Lumen Lecture explores what it means to be embedded in place

Communication & Cinema Professor Jonathan Slade '88, an Emmy award-winning filmmaker and creator of a hyper-local community newspaper, delivers the annual Lumen Lecture on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. in McDaniel Hall's Coley Rice Lounge. 

The lecture, centered on the theme "Embed," is hosted by McDaniel's Lumen Scholars Program, an honors program that incorporates experiential learning and civic engagement, along with interdisciplinary courses. 

After graduating from the college with a bachelor's degree in Communication in 1988, Slade went on to earn an M.F.A. in Cinema-Television from the University of Southern California. He worked briefly in Hollywood before returning to Maryland to become an award-winning writer-producer with MPT. He joined McDaniel’s faculty full time in 2003, continuing to produce documentaries for MPT. In January 2020, Slade launched the Mason-Dixon Surveyor, which is published quarterly in Lineboro, Maryland.

According to Director of the Lumen Scholars Program Chloe Irla, assistant dean of faculty development, "Jonathan's work exemplifies what it means to be embedded in place: to witness, document, and share the richness of everyday life that might otherwise go unnoticed. His do-it-yourself approach to community journalism offers powerful lessons for students and neighbors alike about the value of curiosity, care, and connection in the places we call home." 

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, email lumen@mcdaniel.edu or call 410-857-2597.

"Jonathan's work exemplifies what it means to be embedded in place: to witness, document, and share the richness of everyday life that might otherwise go unnoticed," said Director of the Lumen Scholars Program Chloe Irla.