About

Bio

I hold an MFA in Film Directing from Columbia College Chicago and a BA in Psychology with a Spanish minor from Knox College. Since earning my degrees, I have taught film and design at Northwestern University, Loyola University, Columbia College Chicago, North Park University, Westwood College, the Second City Training Center, Chicago Filmmakers, Kankakee Community College, and the Harold Ramis Film School and SC Film School. I have recently accepted an appointment as Full-time Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Film and Digital Media in the School of Communications at Loyola University Chicago where I plan to continue my scholarship in film production and share my experience with my students to help them develop into industry colleagues.

While working in academia, I have remained an active member of the Chicago film community winning an HBO/Kodak Film Award, screening in notable festivals including Palm Springs and Chicago Black Harvest. My short films have aired on the nationally syndicated "African-American Short Films" program, produced by Badami TV.

Our documentary, “Taking Park City,” and docu-series “Keeping Success Pure,” aired on PBS, the latter on a regular weekly schedule. The award-winning documentary that I shot and directed, produced by Dr. Eric Winston, entitled “Taking Israel,” is currently available on Amazon Prime. Our documentary entitled “The Correct Thing: Palmer Memorial Institute,” has been accepted to festivals and has enjoyed its premiere at the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Historic Site in NC. I served as co-producer and cinematographer of the documentary “The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells,” which won the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival. Principal photography has concluded on my narrative fiction feature directorial debut entitled “Survivor, Soldier, Sinner, Savior” is currently in postproduction.

I’ve secured fellowships with Kartemquin’s Diverse Voices in Doc program, the Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity, the Ronald E. McNair program, and have been the recipient of Part-Time Faculty Development Grants throughout my filmmaking/teaching career. I love working with actors, seeing ideas manifest into reality, and sharing my experiences in a teaching setting for the betterment of my students, and in a filmmaking capacity for the betterment of my cast, crew, and story. One of my favorite places in the world to be is on set, in production.

(Pronouns: He, Him, His)

Fun Facts: I’m a pilot and love aviation. I was also State Champion in the 110mm High Hurdles.