Iowa State University’s Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication welcomed new faculty member James McNab, assistant teaching professor, in January.
He covers broadcast media and video production at the undergraduate level.
“I am very happy to welcome James McNab to the Greenlee School. His deep industry expertise in broadcast and video production will guide his students in developing their skills toward professional-quality content,” said Michael Dahlstrom, director of the Greenlee school.
McNab holds a bachelor’s in journalism and mass communication from the Greenlee School and an M.C.L. from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake University.
As a proud Greenlee alum, McNab said he’s grateful for the opportunity to return.
“This is where everything began for me,” he said. “So when the opportunity came to come home, to give back to the exact same place and the exact same program that got me my start, that was too good to pass up.”
An award-winning producer and media professional, McNab has more than 800 production credits to his name.
After graduating from Iowa State, he worked as a producer with KCCI-TV, a producer and director of creative services with KFPX-TV and a charter producer with Mediacom Communications.
McNab then oversaw media services at Drake University, where he was a two-time winner of the “Called to be True Blue” award, an award given amongst staff members who demonstrate excellence, learning, integrity, citizenship and fiscal responsibility. Over his 17 years at Drake, McNab worked with media content across all aspects of communication from external outreach programs to internal communications among departments and classrooms.
While at Drake, McNab also had the opportunity to get back into the classroom as an adjunct professor with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication as well as the university’s first-year seminar program. He taught introductory skills in digital media and served as the director of programming for the campus television station.
McNab additionally works as an independent freelance contractor, serving as producer, director and replay operator for numerous events with national exposure. He’s covered everything from live sporting events to presidential debates, and his projects include working directly with top national media groups, including ABC, CBS and ESPN.
Now as a faculty member at Greenlee, McNab said his goal is to help students be the best prepared that they can be walking into any professional environment.
“My hope is that I can take the diverse experiences that I’ve had in the past 25 years since I was a student here and bring many real-world examples and simulations into the academic environment, so that when any of our students walk out the door, they have no doubt that they’re going to be successful, because they’re prepared,” he said.