Digital Media Production Program Awarded Grant from Alden Trust

On-campus production facilities utilized by students in Stonehill College’s Digital Media Production (DMP) program will soon be getting a makeover thanks to a $190,000 grant provided by the George I. Alden Trust. 

“We deeply appreciate this grant. The award will allow more students to take production courses and become DMP majors, something we expect to happen quickly when students see the changes we have in store for them. We’re excited to see this creative, multidisciplinary major take shape over the next academic year, and look forward to fostering a filmmaking culture here at Stonehill,” said Professor Ron Leone, chair of the Department of Communication & Media Studies.

Funds from the Alden Trust will enable the College to upgrade the existing production studio in Duffy Academic Center #208. Proposed improvements include:

• Upgrades to audio and video systems, including a new studio control station, tricaster, cameras, teleprompter, microphones, Clear-Com system, and headsets. 
• Enhancements to studio lighting and control, including a new computer-based light control system that allows for a complete digital lighting plot, custom 20’ wide green screen, and various new lighting fixtures. 
• The installation of a control room window, which will provide essential line-of-sight between the studio lab and the control room for enhanced production efforts (there is currently a barrier between both areas).

Additionally, the grant will be used to create a dedicated computer lab and classroom space in Duffy Academic Center #210. The College is exploring opportunities to purchase and install equipment needed to conduct 4K video editing and production. Potential construction efforts in this area will also create a partition between lecture spaces and learning areas so that classes can be taught while students are working on media projects. 

Educating the Next Generation of Storytellers

Originally introduced as a minor in 2014, the DMP program began offering a major in 2024. It is intended that students who earn a degree from Stonehill in this field will graduate with the skills needed to communicate effectively through a range of platforms. 

“The program’s recent evolution reflects strong student interest and institutional support. One of its greatest strengths is its emphasis on hands-on, real-world experience. Students benefit from opportunities to connect theory to professional practice while building industry contacts. Altogether, Stonehill’s DMP major combines practical training, creative storytelling, and immersive production—equipping students with the technical experience and real-world portfolio they’ll need as they enter competitive media industries,” said Instructor of Communication & Media Studies Katie Elia-Shannon ’04, who manages the DMP program. 

Enhancing Stonehill’s DMP offerings has been identified as a key element of the College’s forthcoming strategic plan, which will guide the institution through 2030. This is due in part to the fact that the program aligns with Stonehill’s goal of creating a more integrated arts community on campus, as well as the institution’s focus on fostering interdisciplinary learning and professional skill building.

In addition to benefiting students in the DMP program, it is intended that the renovations to the College’s production facilities will enhance the educational experiences of those taking classes in complementary fields, including communication, journalism, and others.

“In today’s media landscape, journalists need to do it all: report, write, shoot and edit video, create podcasts and video channels. A renovated studio, coupled with updated field equipment, will prepare Stonehill students for both internships and jobs after graduation. The skills they learn will also help those who may eventually go into public relations or marketing, since video production, writing, and storytelling are key responsibilities of practitioners in those fields,” said Associate Professor of Communication & Media Studies Maureen Boyle, director of Stonehill’s Journalism program. 

The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number

Mechanical engineer George I. Alden established the Trust in 1912. More than 100 years later, the organization continues to pursue their founder’s desire to “do the greatest good for the greatest number” by offering support to independent colleges and universities in the six New England states, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and other select locations. It also awards funding to vocational and independent secondary schools in the immediate Worcester area; a group of Trust-determined major organizations with educationally related missions in Worcester; and YMCAs located in Massachusetts.     

The Trust supports capital projects that directly impact the quality of the delivery of a given school’s undergraduate academic offerings. With support from the Trust dating back to 1993 for computer equipment and software for the Department of Biology, Stonehill has more recently partnered with the Trust on the initial construction of the Thomas and Mary Shields Science Center and renovations to a shared Engineering and Photonics classroom and laboratory. The Trust also provided grants that enabled the College to install the MacPháidín Library’s Discovery and Collaboration Space, as well as its Digital Innovation Lab and Collaboratory for Innovative Design.