ODU Film Student Scores $20K in Film Contest
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JAN 14, 2021
Department of Communication and Theatre Arts
ODU Film Student Scores $20K in Film Contest by Sherry DiBari
When the congratulatory message Woodard’s film chronicles the internal Norfolk, in and around the Tide light
showed up on Adrian Woodard II’s cell struggles many individuals face during rail, Woodard’s grandmother’s pool in
phone, he couldn’t tell anyone. He was in the COVID-19 pandemic. He was inspired Chesapeake, James Baptist Church in
the middle of filming his father’s church by his own challenges of adjusting to Richmond and a Portsmouth graveyard.
sermon. His mother was posting sermon loneliness and new social norms.
points live on the computer. “My dad Woodard has long ties to Hampton
was preaching, so I couldn’t stop and tell The film features Woodard as the main Roads. His grandfather was the late
them,” he said. character and narrator. Harrison B. Wilson Jr., former president
of Norfolk State University. His
So, he waited patiently. He credits the success of Keeping Faith grandmother, Lucy Wilson, served as
to his “dream team,” which included ODU’s associate vice president of the
Once the sermon was done, Woodard immediate family members, volunteers Office of Student Services.
relayed the news - he had won the grand from his family’s church and friends.
prize in the Faith Counts’ Film Your Faith Woodard’s interest in filmmaking started
video competition. “Everyone was excited “We were really meticulous about social early. He was a middle-schooler in
for me,” he said. “I just felt so blessed that distancing,” Woodard said. “I did it with Newark, New Jersey, when the class took
God had given me that gift to do that.” a lot of family members - the people I a field trip to watch director Spike Lee
was already quarantined with, and close filming a movie in the neighborhood.
Woodard’s two-minute film, Keeping friends that I knew were practicing good
Faith, was selected from over 900 social distancing.” “I just remember seeing him working
entries. and thinking, ‘That’s what I want to do,’”
Woodard calls Lawrence Pettaway, his Woodard said.
Woodard, 20, an Old Dominion University godbrother and also an ODU student,
sophomore majoring in communication and sister Alek, “troupers” for their help Woodard plans to invest his winnings into
with an emphasis in film, received more with the film. For one scene, they began his film company Korrosive Films, along
than praise for his win. He also took filming at 5 a.m. In another, they were with stocks and a donation to his church.
home $20,000. immersed in a pool with freezing water.
Woodard’s goal with Keeping Faith was
Faith Counts, a nonprofit, non- Terry Butler, a family friend, composed to inspire people. “I wanted them to know
denominational organization aimed the original music. that they’re not alone, that other people
at promoting the value of faith, asked are struggling as well,” he said. “I wanted
participants to show - in two minutes Most of the scenes were filmed around them to know that faith is a struggle, and
or less - how “faith changes lives, Hampton Roads. Sites included an keeping faith is a struggle.”
relationships and communities for the alley near The Main hotel in downtown
better.” Read the original article here. 12/23/20
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‘Doomscrolling’ and the role of social media
during major news events
13News Now consults a social media expert at ODU following Wednesday’s chaos at the Capitol.
NORFOLK, Va. — It’s an overwhelming “I think the principal of ‘doomscrolling’ is that we
experience, and it’s been that way for a while. keep filtering through our feed and letting it wash
over you,” said McNutt. “Hoping that consuming it
For all its flaws, social media plays a major part or exposing yourself to it will help make it better,
in keeping people informed during a major news help you understand it or rationalize what’s going
event. on.”
Such was the case Wednesday, when millions But that can be mentally destructive, right? At the
watched chaos unfold at the Nation’s Capitol from same time, turning away feels like we’re turning our
the palm of their hands. backs on our civic duty to stay informed.
“Which is something that’s challenging,” said Myles “If there’s any sort of advice to people on social
McNutt, assistant professor of communication and media, is that you have control of your feed and
theater arts at Old Dominion University. how you use it,” he said. “Use that control to
provide the best experience that balances the
“Processing information is not something we do information you want and how you live your life, and
naturally. On a day like yesterday it may as well ultimately how you can balance your mental health
have been an impossible task,” he said. and day-to-day existence.”
McNutt teaches courses on digital media and View the interview here. 01/07/21
offered insight into the role social media plays in
keeping us informed.
He weighed in on the phenomenon of
“doomscrolling” - people glued to social media,
refreshing for constant updates, even when the
news is overwhelming.
