Frederick Lewis

Frederick Lewis serves as Professor and Director of Screenwriting & Documentary Storytelling Programs in Ireland and Spain at Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication, School of Media Arts & Studies. His career uniquely bridges 14 years as a professional producer/director in public television (PBS documentaries, corporate video, and Division I sports broadcasting) with academic leadership in experiential media education.

His research centers on documentary studies and biographical narrative production, with acclaimed works on Rockwell Kent and Paul Laurence Dunbar—both screened at the Library of Congress and earning regional Emmy Awards. Lewis pioneered Ohio University's '419 Productions' program, which operated for 18 years training students in industry-modeled filmmaking cycles that raised over $500,000 and produced 62 short films. He also directs annual study-abroad programs in Ireland and Spain, having taken 250+ students overseas since 2011.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Two regional Emmy Awards for documentary excellence
• Ohio University's Presidential Teacher Award for transformative pedagogy
• Arctic Studies Fellowship at Uummannaq Polar Institute
• Writer-in-Residence appointments at Landfall artist retreat (Newfoundland)

Lewis champions 'learning by doing,' structuring courses like the 48-hour 'Shootout' competition (300+ student participants annually) and international workshops for U.S. government entities in Malaysia. His former students now work at Lucasfilm, DreamWorks Animation, and Scott Free Productions. Current projects include a definitive Rockwell Kent biography drawing on Greenland research and continued expansion of Ireland/Spain storytelling programs.