Faculty Visiting Instructor Samuel Lopez de Victoria was awarded a 2023 Ellie Creator Award for a video game art project with a peaceful narrative based on a distant future, where natural plants have merged with digital computer code to create new, sustainable power. Players become responsible for the cultivation of these plants to hack into and repair the world. The award of $12,000 from Oolite Arts, one of Miami’s largest support organizations for visual artists, will allow him to further develop his video game. Earlier this semester, Sam was honored in the Florida Panthers’ Celebration of Hispanic Excellence program, which recognizes individuals nominated by their peers, colleagues, families or friends for the positive impact they are making in South Florida and beyond. Sam founded Interactive Initiative, a non-profit that has been instrumental in fostering opportunities and mentorship within South Florida’s artistic and underserved communities. He utilizes the creation of interactive art and video games to amplify and nurture young artists' voices through gaming by ensuring participants are equipped with cost-free tools and resources, Samuel graduated with an MFA in Art and Technology from the University of Florida. He currently teaches video game design and studies in the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies. Congratulations, Sam!
A special shout out to Dr. Chris Robé who recently published his new book Abolishing Surveillance: Digital Media Activism and State Repression. Recently Dr. Robé talked about his book on the podcast Coffee With Comrades (Episode 194). Be sure to get your copy and see him in one of his upcoming talks in Philly, San Francisco, New York City, Dania Beach and Miami—congrats, Dr. Robé!
We are excited to announce THREE interdisciplinary minors beginning fall 2022! Students can now earn a minor in Political Communication, Sport Studies, and Public Relations, each requiring only 12 credits. Visit the link to learn more.
"Pacha Mama", a short film from Noitom International (Miami) was nominated for the Producers Guild of America Innovation Award (LA). The film was created by MTEn-MFA alumni Alberto Alvarez (Author and Technical Director; also current adjunct in SCMS), Brandon Martinez (Environmental Designer), and Ledis Molina (Technical Animator). More info: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/02/25/2392485/0/en/Noitom-s-Pacha-Mama-Named-a-Finalist-for-PGA-Innovation-Award.html Congrats to Alberto, Brandon, and Ledis!
A student from the SCMS, Allison Currie, is among the five recipients of the Black Theatre Coalition/Broadway Across America Fellowship sponsored by the John Gore Organization. Currie is an undergraduate student pursuing Multimedia Studies–Film, Video, and New Media with a minor in Psychology and a certificate in Ethnic Studies. She was part of the dual enrollment program and took many upper-division SCMS credit hours while attending FAU High School. As part of the 14-week paid fellowship, Currie will gain “practical experience through on-the-job learning in Broadway Across America offices and learn the intricacies of the business through an education curriculum taught by John Gore Organization professionals.” The inaugural BTC-BAA fellowship is open to college undergraduate juniors, seniors, and recent college graduates who are interested in pursuing a career in theater administration. The program recognizes the underrepresentation of Black-identifying professionals in the commercial theater industry and is dedicated to “fostering and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, access, and inclusion while providing an invaluable, in-depth education in the business of commercial theater.”
School of Communication and Multimedia Studies senior instructor Dr. Deandre Poole has received the BIPOC Faculty award for excellence in research, teaching, and service. This teaching award, granted to non tenure-track faculty, commended his “pedagogical achievements and dedication to social justice in the classroom.” Dr. Poole has over 15 years of higher education experience in communication education, curriculum development, critical-cultural pedagogy, and faculty leadership. His courses include Ethnicity and Communication, Intercultural Theory, Intercultural Communication, and American Multicultural Discourse. The College of Arts and Letters Diversity and Inclusion Committee announced four awardees for the BIPOC NTT Faculty Awards for excellence in research, teaching, and service on January 25, 2022.
The School of Communication and Multimedia Studies won a Gold Award in the 2021 Hermes Creative Awards competition. The winning entry—a set of promotional videos highlighting the three majors in the School’s bachelor’s degree—features testimonials from SCMS faculty, students, and alumni. It was directed and edited by Dr. Joey Bargsten.
Three merit-based Palm Beach Post Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding SCMS Multimedia Journalism majors who “have expressed and demonstrated an interest in a career in journalism” through their published writings and journalistic work.
The April 16th episode of the South Florida Journal Podcast is now available. Check it out on Spotify, and also check out South Florida Journal on Instagram.