Mr. David Watkins, Jr.
Cornell University

Biography:

David Watkins is the Director of Media Services at Cornell University.

He has over thirty-five years of experience in media production and management of communications systems; media planning; broadcast and instructional television; radio; publication design; marketing, distribution and sales; and more recently, distance learning by satellite, satellite system development and management.

He currently manages and provides leadership to a professional staff of 65 that exist to help the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Human Ecology, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Cornell community communicate internally and externally through effective consultation, appropriate technology, and efficient media production. He also serves as consultant to the Vice President of University Relations on Television, Satellite Services and Distance Learning.

Mr. Watkins has worked for Cornell University since 1968 when he was hired as the Art Director for the Educational television Center. Before coming to Cornell, he worked as a publication designer at the Pennsylvania State University where he received his bachelor's degree in Applied Design. Since coming to Cornell he has also worked as a producer/director in the ETV Center, Supervisor of Television Services, Assistant and Associate Director of Media Services.

He has served as a media and marketing consultant for the U.S. Department of Energy, the New York State Departments of Energy, Education, Health and Social Services. He has consulted with many Land Grant Universities on marketing and the development of cost recovery systems for media services and sales.

He provides liaison and consulting on behalf of Cornell to the Ithaca, New York educational and governmental community on electronic technology, media management, and adult education. He has developed advisory groups and policies for educational access to local cable systems.

In 1991 he proposed, planned, and coordinated the installation and management of a 46-site satellite uplink and downlink network for Cornell Cooperative Extension. As part of a local task group he helped develop fiscal, operational, and educational policies; advisory groups; technical support and training for the network sites, on and off campus.

Mr. Watkins received the State of New York's University Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 1995. He is a member of the Program Planning Council of ADEC and serves as a Trustee of WSKG Public Television and Radio in Binghamton, New York.