Micah Barber, Associate Professor of Practice, Radio Television Film 

“I loved being compelled to apply some of the short film lessons I propound in the classroom, and see how they hold up.” 

Radio-Television-Film Associate Professor of Practice Micah Barber wants to teach students how they can imbue stories with creativity and empathy. As an inaugural recipient of the Faculty Development Award, he was able continue work on his latest dramatic short film LIGHTHEART, which he wrote and directed this summer. Moving between the parallel child and adult worlds of a father and daughter and touching on questions of mortality and permanence, this three-day film shoot involved approximately 40 people in the cast and crew – including a dozen UT grad students, undergrads, and alumni!

“I am truly grateful to be one of the inaugural recipients of the professional-track FDA. The FDA enabled 40+ people to collaborate on a meaningful creative endeavor that would not have existed otherwise, and that will spark countless conversations for audiences as well as students in my classes.”

While developing feature-length projects is a regular part of Barber’s outside professional work, taking a short film into production this summer was a surprising treat. It gave him the opportunity to collaborate on set with a talented young crew and was a good chance to revisit the specific quirks of the short film medium – a format that many RTF classes utilize!  

“When you only have 10 minutes or less to tell a story and build characters, everything becomes significant. And that’s something I really want to impress upon my students.” 

Karen Kocher, Professor of Practice, Radio Television Film

“Teaching students how to produce impactful and accessible materials that will go on to educate others about environmental history is one way that I contribute to the larger environmental movement.” 

Radio-Television-Film Professor of Practice Karen Kocher has been deeply invested in educating both UT students and the Austin community at large for decades – she even has footage dating back to the 90s to prove it! Being an inaugural recipient of the Faculty Development Award allowed her to continue work on a new documentary film about the creation of the Barton Creek Wilderness Park. This film –the latest part in a series about Austin’s environmental history– will contribute to a larger conservation conversation by adding to an archive of materials that can be utilized by learners at all levels.  

“I’ve produced work the entire time I’ve been teaching at UT and this film is no exception. My teaching method goes hand-in-hand with my creation process. As a professor of practice, I teach primarily through mentorship and working with student interns –including undergrads, graduate students, and even some of my former students– on projects that will help them gain the kind of experience they will need after graduation.”  

Aside from university students, Kocher has also developed an education center at Barton Springs that creates an interactive theater experience and allows community members to explore any topic from multiple perspectives. Her project has even launched a new Austin Independent School District curriculum, “which has integrated it into thirty-four AP Environmental and Aquatic Science classes.”