Archive · 31 Oct 2025
DGA African American Steering Committee Announces Latest Fellowship Class
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has a special committee for African American directors that helps new talent.
They have a program called the Learning Tree Fellowship, which just finished its third year.
This program started in 2020 to help Black directors, especially after the pandemic and a focus on racial issues.
Over a few weeks, the directors met online twice a week.
They learned important skills like how to network and prepare for directing jobs.
Experienced professionals from different companies also shared their knowledge.
The program aims to give these emerging directors the tools they need to succeed in their careers.
The DGA's African American Steering Committee has announced the third class for its Learning Tree Fellowship Directing Program.
The selected directors for this year include Nandi Bowe, Patrick Coker, Alycia Cooper, Ruganzu Howard, Terrisha “TK” Kearse, Arthur Muhammed, Candice Vernon, and Eric Wilson.
Established in 2020, the fellowship aims to support, mentor, and prepare emerging African American directors for career challenges.
Participants met virtually twice a week for guidance on networking, preparation, and representation.
Guest mentors included industry professionals from companies like Macro, ALLBLK, WEtv, and various production teams.
- Who
- The DGA's African American Steering Committee (AASC) and its Learning Tree Fellowship
- What
- Announced the third class of the Learning Tree Fellowship Directing Program, which has concluded.
- When
- The announcement was made recently, and the program has wrapped up.
- Where
- The program consisted of virtual meetings held twice a week.
- Why
- To support, mentor, and prepare emerging African American directors for distinct career challenges, established in response to the Covid pandemic halt and the racial reckoning.
Program Rationale
Program Impact
Purpose of the Fellowship
Program Rationale
Established in response to the industry-wide halt caused by the Covid pandemic and the broader racial reckoning in the U.S. during that period.
Program Impact
Aims to support, mentor, and prepare emerging African American directors for the distinct challenges they may face in their careers.
- Fellowship Name
- Learning Tree Fellowship Directing Program
- Organizing Body
- DGA's African American Steering Committee (AASC)
- Established
- 2020
- Mission
- Support, mentor, and prepare emerging African American directors for distinct career challenges.
- Program Leaders
- Jeff Byrd, Morenike Joela Evans, Courtney M. Franklin
- AASC Chair
- Eric Dean Seaton, Pete Chatmon, Paul Lindsay