Disney VP Tim McNeal to visit SU’s Newhouse School March 18

Disney VP Tim McNeal to visit SU’s Newhouse School March 18February 27, 2009Wendy S. Loughlinwsloughl@syr.edu

Tim McNeal, vice president of talent development and diversity for the Disney-ABC Television Group, will visit Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications on Wednesday, March 18, for the ninth annual “Conversation on Race and Television” with Newhouse professor Richard Dubin. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium in Newhouse 3. The conversation is free and open to the public. Parking is available in SU pay lots.

McNeal was named to his current position in 2006. He oversees the Disney-ABC Television Group’s talent development programs, including The Walt Disney Studios (TWDS) and ABC Entertainment Writing Fellowship; the ABC-DGA Directing Fellowship; the ABC Entertainment Television Group and TWDS Talent Development Scholarship-Grant Program; and the Summer Television & Film Workshop at the Institute of American Indian Arts. He is also responsible for further expanding the scope of these programs across the Disney-ABC Television Group to include the Disney Channel and ABC Family.

Additionally, McNeal serves as a liaison between the group and numerous diversity-related organizations, nonprofit arts institutions, entertainment industry guilds, and colleges and universities nationwide to identify and nurture talented, emerging writers, actors and directors.

Previously, McNeal served as senior vice president of development for the Tom Lynch Company; executive vice president for HollywoodTicket.com; and vice president for drama development with The WB, where he worked on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Dawson’s Creek” and “Felicity.”

The annual conversation on race and television is an opportunity for SU students, faculty and staff, and members of the Syracuse community to come together and discuss the ecology of race and television with Hollywood insiders.