Dara Padwo-Audick Adjunct Professorial Lecturer SOC Faculty
- Degrees
- MFA from Antioch University, Santa Barbara, CA., 2021
MA in Film and Video from American University, 2009
BA in Individual Studies from the University of Maryland - Favorite Spot on Campus
- In the Classroom
- Bio
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Dara is a seasoned writer, producer, and director with over twenty-five years of experience across a variety of genres in the media landscape. Her genuine passion for telling impactful stories has taken her around the globe throughout Africa, Asia, Canada, Central America, Europe, and to every state in the United States. Her journey to understand and share Himalayan culture took her to Bhutan in 2008 and again in 2017 to reveal the impact of Gross National Happiness in Asia and Europe.
Dara is the series creator of two nonfiction series, She’s Got Grit and 650,000 Hours, and the series producer of the fiction series, Vizions of Rock. She has written, produced, and directed programs and series for such networks as Animal Planet, CBS, DARPA Channel, Discovery Channel, Discovery HD-Theater, Discovery Kids, ESPN, Fox, Home and Garden Television, Lifetime Television, Military Channel, National Geographic Channel, OWN, Outdoor Life Channel, PBS, and Science Channel.
As an educator, mentor and dedicated life-long learner, Dara has embraced her work as an adjunct professor in the School of Communication at American University since 2004 and is a devoted teacher to young people and adults in a variety of non-university classrooms. Dara is also a practicing media and career coach and holds the ACC credential from the International Coaching Federation.
Dara is a member of the Producers Guild of America. Her short screenplay, Cardigan, earned multiple script awards. Her play, Onion Skin, made its debut at the 2023 Capital Fringe Festival.
- For the Media
- To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.
Teaching
Fall 2024
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COMM-483 Writing the Documentary Film