my story

J. McMerty is from Elon University in North Carolina, a small liberal arts school where 20 percent of the student population is in the School of Communications. J. runs the university’s FreshTV program and Elon in Los Angeles and New York internship summer programs, and teaches digital media courses in the Media Arts & Entertainment major in the School of Communications.

J. received his undergraduate degree in Corporate Communications from Elon and his MFA in Film Production from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has produced several social cause documentaries in Namibia, Honduras, Mexico and the Dominican Republic that have been showcased in film festivals nationally and internationally. J. also produces many video projects involving dance and performance art.

As creator and director of the Elon in Los Angeles program, J has overseen the summer program’s growth in size and scope. The students intern four days a week and take classes on Mondays. The three co-requisite courses operate as a simulated production company, with acting, publicity and production students collaborating in hours of media content every summer. The program has run for four summers in Los Angeles and two in New York. Elon hopes to have a full year presence in LA sometime in the near future.

FreshTV is a program for first-semester freshman that operates as an accelerated training and engagement workshop for new students. The program boasts 80 students every fall and has become one of the most popular experiences for first-year students.

J. also created a partnership with ESPN2 and Time Warner of North Carolina to develop a sports magazine show highlighting Elon athletics, which has produced more than 60 episodes that have aired on ESPN2 in 20 counties in the state. The program has also helped sports students gain internships and employment opportunities with ESPN.

J. is eager to explore his professional career in TV development and production in the coming years while running the LA program. The mix of academic and professional work will lead to educationally entrepreneurial experiences for Elon students.