We are excited to introduce the Youth Media Lab's inaugural cohort of Summer 2019 Fellows. Along with Professor Carla Carter and Dr. Vickery, the group of undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni will be facilitating a media storytelling workshop with teen residents from Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home.

The two week workshop teaches participants how to critically evaluate and produce their own creative media. They will have opportunities to use media to share their own stories and also produce mini-documentaries with the local community. The workshop will culminate with a community screening of all the films. We are also excited to announce that this year we will be producing a podcast about the workshop, stay tuned for details!

Meet our Summer 2019 Fellows

Ryne Clem

My name is Ryne Clem. I was born and raised in San Antonio, TX and love my Spurs. I graduated from Tarleton State University in 2017 and now I'm a third year MFA student studying documentary film at UNT. I recently completed my second documentary short; I love working around communities and finding new stories to follow.

Ashley Gallegos

I am a recent college graduate from UNT with a Bachelor's degree in Media Arts. I've always been extremely passionate about media and genuinely believe that it has the power to impact people in very special ways so to be a part of this workshop is incredibly exciting. In my free time I can typically be found at a show of some sort, at the movies, with my dog, or practicing photography.

Eboni Johnson

I believe in the power of visual media to connect and educate a diverse audience. I use my video journalism and creative writing experience to give voice to communities of color, highlighting stories on equity, the intersectionality of identity, and self-actualization. Currently, an MFA student at the University of North Texas, I continue to diversify my portfolio with my award-winning audio documentary, Good Soil, Good Souls: The Story of Bonton Farms, and my most recent sociopolitical film, Unrequited Dreams: An American Truth.

Danille Pagano

I'm from Arlington Texas and just graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor's in Media Arts and a minor in History. In my free time I enjoy embroidery, reading, photography, and exploring nature. I love to travel because I get to discover what makes every place unique. I get a lot of joy out of making a positive impact on a community in about anyway possible from picking up trash to helping young people tell their stories through film.

Dusty Shipley

I recently graduated from UNT, with a degree in Media Arts and plan to go into freelance editing. In my free time I enjoy creating art, hiking, and baking. I'm a massive animal lover, and have previously worked at a zoo helping to teach children.

Brentney Smith

My hometown is Fort Worth, TX, I am an undergraduate student here at UNT. I double major in Media Arts and Spanish, and I hope to learn more about using my skills in a non-profit setting. I love editing and seeing how people express themselves and their experiences in different ways. I enjoy learning from others and sharing my time with my community in any way I am able.

Tim Walker

Hey, I'm Tim Walker. I am a recent UNT Graduate with a major in Media Arts and minor in German. I teach Parkour classes to various age groups at a facility called Somatic Movement Gym. I hope to use my connections with Parkour and skills with filmmaking to travel around the world, specifically Germany and Japan.

Rob Upchurch

Rob is a Master's student in the Media Industries and Critical Cultural Studies program. He earned a B.A. at Texas A&M University.