This fall, the College of Media announces a faculty investiture, two Dean’s Fellows, two faculty promotions, and three leadership appointments.
Craft appointed as the Karin and Folke Dovring Professor in Journalism and Democratic Society
Stephanie Craft, a professor in the Department of Journalism with an appointment in the Institute of Communications Research, and associate dean for academic and faculty affairs, was named the Karin and Folke Dovring Professor in Journalism and Democratic Society. The professorship supports a distinguished faculty member whose research advances our understanding of journalism and democratic society.
The Dovring Professorship was initially established by Karin and Folke Dovring in 2001. Karin was a foreign correspondent, an internationally recognized communication analyst, and the author of English as Lingua Franca: Double Talk in Global Persuasion (1997) and The Road of Propaganda (1959). Her husband, Folke, was a distinguished professor of land economics who taught at the University of Illinois from 1960 to 1987.
Craft, whose research focuses on news literacy, misinformation, and journalism ethics—particularly how people evaluate and understand news—joined the University of Illinois in 2013. She is best known for her efforts to build news literacy theory by uniting scholars around shared definitions and measures of important concepts (such as “Defining and Conceptualizing News Literacy” and “Developing and Validating a 15-Item True/False Measure of News Literacy Knowledge”) and for her research on the ethical obligations of journalism that arise from its democratic functions and the resulting tension between independence and accountability (such as a special edition of Mass Communication and Society addressing “Media and the Future of Democracy”).
She is the co-author of a widely used introductory textbook, Principles of American Journalism: An Introduction (2025), now in its 4th edition, and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Media Ethics, Journalism Practice, and Journalism & Communication Monographs. Craft is also a former head of the Journalism Studies Division of the International Communication Association and of the Media Ethics Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
King and Maslowska appointed as Dean’s Fellows focusing on AI
Colleen King, clinical associate professor in the Department of Journalism and director of the Richard and Leslie Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media, and Ewa Maslowska, associate professor in the Chales H. Sandage Department of Advertising with an appointment in the Institute of Communications Research, will serve as Dean’s Fellows for the 2026–27 academic year, with a focus on artificial intelligence.
King will concentrate primarily on AI in curriculum and instruction, while Maslowska will focus on AI in media research and innovation. Both will work to convene discussions across departments and units as the College of Media collectively navigates the perils and possibilities of the AI era.
The Dean’s Fellows Program provides faculty in the College of Media with academic leadership experience through mentoring opportunities, collaboration with colleagues within and beyond the College, and leadership roles on key strategic initiatives and projects.
Faculty Promotions
In the Department of Journalism, Christopher Ball, who has an appointment in the Institute of Communications Research, has been promoted to associate professor with indefinite tenure, and Colleen King has been promoted to clinical associate professor.
Leadership Appointments
Jenny Oyallon-Koloski, associate professor in the Department of Media & Cinema Studies with an appointment in the Institute of Communications Research, will serve as the new director of the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies.
Leona Yi-Fan Su, associate professor in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising with an appointment in the Institute of Communications Research, will serve as the new director of the Institute of Communications Research.
Kevin Wise, professor in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising with an appointment in the Institute of Communications Research, will serve as Advertising’s associate head of graduate studies.
Several College of Media students, including a recent graduate, expanded their skills, learned more about the industries, and gained valuable professional experience through various internship opportunities this summer. Read about a few of our students’ experiences below in these Q&As.
Felicity Abbott, senior in journalism
CBS Chicago | News Intern | Chicago, Illinois
“I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many Illinois alumni working at CBS Chicago and they have welcomed me with open arms. This experience was a great demonstration of how strong the Illini family is and reinforced my decision to study at the University of Illinois.”
What she did: As the newsroom intern, I spent 10 weeks rotating through a variety of positions and roles, expanding a plethora of my journalistic skills. I served as a field producer several times, including for CBS Chicago’s annual “Party at the Pier,” where I coordinated live talent, interviews, a camera crew, and transportation. I also had the opportunity to help with social media coverage of the Obama Presidential Center. I spent several weeks working alongside the CBS Chicago Investigative team, completing research, tagging along on interviews, and practicing script writing. With the producers, I wrote copy for the daily newscasts, sourced VO (voice-over) stories, edited videos, and created graphics. Alongside the digital team, I worked to clip stories, publish them to the CBS Chicago website and wrote digital stories to accompany clips. With reporters, I attended press conferences with city and state officials, practiced standups, and learned how to be efficient with quick deadlines.
What she enjoyed: I really enjoyed the flexibility I was given to move through the different roles in a newsroom. I developed many skills I wouldn’t have if I had only stuck with what I knew. Plus, this allowed me to meet and get to know lots of people, both inside and outside of the newsroom.
What she learned: I learned about how many roles there are in a newsroom of this size and how to effectively communicate between them all. Additionally, I got a lot of good insight into the type of role I can see myself going into post-grad.
What helped her prepare: My extracurricular activities like UI7 Newsroom really helped prepare me for this internship. I had a lot of experience I was able to reference during my interview and had a really solid understanding of TV news right off the bat, which gave me a lot of confidence as I started.
Abbottreceived funding from the College of MediaNancy Ronald and Ronald L. Hartshorn Internship Fund to support this internship.
Said Bravo, (BS ’26, journalism)
The Commercial Appeal | Sports Intern | Memphis, Tennessee
What he did: I interned at The Commercial Appeal, a legacy newspaper in Memphis. I was the sports intern through the Sports Journalism Institute.
