KEIF OSS
EDUCATOR AND VIDEO PRODUCTION SPECIALIST
ABOUT
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Keif has worked on a range of professional and commercial video projects as a senior video producer and owner/independent contractor of his own LLC, A Creative Advocate. His work includes television/web advertising, documentary, motion graphics and a variety of marketing-oriented materials. Keif’s expertise and creative contributions include work for 100+ clients including Mayo Clinic, Seventh Generation, State Farm Insurance, Royal Credit Union and many others.
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Keif has also worked on short and feature film projects in various capacities including writing, producing, directing, camera operation and post-production/VFX.
EDUCATOR EXPERIENCE
Keif has an M.S. in Career and Technical Education and an MFA in Digital Filmmaking. He is currently an Assistant Professor of video production and serving as Program Director for the B.S. Video Production degree at the Univeristiy of Wisconsin-Stout. Keif teaches a variety of courses in video production and photography with both narrative and commercial aspects.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
“I believe in fusing theory and curiosity with project-focused applied learning experiences. I respect the notion that a student’s intent is to leave the university more prepared for a potential career path than they would without our institutions. This is my small window in their life. I desire my students work to be challenging and inspirational. I desire to look up to them some day. Learn, practice, refine, unlearn, learn anew.”
Give and Expect Ownership
Regardless of the subject matter I always strive to coordinate projects and experiences that give students the opportunity to have personal ownership and a stronger investment in the outcome. In my classes you will not cook out of the easy-bake oven. You will get better at cooking from your own oven. It is my desire that you cook with intent.
Have Fun
I find this to be a common and critical characteristic in many great instructors. Can you make a subject (any subject) fun and engaging while still having high expectations? I will always strive to make things fun and I personally find a lot of creative satisfaction in this area. When people have fun they want to “work with you” as opposed to having to “work for you”. Willing participants are a great thing.
Scaffold Without the Handhold
My course projects will not be blank pieces of paper. There will be skill development and guidance, but projects will never be a prescribed set of step-by-step instructions. That’s great for building legos, but less useful for building adaptable, resourceful and confident individuals. I will always serve as a knowledgeable and invested guide, but will never forget the product is ultimately the student, not the project.
Be Passionate
I pursued both my professional interests and a teaching career for this reason. There’s not a day that I can’t find personal satisfaction and the passion to keep doing this work. It doesn’t mean it’s not challenging, or that there are no tough days, because there certainly are. But even the toughest days in my field would be better than the easiest days doing something I’m not driven to do. Passion can be infectious in the best possible way.
Be Real
I aim for authenticity in my conduct with students and peers. At times that means being direct about what is working and what is not. It also means being a human and letting my personality be a part of my work. Regardless of the course, the student, the challenge, I strive to be genuine and approachable.