level. It was a combination of my passion for visual imagery and the technical aspect of production that attracted me to this field.
What do students learn from you?
That we all have some creativity—we just need to learn how to express it. Students are very media savvy by the time they reach college, so I use this to my advantage. I encourage them to begin by learning the rules, by imitating work that they like and by gradually developing their own unique way of expressing their ideas. They have to learn the rules in order to know how to break them in an interesting way.
What makes your class interesting and exciting?
My students do! I love to see their ideas and how they engage with the assignments. I want to help them learn to look at their work and decide what is good and what needs to be improved upon.
What kinds of things do your graduates do?
They work in production jobs in a variety of settings, including trial media, photography and Web design. Some have moved to Los Angeles to delve into the world of film production.
What is your favorite aspect of your subject? Why?
I like working with people’s stories—both past and present-life experiences. It is always challenging to consider how to depict your characters and how to structure their stories. I am interested in memory and how events are recalled individually and collectively.
What most pleases you about society today?
I love visual and technical creativity, so I find these advances very interesting. I love the Internet and the access it provides to information and to other like-minded people.
What most concerns you about society today?
Our hyper-focus on individuality and our lack of interest and empathy for others.
What’s your current research?
I am working on three documentary projects—each in conjunction with very interesting colleagues. History Professor Rose Feurer and I are working on a documentary about the social and political issues surrounding the mine strikes in southern Illinois at the turn of the century. Related to that project, we recently released a short piece on renowned labor activist Mother Jones. It has already been screened in Chicago. I also am working with Deborah Robertson of the School of Theatre and Dance on Loyd Williamson and his actor movement-training technique. Finally, I’m working with Diane Nilan, an activist for the homeless and former shelter director. We hope to do a feature-length documentary on homeless children and youths, particularly those who reside in rural communities where services are severely limited.
What’s a good book you recently read?
I recently read Maureen Dowd’s “Are Men Necessary?” and enjoyed Dowd’s wit and sarcasm. I also am reading “The Art of Mindful Living” by Thich Nhat Hanh. If those books sound different, they are!
Why did you choose your first college/university?
I went to Loyola University to study chemistry because I originally wanted to be a doctor. Then I decided that I really couldn’t handle the sight of blood. Oh well …
Who was your favorite professor? Why?
I have had too many excellent professors to mention. What made them memorable is their investment in me and in my work, as well as their encouragement and support. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.
Why should students come to NIU?
NIU is a wonderful place for students because they can be taught by professors (not graduate students) in relatively small classes. This is an outstanding research institution, with a productive faculty and class sizes that allow for personal interaction.
What’s your best advice to students who want to succeed?
I always tell my students that what or who they know may help them get a job, but it is their personality and work ethic that will allow them to keep it. When I was in Hollywood last summer working on “Slipstream,” a film directed by Anthony Hopkins, the crew continually commented on the NIU students who were with me. Repeatedly I was told that they were the best student-interns people had encountered because they worked so hard and had such positive attitudes.
If you weren’t teaching, what would you be doing?
I have always been teaching in some way. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
What would your tombstone read?
She finally stopped moving!
Photos by Donald Butler, NIU Media Services