What he enjoyed: I enjoyed the little moments in between assignments where I got to hang out with the sports staff and pick their brains. The best part about it was doing original reporting and working on enterprise stories. Over the summer, I had over 50 bylines and some vertical videos.
What he learned: I learned you must take initiative to succeed in print. You must seek out stories; oftentimes the best stories won’t fall on your lap. I also learned details matter a lot. The more granular you can go with a story, the better.
What helped him prepare: The Sports Journalism Institute prepared my cohort and me with a five-day sports journalism bootcamp at Arizona State University. They put me in a unique position to succeed in starting my career. I have been hired as a full-time sports reporter at Shaw Local in Kankakee, Illinois, where I will be covering high school sports.
Ruiyao Chao, graduate student in advertising
TikTok | Talent Acquisition Partner | San Jose, California
“Overall, this internship was a great learning experience. It helped me connect what I learned in class with real work. I also learned more about the career path I want to pursue. I am very grateful to my mentors and teammates for their support.”
What she did: We supported several technical teams, including AI Research, Search & Recommendation, E-commerce Algorithm, and Intelligent Creation. My work included sourcing candidates, talent mapping, conference recruiting, and supporting hiring managers.
What she enjoyed: I really enjoyed talking with candidates and talent mapping, which helped me understand how different companies and teams are structured. I also learned what skills companies are looking for.
What she learned: I learned that recruiting is not just about filling open roles. Recruiters also need to understand the business and the talent market. They need to know what the team needs and where to find the right people. Building strong relationships with candidates is also very important.
What helped her prepare: My classes at the University of Illinois helped me improve my communication and research skills, understand workplace communication, teamwork, and how technology affects the way people work. These skills were useful when I worked with recruiters, hiring managers, and candidates.
Nathan Gonzalez, senior in journalism
NBC News | Intern at Justice and National Security Unit | Washington, D.C.
I’m eternally grateful for the lecturers, professors, and staff at the College of Media. Because of them, I’ve landed an internship every summer, two of them in Washington, D.C., and been accepted into some of the most prestigious programs in political journalism. Thanks to the College of Media, I’m a multiskilled journalist who’s prepared for graduation and ready to start my professional career.
What he did: During my internship, I focused on national security reporting, learning how to navigate procedures, understand documents, conduct research, and investigate the operations of the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, CIA, FBI, ICE, and Customs and Border Protection. I also learned how to properly report on U.S. federal courts. I was frequently sent to cover rulings and hearings at the U.S. District Courts in Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., as well as a week of Supreme Court opinions, where I sat in the courtroom and reported quotes from the justices back to the bureau. I booked and conducted interviews with immigration advocates and legal counsel on deportation cases. I was published multiple times as a reporter and researcher on the NBC News website and have my own author page. I learned how to conduct background checks, geographic tracking, and conflict-of-interest research using open-source intelligence.
I also led data processing and analysis for the unit on defense contracts, ICE deportation statistics, and FEC filings. I also led national security research for the July 4th celebrations in Washington, where I broke the news of an evacuation order to the bureau which ended up airing on our network.
What he enjoyed: I enjoyed being back in Washington, learning more about political reporting, and getting to work at my dream network, NBC News.
What helped him prepare: JOUR 400: Newsroom Experience and my work at UI7 Newsroom in general prepared me a great deal, helping me build my politics show Illinois in Session.
Gonzalezreceived funding from the College of MediaNancy Ronald and Ronald L. Hartshorn Internship Fund to support this internship.
Zijie Wang, senior in media and cinema studies
OpenQQuantify | Media Intern | Remote Work Opportunity
“This internship made me sure of my interest in media production, documentary development, and research-based content creation. It not only helped me accumulate portfolio-building and professional development experience but also made me more aware that I want to continue to explore technology storytelling and educational media direction in the future.”
What he did: As part of OpenQQuantify’s technology documentary initiative, which focused on areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, fintech, and other emerging technologies, I assisted in documentary research, organizing and editing digital media assets, content publishing, and social media outreach. I also helped with interviews, media coordination, creative brainstorming, and online community engagement. My goal was to transform technical information into content that is clearer and more suitable for public understanding.
What he enjoyed: My favorite thing is that this internship combined research and creative media production. This internship made me see that a professional documentary project requires a lot of preliminary research and fact-checking. I especially liked the process of documentary theme research and content conception, because I was able to help the audience understand complex scientific and technological topics.
What he learned: Through this experience, I learned that media production is not just about shooting, editing, or publishing content. A good media project requires accurate information, clear narrative structure, and cooperation between teams; especially technology-focused media production, which requires both creative and analytical skills. Through the internship, I also learned a lot about documentary research, digital storytelling, social media communication, video editing, technology journalism, and innovation reporting.
What helped him prepare: My courses related to digital media, content creation, and media writing helped me prepare for this internship. These courses taught me how to organize information, analyze the audience, tell a good story, and express the content clearly.
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.
(Photo of Media attendees by Lark Runkle, youth photographer)
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.
(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.
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.”
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; not pictured is John J. Kim, who was out on assignment. (Photo courtesy of the Chicago Tribune.)
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.”
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Watch the Illinois Student Film Festival, produced by students in MACS 366: Film Festivals, featuring work by students across the University of Illinois campus.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
