Expert in Residence Overview

Wes Cronk is an Ohio University alumnus who has spent 17 years in the film industry leading visual effects and animation. His screen credits include films such as Deadpool, X-Men, Fast & Furious, Iron Man, and Transformers; headlining stage visuals for Coachella, Ibiza, and the Sphere; game cinematics for Valorant, Halo, League of Legends, Call of Duty, and Tomb Raider; and animated series including Secret Level and Love, Death + Robots. 

He is now a partner in a film post-production company focused on using AI as a tool, not a crutch—sustainably and ethically. He's currently building out an AI division in a major label production studio, exploring the answers to questions of how this technology can be used while still creating art with voice and intention. 

When he's not working, Wes prefers to be outside—backpacking, sailing, mountain biking, or kayaking. He currently lives in Los Angeles. 

Michael Kortlander is a multi-disciplinary writer, director, artist, and storyteller who has led projects for Fortune 500 companies, international nonprofits, startups, social advocacy movements, and more. 
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Michael has captured the story of clean water throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, innovative education models in India, and nonprofit work across the United States. He has directed projects for clients including Meta, Tinder, LG, the US Air Force, McDonald's, and Tourism California.  
 
Michael serves as Director of Communications for MissionCleanWater, an international 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has delivered clean water to over 75,000 people in rural Uganda. He ghostwrites for business professionals and some of Hollywood's biggest directors.  
 
Michael is also a sixth-generation artist whose abstract work bridges the spiritual world with timeless landscapes. His knowledge of art history and the humanities greatly informs his storytelling approach. 

Justin Lucas is the owner of White Crow Films, a video production company that he cofounded with Michael Kortlander, Wes Cronk and others during their time at OU. 

As a video producer, Justin has had the opportunity to work with some extraordinary people (Warren Buffett, Troy Aikman, the past 4 presidents) in some incredible places (the U.S. Capital building, the Super Bowl in New Orleans, the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY).  He was based for 14 years in the nation’s capital before moving back to Columbus, OH to run White Crow Films full-time. 

Media is all around us, and we rarely think about all the different roles necessary to make a commercial, a museum exhibit or a live event come to life.  Working in several small video businesses, Justin has enjoyed learning all the different roles that go into making the entertainment that we love.  From boom op to teleprompter to driver to logistics manager, Justin has learned to do whatever it takes each day to keep shows moving forward.   

This also holds true to life outside of the video world.  Justin likes to try a little bit of everything: mud runs, Ultimate Frisbee, trivia nights, international travel planning, culinary lessons.   If there’s something you want to do, play or learn, just ask.  And don’t be surprised if he jumps into a Nerf battle, a Guitar Hero tournament or a donut-eating challenge while he’s back in Athens. 

Thomas Costello is a 1975 graduate of Ohio University. After completing law school in 1978, he was a solo practitioner for a number of years and then served as General Counsel of a technology company in Detroit for 24 years. 

Costello then stepped away from the practice of law and lead a not-for-profit centered on racial equity and then taught at Ohio University for four years in the School of Communication Studies as a faculty-in-residence. 

From 2019-2024, Costello served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Conviction Integrity Unit of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in Detroit where he reviewed claims of innocence. During his five years, he led the effort to exonerate nine wrongfully convicted prisoners. He continues that work as a volunteer attorney in the Oakland County Conviction Integrity Unit. Costello now serves as an adjunct faculty member at Detroit Mercy School of Law where he teaches a course in race and American law. 

Ben Mathes graduated Ohio University in 2016 with a degree in political science with a focus on energy economics and politics. While at Ohio University Ben was a member of the Student Senate, Men's Club Soccer Team, volunteered for political campaigns, and was a door-to-door energy efficiency salesman. 

Following graduation Ben worked as a renewable energy project developer for eight years at Hecate Energy and with his current employer Scout Clean Energy for two years. Ben's work spans land negotiations/acquisitions, community engagement and permitting, and collaboration with specialists in engineering, legal, environment, and finance. 

Ben lives in Denver with his two cats James and Maddie. Through his work Ben has traveled to; Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Utah, Texas, California, Idaho, Washington State, and Guam. 

Amy Nordrum is an executive editor at MIT Technology Review and is based in Boston, MA. Her career mission is to build profitable newsrooms that empower journalists to do their best work. 

MIT Technology Review is an independent media company founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The newsroom covers emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, computing, biotech, robotics, and climate technology. 

