Mike White, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Michael White is a mass communication professor teaching film production and theory at Wayne State College. He advises the film program and student film studios (Hot Attic Films).
Prior to his doctorate, Dr. White’s professional experience included working in both television news and advertising production as an award-winning producer. As a filmmaker, Dr. White has written, produced, and directed five feature films including “The Cross” which received a theatrical tour and international distribution.
In 2023, he received the Iowa Motion Picture Association (IMPA) Doug Hawley Award for Lifetime Achievement in Film. He is a two-time winner of the title of Best Iowa Filmmaker from the Star City Film Festival.
In 2024, Dr. White was the recipient of the Iowa Art Council Screenwriters Grant which allowed him to complete the UCLA Program Professional Program in Screenwriting. In 2025, he became a major award recipient of the Iowa Art Council Greenlight Grant for his feature film “The Painter."
As co-chair of education and professional development for the IMPA, Dr. White lectures regularly on various topics across both Nebraska and Iowa. His primary area of study is the life and works of French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard and his legacy.
Off campus, Dr. White is an accomplished martial artist. He holds a World Taekwondo sixth degree black belt and is in an International Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee. He has had more than 100 national and international champions under his instruction. White has also been featured in various national martial arts magazines.
On campus, he is the advisor to the Film Club and the organizer of the Wildcat Spirit Film Festival.
Education
Ed.D., University of South Dakota
MSE, Wayne State College
B.S., Wayne State College
Films and Awards
"The Painter" Screenplay (2025)
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Excellence for Best Screenplay
- Star City Film Festival - Winner Best Iowa Screenplay
"The Entomologist’s Wife" (2025)
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Editing
"The Cross – Feature Film" (2023)
- Distributors: Amazon Prime, Future Today Distribution, and Fawesome
- Iowa Motion Picture Association – “The Cross with Producer M.G White”, Des Moines, IA
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Nominee Best Unproduced Screenplay
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Feature
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Editing
- Star City Film Festival - Winner Best Iowa Filmmaker
- Star City Film Festival - Winner Best Screenplay
- Iowa Independent Film Festival - Critic’s Choice Award Winner
- Depth of Field Film Festival - Official Selection
- Farm to Film Festival - Official Selection
- White Light City Film Festival - Official Selection
- Flat Water Film Festival - Official Selection
- Cedar River Film Festival - Official Selection
- Iowa-Nebraska Heartland Film Festival - Official Selection
"Between the Lines," Co-Director - Feature Film (2022)
- Flatwater Film Festival - Official Selection
- Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival - Silver Award
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Editing
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Feature
"The Queen of Pandora’s Box" - Short Film (2022)
- Flatwater Film Festival - Official Selection
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Nominee Best Direction
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Nominee Best Editing
"A Day with Lily" - Short Film (2021)
- Cedar River Film Festival - Official Selection
- Farm to Film Festival - Official Selection
- Flatwater Film Festival - Official Selection
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Actress
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Screenplay
- Muscatine Independent Film Festival - Festival Finalist
- Sioux City International Film Festival - Official Selection
- Snake Alley Film Festival - Official Selection
"To Live Again" - Feature Film (2020)
- Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival - Silver Award
- Cedar River Film Festival - Official Selection
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Actor
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Director
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Supporting Actress
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Excellence for Best Feature
- Spring Grove Caldonia - Best Iowa Filmmaker
"Ever Fallen" - Feature Film (2019)
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Feature
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Excellence for Screenplay
- Sandy Dennis Film Festival - Feature Selection
- Sioux City International Film Festival - Feature Selection
"The Ghost in Her" - Short Film (2018)
- Flatwater Film Festival - Official Selection
- Iowa Motion Picture Awards - Award of Achievement for Best Short
- Muscatine Independent Film Festival - National Competition Finalist
- Oneota Film Festival - Official Selection
- Prairie Lights Film Festival - Official Selection
- Sandy Dennis Film Festival - Official Selection
- Sioux City International Film Festival - Official Selection
- Siouxland Inspirational Film Festival - Winner
- SiouxperCon - Official Selection
- Snake Alley Film Festival - Official Selection