William Donaruma

William Donaruma is a Teaching Professor of Film Production and Head of Production at the University of Notre Dame's Department of Film, Television, and Theatre within the College of Arts and Letters. He also directs the Creative Computing Group and serves as Creative Director for the Office of Digital Learning. His academic career spans over two decades, with full-time faculty status since 1998. Donaruma holds a B.A. in Communication & Theatre from Notre Dame (1989) and post-graduate training in Film, Television, and Theatre (2002–2004).

His research focuses on documentary and narrative filmmaking, cinematography, and camera technology. Current projects include a Ukraine cultural heritage documentary and initiatives in African education outreach. Notable works include Nets of Memory, And There is Nothing New Under the Sun, and Strong Bodies Fight, which have garnered awards such as the Action On Film Festival Best Sports Documentary (2011) and the Honolulu Film Awards Gold Kahuna Award (2011).

• Grants: Over $500K in equipment grants (2014–2020) for cinema technology upgrades.
• Teaching: Courses include Introduction to Film/Video Production, High Definition Production, and Visual Anthropology.
• Service: Member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, judge for College Television Awards, and advisor for FilmSkills.com.

Donaruma’s creative work spans experimental short films, architectural documentaries, and educational multimedia projects, often blending technical innovation with cultural storytelling.