In her role as executive editor of operations, Amy produces the publication’s annual lists of 10 Breakthrough Technologies, Climate Tech Companies to Watch, and Innovators Under 35. She also manages the newsroom’s budget and oversees a team responsible for digital visuals, audience engagement, and magazine production.  

Amy previously worked as news manager for IEEE Spectrum. For six years, she was a regular contributor to the popular radio show Science Friday. Amy has a master’s degree in Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting from New York University and an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business.  

She graduated from the Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University in 2010 with her bachelor’s degree in journalism (magazine). She grew up and graduated from high school in Lucasville, Ohio. 

Chelsea Stardust has been a horror film fan since the age of 10 when her father showed her George Romero's Night of the Living Dead and Tod Browning's Dracula. When she wasn’t racing sled dogs in the snowy Midwest, Chelsea consumed all the cinema she could get her hands on. During high school she attended night classes at the Cleveland Institute of Art, where she assisted filmmaker Robert Banks Jr. in shooting Super 8 experimental horror films. Robert also introduced her to films like Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes. 

After high school, Chelsea attended Ohio University's Honors Tutorial College School of Film program where she focused on Directing. Upon graduating, Chelsea moved to sunny Los Angeles to pursue her filmmaking dreams. After working for comedy legends Ivan Reitman and Judd Apatow, Chelsea found her horror home at Blumhouse Productions where she served as the executive assistant to Jason Blum for several years and worked on 27 films. 

Since leaving her post at Blumhouse Productions, Chelsea has been directing, writing and producing full time. 

Chelsea’s first feature film, the science fiction thriller All That We Destroy, is part of the Blumhouse series Into The Dark and stars Samantha Mathis, Frank Whaley, Aurora Perrineau, Israel Broussard and Dora Madison. It was written by Sean Keller and James Agnew (Dario Argento’s Giallo, Nicolas Cage’s Rage) and is currently available on Hulu.  

Her second feature film, the 2019 horror comedy Satanic Panic, was written by novelist Grady Hendrix (My Best Friend’s Exorcism, The Final Girl Support Group, How To Sell A Haunted House) and stars Hayley Griffith, Ruby Modine, Rebecca Romijn, Jerry O’Connell, Arden Myrin, Jordan Ladd and Jeff Daniel Phillips. It was featured in over 20 film festivals all over the world. It is currently available on VOD, blu-ray and VHS.  

She also directed the music video Bloodbather for the indie rock band, Cursive which was also featured on the cult streaming service Night Flight. 

When not writing and directing, you can find Chelsea producing various projects. She produced the feature film Grind, created by Brea Grant and Ed Dougherty, which had its world premiere at SXSW in March of 2026. She also directed the wraparound segment of Grind. Chelsea also produced 3 short films and a commercial for Loungefly, which is owned by Funko. Most recently she produced Graham Skipper’s third feature, Organonym. All are set to premiere in 2026. 

Chelsea is also a published writer and her work has been featured in several books and online publications. 

Chelsea is repped by United Talent Agency and Heroes & Villains Entertainment. 

Robb earned his mechanical engineering degree from Ohio University in 1994 summa cum laude. While at Ohio University, he held various leadership roles with the Marching 110, Singing Men of Ohio, and the Russ College of Engineering Dean’s Council. Robb obtained his law degree from New York University and has worked in the field for more than 25 years. He advises clients ranging from startups to multinational corporations on patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and competition law across industries including medical devices, aerospace, automotive, and fashion.

He is admitted to practice in California, the District of Columbia, New York and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Robb served as the inaugural Executive in Residence for Ohio University’s EIR Program.

Sarah earned her doctorate in Creative Writing from Ohio University in 2015; she is now a tenured professor of English and Creative Writing at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. Sarah’s poetry has received numerous honors including two Pushcart Prizes and fellowships from the Vermont Studio Center and the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. Her most recent book, The Deletions, was the 2023 Editor’s Choice for the Akron Poetry Series.

Sarah also serves as general editor for the Hollis Summers Poetry Prize at Ohio University Press.

Seth earned a degree in Management Information Systems from Ohio University in 2014. During his junior year, he launched Rapchat, a social music platform that has since empowered over 15 million creators worldwide to make and share their own music. As founder and CEO, Seth has worn every hat—from writing code and designing the product to raising over $7M in venture funding and leading the team.

Today, he's focused on growing the community, launching new products, and exploring how AI will reshape the way startups operate.