Michael Schoonmaker

Michael Schoonmaker is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Television, Radio and Film at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University. With over three decades of industry experience, he transitioned from Olympic broadcast production roles at NBC to academia, focusing on media education innovation.

His career began at MTV before moving to NBC's Olympic Unit for the 1988 Games. As an educator, he pioneered projects integrating filmmaking into K-12 curricula through collaborations with educators. Notable initiatives include:

• "Smart Kids Visual Stories" (2009-2011): Joint Newhouse/School of Education project addressing urban educational reform
• LA Semester program development
• Erie City School District TV series (2000) promoting literacy through creative programming

Award-winning scholar, he has received:

• Two Chancellor's Leadership Grants
• National Cable in the Classroom Award
• Books for Kids Award

His research emphasizes media's role in modern education systems, bridging traditional pedagogy with digital storytelling techniques.