Lights, Camera, Learning: New Entertainment Media Minor Launched

Monroe is turning up the volume on academic innovation with the launch of its brand-new Entertainment Media minor -- an energetic, career-focused program designed to give students the tools, experience, and connections they need to break into one of today’s most dynamic industries.

Offered through the School of Business and Accounting, this exciting new minor opens the door to careers in media, broadcasting, production, and content creation. With in-demand courses like cinematography, sports broadcasting, and the business of beauty, students are diving into the real-world mechanics of how entertainment is made -- and how to build successful careers behind the scenes.

And Monroe isn’t just offering courses—it’s offering an experience.

Students train in a brand-new Production Studio Classroom, featuring:

-- Sony industry-grade camera systems
-- Advanced professional lighting rigs
-- A custom-designed sports broadcasting desk
-- A jaw-dropping 15-foot LED video wall

This studio is more than a classroom. It’s a launchpad, designed to give students hands-on experience with the same tools used by working professionals. From day one, students step behind the camera and into the action, preparing for the real-world demands of studio production, live broadcasting, and digital media content creation.

It's the program's mission, however, that really sets it apart. 

The Entertainment Media minor was created to increase equity and access in an industry that has historically lacked diversity behind the camera. Monroe is empowering students -- many of whom are first-generation college-goers and students of color -- to step into creative, technical, and leadership roles that shape what the world watches, hears, and shares.

At the heart of this mission are two experienced media professionals who co-lead the program: Emmy-nominated executive producer Dorothy Toran and Emmy-winning showrunner Jacob Huddleston. With more than two decades of combined experience producing hit series for major platforms like Bravo, MTV, and Facebook Watch, they bring unmatched industry insight -- and a deep commitment to mentoring the next generation of talent.

Toran and Huddleston don’t just teach -- they open doors. They’re bringing working producers, editors, and talent from across the country into Monroe’s classrooms. Students are hearing directly from the people shaping the future of entertainment, making invaluable connections that could lead to internships, mentorships, and job opportunities after graduation.

Earlier this month, Monroe students sat down with reality television star and executive producer Natalie Nunn for an exclusive on-campus fireside chat. Nunn offered behind-the-scenes stories, business advice, and insights into building a personal brand in the age of streaming and social media.

The response from students has been electric.

Monroe’s new Entertainment Media minor is more than a curriculum. It’s a launchpad for creative careers. 

It’s where hands-on learning meets professional opportunity, and where students get the chance to see themselves -- not just in the industry, but as future leaders reshaping it.

If you’re ready to tell your story, build your brand, and bring your vision to life, Monroe’s Entertainment Media minor is where it begins.