Jason McMerty

Jason McMerty joins the Ohio faculty in 2026 with two decades of experience in content creation and higher education experiential learning. Jason is a practicing videographer in YouTube series production, experimental, dance films, and sports video production. He is a graduate of Elon College in Corporate Communications and gained his MFA in film production and drama from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro

McMerty has a wealth of experience in leading career based study away programs, spending 25 years at Elon University in North Carolina and creating programs in New York, San Francisco, and the Sundance Film Festival. He has also helped create programs for Wake Forest and Butler University. With 99% success rate of guiding students in the internship process, he credits the connections with alumni engagement as the best resource for any student as they begin their professional careers.

Jason’s teaching methods in production involve creativity workshops, hands-on technical projects, and assessments from alumni and industry professionals to improve the students skillsets. "My wish is that students add a dozen tools in their tool belt at the end of our course".

"I encourage students to think of their college journey in four catalogues: scholarly research, technical skills, artistic development, and business mindsets."

McMerty is also an accomplished filmmaker with over 60 domestic and international film festivals under his belt from Dance Films, Documentary series, Branded Content series in Music, Art, Fashion, Food & Spirits, and Automotive categories. For the last several years he has worked on big sets in Los Angeles as a site representative for films & TV location services.

Jason will live in Los Angeles where he is a boat captain and freelance producer, videographer, editor, and location manager. He will return to campus in Athens each Spring Semester to teach the Business of Media and Branded Content Production.

" I am thrilled to join the faculty at OHIO University, I look forward to contributing to the success of the OHIO in Los Angeles program both in California and on the Athens campus, Go Bobcats"