2
Kent Sandstrom Stepping Down as College of
Arts and Letters Dean by Amy Matzke-Fawcett
After 3½ years • Implementing and extending a collaborative “For me, he has been both an unfailingly
leading the agreement with the Virginia Symphony supportive and encouraging mentor and
College of Arts Orchestra that benefits ODU music majors model, a role in which I hope that he will
and Letters at by offering them opportunities to perform in continue. And for the College, he has been
Old Dominion side-by-side concerts with top professional a consummate leader: a strong advocate,
University, musicians and to partner with them in an insightful strategist and a compassionate
Dean Kent educational outreach to area schools. guardian,” Miller said. “No one in the College
Sandstrom who met him ever had any doubt about how
announced • Expanding the visibility and impact of Arts@ much he cared for our well-being, individually
he will be ODU programs and initiatives. and collectively. He positively radiates
stepping down, kindness and concern.”
effective Jan. • Co-sponsoring and implementing a variety
24, to focus of initiatives to enhance diversity and Sheri Reynolds, professor and chair of the
on his health celebrate the contributions of communities of Department of English, called Sandstrom one
and return to a color. of the greatest teachers of her lifetime.
faculty role. He
will continue to teach and conduct research Sandstrom said that he is grateful to have “I’ve learned more about leadership from
in the Department of Sociology and Criminal led the College during a time of change and him than anyone else I know,” she said. “No
Justice. growth. matter what problem he deals with, Kent sees
the goodness in people first, recognizing and
Sandstrom came to the University in July “I feel especially proud of the depth of appreciating the nuances in every situation.
2017 from North Dakota State University, connection and community that has emerged He has created a climate of support in the
where he served as Dean of Arts, Humanities in the College over the past few years, College, and by that, I mean connections
and Social Sciences for six years. A especially among departmental and program between faculty, staff, administrators and
sociologist with degrees from the University leaders,” Sandstrom said. “In many ways, I students.”
of Minnesota, Sandstrom has conducted think that sense of community may be the
extensive research on how people living College’s greatest achievement, and I trust She noted that when he announced he would
with HIV negotiate and manage identities, that it will continue in the future.” step down in a recent chairs and directors
emotions and relationships. He also has meeting, the news was met with sadness and
written books on social psychology and And just this week, the college received a even tears. “He provided such steadiness
social theory, most recently “Symbols, $300,000 gift from alumnus Will Giandoni and kindness, all while bringing out the best
Selves, and Social Reality” (Oxford University to further programs and opportunities in the in so many programs,” she said.
Press, 2013) and “Inside Social Life” (Oxford Department of History.
University Press, 2017). Mona Danner, professor and chair of the
“I am grateful to Dean Sandstrom for his Department of Sociology and Criminal
Throughout Sandstrom’s tenure at Old dedication and commitment to excellence,” Justice, where Sandstrom will continue to
Dominion, the College of Arts and Letters has Provost Austin Agho said. “He did an teach, expressed gratitude for his leadership
grown its enrollments by 10% when many excellent job in supporting and championing skills and compassion.
comparable colleges were experiencing ODU’s commitment to student success and
notable declines. Faculty have also increased diversity and inclusion.” “Kent has been an extraordinary dean
their scholarly productivity, especially as in because he really cares about the College
terms of publications, fellowships and grants. Janet Katz, associate dean of the College of and all of its people, really listened to our
Additionally, faculty, staff and students have Arts and Letters, said it has been “a joy” to concerns, and worked to make things
won more than 100 distinguished awards work with Sandstrom. better,” Danner said. “His collaborative spirit
since early 2018. Academic opportunities helped form the chairs into a cohesive and
have also risen across the College with the “Kent is the sixth dean I have worked for, and supportive community. We will miss his
founding of the Diehn School of Music, and I feel that I can confidently state that he has kindness, compassion, transparency and
the new majors in cybercrime and game led the College with integrity and wisdom and advocacy for the College.”
studies and design, in response to the growth kindness,” Katz said. “He values openness, An interim dean will be announced in
and job opportunities in those fields. accessibility and diversity, and seeks out the January.
opinions of others.”
Other notable accomplishments include: Read the original article here. 12/22/20
Dale Miller, associate dean of graduate
• Sustaining a high level of scholarly studies and research in the college, said it’s
productivity, as reflected in annual averages hard to put into words what Sandstrom has
of more than 300 publications, 240 meant to him personally, and to the College.
paper presentations, and 210 concerts,
performances and artistic exhibitions.
3
Omiyẹmi Green to
Explore Pathways for JAN/FEB
Black Theatre in Anti- 1/19.
Racism Speaker Series Spring 2021 classes begin.
Omiyẹmi (Artisia) Green, Associate 1/21.
Professor of Theatre and Africana 36th annual Martin Luther King Jr.
Studies and a W. Taylor Reveley, Observance. 6pm.
III Interdisciplinary Faculty Fellow RSVP Link.
at William & Mary, will be the next
featured speaker in our year-long
series focused on anti-racism. 1/22.
Green’s presentation, Ògún Yè Mo Department Meeting. 2-4pm
Yè!: Paradigms and pathways Zoom Link.
for the institutionalization
and success of Black Theater
faculty, pedagogy, and production at historically white
2/11.
universities, will take place on Thursday, February 11th at Anti-Racism Speaker Series: Omiyẹmi
6:00 PM via Zoom. (Artisia) Green. 6pm. RSVP Link.
