Bill Duke Joins Howard University Faculty As Radio, TV And Film Department Chairman

Jet, April 12, 1999

Hollywood actor, producer and director Bill Duke recently was named chairman of the Department of Radio, TV and Film in the School of Communications at Howard University.

In addition, he was appointed the first Time Warner Professor at the institution through a $2 million gilt by Time Warner Inc., the largest-ever corporate gift to the School of Communications.

The endowed chair is funded by $1.9 million, and the additional $100,000 will support the School of Communications' Curriculum Redesign Project.

"This contribution is our single-largest gift to a historically Black university, and it reflects our strong belief that we need to prepare a diverse workforce to meet the complex challenges of the new media world that lie ahead," said Time Warner President and Howard University trustee Richard Parsons.

Duke has produced a number of popular movies--including Hoodlum, Deep Cover, Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit and Rage in Harlem.

"I've always enjoyed teaching," said Duke. "This position will allow me to continue my career, as well as make available to the students the advantages I have in the industry."

Other actors, producers and communications specialists have joined Duke by participating on the Department of Radio, TV and Film's advisory council. Supporters include Queen Latifah, George Davis, Reuben Cannon, Tim Reid and Daphne Maxwell-Reid and Deborah Chase.

"We have an opportunity to make Howard one of the premiere communications schools in the nation," said Duke.

"Bill Duke represents to our students an array of lofty, yet very attainable possibilities," said Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert. "Even more he is the nexus between the classroom, the screening room, the production room and the board room."

The veteran actor, currently the executive producer of several films, hopes to shoot at least one film a year in D.C. so that students may have the opportunity to be involved in professional productions.

Duke is an alumnus of Boston University, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1964, and New York University where he received his master's degree in 1968. He also received a master's degree from the American Film Institute in 1971.