Today, Indiana University’s Media School ranks as one of the top programs in the nation.
A vast alumni network chalked full of experience in the industry, numerous opportunities for students to grow and finetune their craft in state of the art studios and facilities, and even grad programs intricately tailored for creating, collaborating, and diving deeper into multiple disciplines all contribute to 87% of Media School alumni reaching their career goals.
When Covid-19 hit back in 2020, Franklin Hall was hollow and silent with the ghosts of current students at the time aimlessly roaming its halls. The real students were confined to cold dorm rooms, virtually raising their hands in virtual classrooms. But four years later, the engine of the Media School is back in full.
“Students are what make this place run,” Tech Specialist and Multimedia Lab Director Allen Major said.
From freshman to senior, young adults eagerly pursue their degrees attending classes, participating in extra curriculars, and working in internship programs.
But what about the individuals behind the camera that cultivate student’s learning? That’s where Michael Gray comes in.
Michael Gray talks about his responsibilities at the Media School, how he got the position, and the joy and passion he gets working with students.
Gray has built, refined, and maintained all the top notch equipment used in Franklin Hall’s multi-million dollar studios. To some those tasks may be intimidating, but to Gray it’s one of the things that drew him to the position.
“I like to call them expensive toys that I get to play with,” Gray said.
All the work Mike does with tech allows him to work with students on a daily basis. His coworkers believe he is not only a perfect fit for working in studio but also promoting a positive environment for students.
“If he has the time and it can fit in our schedule he’s always down to help anybody to help anything,” Major said. “I think that’s important because that’s what our job is, is to help students, more so than faculty and staff.”
“He is really good at explaining things in a step-by-step way,” Multimedia Technical Specialist Kate Crum said. “He’s a pretty patient teacher, he’ll go over something a whole bunch of times until you get it, and he just likes to make sure that people learn how to do things the right way.”
That attention to detail and making sure things are taught correctly and done the right way has rubbed off on Gray’s coworkers as well.
“Working with Mike it also kind of makes you more of a meticulous person,” Crum said. “He’s good to work with. We trade tips on trouble shooting and even just how to be patient with a situation.”
Gray on the people who have inspired him in life, the lessons he’s learned from students, and what he hope to instill in them by the time they graduate from the Media School.
Gray’s same sentiments about working with students are shared by his counterparts.
“I think the best part about working with students is the best part about the job and that it’s different everyday,” Major said. “You run into different personalities, some people need help in different ways, some people teach you things that they’ve learned. It keeps your brain alive and it keeps you learning new things.”
While the students may change every four years, the staff will always remain relatively the same, leading to more and more students being impacted by compassionate and caring adults that can foster them through a sometimes rigorous college career.