In her talk, African American Theatre Historian and Program
Director for Africana Studies Omiyẹmi (Artisia) Green will
discuss the mechanisms of support necessary for building
and maintaining a thriving Black Theater program at a
historically white university.
Green is an Associate Professor of Theatre and Africana
Studies and a W. Taylor Reveley, III Interdisciplinary Faculty
Fellow at William & Mary. A director, dramaturg, and
interdisciplinary scholar with a focus on African-American
Theatre/Black Theatre, Omiyẹmi is an executive board
member of the August Wilson Society, a member-at-
large on the Black Theatre Association Executive Board
(ATHE), an associate editor of Continuum: The Journal of
African Diaspora Drama, Theatre and Performance and
the August Wilson Journal, and a former president of the
Black Theatre Network. Omiyẹmi is published in Continuum,
the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Journal
Peer Review Section, the August Wilson Journal, August
Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle: Critical Perspectives on the Plays
(McFarland), and African American Culture: An Encyclopedia
of People, Traditions, and Customs (Greenwood). She holds a ODU will host our 36th annual Martin Luther
BA in Psychology from William & Mary and an MFA in Theatre King Jr. Observance, “A Legacy Honored, A
Education (Directing) from Virginia Commonwealth University. Future of Change” on Jan. 21 at 6pm.
Omiyẹmi is also a resident dramaturg and the project director
for Sitelines BLM with Cadence Theatre Company. Norfolk Mayor Kenneth C. Alexander will be the keynote
speaker. The Norfolk 17, a group of African American
This presentation is free and open to the public and ODU students who desegregated the city’s public schools
campus, but registration is required. Register by February on 959, will be presented with the Hugo Owens Martin
9, 2021 at http://odu.imodules.com/oye21. The Zoom link will Luther King Jr. Award.
be sent one day prior to the event. A Q&A session will follow
Professor Green’s presentation. The event will be held virtually. RSVP by Jan. 20.
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KUDOS! UNIVERSITY
ANNOUNCEMENT
Congrats to our Theatre professors Steve Earle and ON SPRING 2021
Ricardo Melendez, winners of the Broadway World
2020 Regional Awards for Central Virginia. OPENING
_________________________
Alumni Lamar Giles (ODU - BA in Comm ‘01 and Due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in Hampton
MFA ‘17) is a founding member of We Need Diverse Roads and across the nation, and in accordance with our
Books and writes award-winning novels and short reopening blueprint, Old Dominion University will start
at least the first two weeks of the spring 2021 semester,
stories for teens and adults with an aim towards from Jan. 19 to Feb. 1, with remote instruction. This
character diversity such as the 2016 Edgar® means nearly all classes will be delivered online, with the
Award Nominee Endangered, and Overturned from exception of a limited number of courses and labs that
Scholastic Press. His work Fake ID, a 2015 Edgar® require in-person hours. Faculty will reach out to students
Award Nominee, was recently optioned by Sony in these programs. Prevailing conditions will determine if
Pictures. https://www.lamargiles.com further modifications will be needed.
_________________________
The decision to delay students’ arrival on campus
and face-to-face instruction, which was made by the
Symptomatic: IRL received four nominations in University’s Executive Policy Team, will help protect the
the Region IV Kennedy Center American College health and well-being of Monarchs and the Hampton
Theatre Festival: Roads community at a time when the Centers for Disease
Autumn Ibanez & Nola Payton: Control and Prevention and Virginia Department of
Student Performance (Irene Ryan Scholarship) Health project COVID-19 cases will peak. Students facing
extenuating circumstances or who need additional support
Tracy Harmer: are encouraged to contact the Dean of Students Office at
Student Stage Management oducares@odu.edu or 757-683-3442.
Brittney S. Harris:
Faculty Director As a community, we will continue to promote Monarchs’
_________________________ safety while providing the same high-quality education
and minimizing disruptions. ODU offices will reopen, as
scheduled, on Jan. 4 to ensure the continuity of student
Ted Gournelos was recently interviewed by FOX
support services as well as our academic and research
35 Orlando about the role social media plays in enterprise. Telework and staggered on-site shifts are still
freedom of speech. Check out the interview here. encouraged wherever possible.
_________________________
We are committed to providing classes in-person —
Annemarie Navar-Gill served as a panelist on when it is safe to do so — online and in a hybrid mode
the recent Faculty Forum focused on the Capitol this spring. The Executive Policy Team will continue
monitoring the latest developments and will provide
Insurrection. Navar-Gill spoke to topics on Social updates every Monday of what lies ahead.
Media and Insurrection. The Forum was sponsored
by ODU’s Center for Faculty Development and the In the meantime, ODU’s CLIA-certified COVID-19 clinical
Office of Faculty Diversity and Retention. diagnostics lab in Innovation Research Park is expanding
its on-demand and surveillance testing program. More
details will follow.
SHARE YOUR RECENT Please continue to #ReignResponsibly and follow
ACCOMPLISHMENTS HERE! recommended precautions to stay healthy. We will keep
you informed of the latest information via email and on
ODU’s official social media channels.
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