Produce real digital stories
Hidden Digital Narratives Fellowship
Turn unexplained stories into binge-worthy podcasts and films
The Hidden Digital Narratives Fellowship at Tiffin University gives students the chance to research, film and produce real digital stories while earning their degree. Overseen by the School of Arts, Education and Humanities, the fellowship is designed to attract destination students in Digital Media as well as students from other majors who want to build strong narrative and production skills.
Through this program, fellows investigate local and regional stories that touch on the unexplained, from paranormal history and folklore to government projects and other anomalous phenomena. Working in small teams, they plan and produce documentary-style videos and podcasts that span all stages of production, from initial research through public screening. The work helps preserve regional narratives, connects TU with surrounding communities, and provides students with high visibility content for their professional portfolios.
The fellowship enrolls up to 20 students, with five fellows in each class year. Students from all majors are welcome to apply. As part of joining the fellowship, students also enroll in the Interdisciplinary Narrative Communication minor, a four course sequence that supports their work with a background in research, storytelling and media production.
During the fellowship, students may:
- Research regional stories through interviews, archival work and on-site visits
- Shape narratives by developing scripts, storyboards and shot lists
- Plan and manage production schedules and team roles for a full media project
- Capture audio and video on location and in studio and film supporting visual material
- Edit footage, mix audio and add graphics using tools such as the Adobe Suite
- Organize public screenings or release events and reflect on their process for future projects
Hidden Digital Narratives Fellowship Experience
First Year
- Learn core concepts in narrative communication and digital storytelling
- Complete introductory work in the Interdisciplinary Narrative Communication minor
- Assist with research, pre-production planning and basic production tasks
- Observe upper-level students in producer and director roles and take part in team meetings and critiques
Second Year
- Take on defined roles within production teams such as researcher, interviewer, camera operator or editor
- Help carry out field work, including interviews, site visits and archival research
- Contribute to capturing audio and video content and filming supporting visuals
- Work in the Digital Media Lab and podcast studio on editing segments for the main project
Third Year
- Serve as a segment producer or lead on parts of the annual documentary or podcast series
- Coordinate smaller teams through pre-production, production and post-production stages
- Take greater responsibility for shaping story structure and pacing
- Mentor first-year fellows and help them learn equipment, workflows and expectations
Fourth Year and Graduate Fellows
- Act as producer or director for the fellowship’s year-long project
- Lead teams from all class years and manage the full production timeline
- Work directly with community partners and interview subjects
- Oversee final edits, organize a public screening or launch event and assemble a professional portfolio from fellowship projects
To Apply:
Application deadline is February 1.
- Complete the Undergraduate Student Application. When asked if you are interested in Fellowships, select “yes”.
- GPA requirement: minimum 3.0 high school GPA; maintain a 3.0 college GPA and above to remain in program.
- We encourage you to attend a Fellowship Open House event for additional information.
- As part of the admissions process, all applicants will participate in an interview with the program director. Interviews are typically conducted virtually and provide an opportunity to discuss your interests, experiences, and fit for the fellowship.
- Hidden Digital Narratives Fellowship Program contract — all students accepted into the Hidden Digital Narratives Fellowship Program must continue to meet the fellowship GPA requirements, be active and engaged in all fellowship activities, and observe all fellowship policies.
Fellowship Directors
Stephanie Opfer, Ph.D.
School of Arts, Education and Humanities
Degrees & Certificates
Ph.D., in English Literature, Northern Illinois University
M.A., in English Literature, University of Toledo
Ohio Teaching Certification, Bowling Green State University
B.A., in Criminal Justice and Political Science, Ohio Northern University
Dr. Stephanie Opfer earned her Ph.D. in English Literature, with a specialization in Medieval Literature, from Northern Illinois University. Her dissertation was a linguistic analysis of the Old English elegies in order to find similar characteristics shared by the poems which would lead to a more specific genre definition. She earned her Master of Arts in English at the University of Toledo and her Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Criminal Justice and Political Science, from Ohio Northern University. She also completed the teacher certification program for Integrated Language Arts at Bowling Green State University.
Prior to Tiffin University, Dr. Opfer has taught grammar, composition, and literature at the University of Toledo, Owens Community College, Northern Illinois University, Kishwaukee College, and Rock Valley College. She has also been a fellow at the National Endowment for the Humanities “Teaching Beowulf in the Context of Old Norse-Icelandic Literature” Summer Institute at Western Michigan University. In addition to composition and general literature courses, her specific teaching and research interests include Old and Middle English language, Anglo-Saxon literature (Beowulf in particular), linguistics, mythology, Chaucer, and pedagogical techniques for teaching medieval literature.
Outside of Tiffin University, Dr. Opfer occasionally participates in summer “Shakespeare in the park” productions in Fremont, Ohio, and she enjoys playing the flute in various community groups.
Michael Goodnough, Ph.D.
Center for Faculty Support, School of Arts, Education and Humanities
Degrees & Certificates
Ph.D., in Cultural and Intellectual History, Kent State University
M.A., Kent State University
B.A., History, Bowling Green State University
Dr. Michael Daniel Goodnough is Associate Professor of History in the School of Arts, Education, and Humanities. He started at Tiffin University as a part-time instructor in 2017 before joining full-time as Instructor of History in the fall of 2018. A native of Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Goodnough received his B.A. from Bowling Green State University in 2011 and completed his M.A. (2013) and Ph.D. (2019) in cultural and intellectual history from Kent State University.
Professor Goodnough’s teaching interests are wide-ranging. At TU, he teaches the majority of the history courses. He specializes in teaching U.S. history from colonization to globalization, World History, and sub-Saharan African history. Dr. Goodnough uses the lens of cultural history to teach how culture can provide insight into a plethora of historical themes. While at TU, he also worked to develop the new Digital Storytelling track within the Digital Media Major major, which merges the field of history with the University’s mission of linking knowledge to professional practice. He also serves as the program chair for the Digital Media program.
This fellowship gives the opportunity to use, learn, or develop digital skills to uncover mysteries and present their stories to a real audience.
This is a fellowship for storytellers who are not afraid of the unknown and who are comfortable with stories that do not always have clear answers to some of the most important questions.
This fellowship is more than just fun; it’s powerful preparation for the real world. Fellows will learn how to take complex information and transform it into a compelling narrative while building the critical thinking, problem‑solving, and project‑management skills today’s employers look for. It’s immersive. It’s creative. It’s skill‑building. And it’s an experience students will never forget!
