Mount St. Mary's College

Mount St. Mary's College seeks to increase the use of film as a campus-wide pedagogical tool while expanding its program in film and social justice, a unique undergraduate major that uses the power of filmmaking to promote active learning across academic disciplines, engages students in the local community and, ultimately, develops strong-voiced leaders who will contribute to positive social change. The program has demonstrated its ability to give students the skills both to make powerful films that address important social justice issues and to gain entry into the entertainment industry – where, as women from diverse ethnic backgrounds, they are vastly underrepresented. With a fully developed curriculum, established internship relationships and newly constructed production and editing studios, the film and social justice program is poised to expand. The requested funds will primarily support: (a) expansion of two part-time faculty positions to full-time over the three-year grant period; (b) reassigned time for the program director; and (c) acquisition of film production equipment. The goals are to build enrollment in the program, further integrate the program into other departments, develop a strong online presence, and expand the program’s impact beyond the College through partnerships with high schools and community-based organizations and, ultimately, to increase diversity in the film industry.