Tim Underhill
Senior Lecturer in Department of Media
Tim Underhill is an Associate Lecturer of Media at Ball State University. He bought his first camera at a garage sale when he was in the 5th grade. From that point on he knew he was meant to have a camera in his hands. Not long after, he found a wind-up 8-millimeter movie camera and realized that photography could go beyond the still image.
Tim has worked for network television affiliates in Rockford, Illinois; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Indianapolis, Indiana. He continues to keep up to date by freelancing for various networks. Tim’s work has appeared several national and regional networks including, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, ESPN, The Big Ten Network and FOX. He has covered the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400, NBA playoffs, Pan Am Games, NCAA championships, the World Basketball Championships, NFL Monday Night Football plus other college and professional sporting events.
In 1997, Tim was named to the faculty of News Video Workshop sponsored by the National Press Photographers Association. He’s worked as a room captain for the critique sessions and is in charge of the lighting and sound for the annual event in Norman, Oklahoma.
Tim has served as a judge for several contests including the Emmy Awards, NPPA, SPJ and other competitions. His work has earned awards from many of those same organizations including NPPA, AP, and the Emmy Awards. Tim was the recipient of the NPPA’s 2019 Kenneth P. McLaughlin Award of Merit for his, “…tireless work supporting the NPPA’s News Video Workshop.”
Tim splits his time between news and production faculty assignments emphasizing visual storytelling. He serves as lecturer teaching courses in visual storytelling, video production, and news writing.
In 2012, Tim helped teach the first drone class at Ball State and continues the initiative with more than a dozen aircraft in the college’s hangar. He obtained his unmanned aerial systems commercial certificate in 2020. The FAA Part 107 licensing allows him to not only teach, but to operate UAS, commonly called drones, as a freelancer. Tim updated his certification in 2021 to include night operations and flights over people.
In 2019, Tim lead a five-week study abroad program in Macerata, Italy. The intercultural immersion also included teaching advanced video production and documentary production courses. He holds two degrees from Ball State University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications and a Master of Arts in Digital Storytelling.
When he isn’t working, Tim can be found spending time as a Boy Scout leader. He also enjoys flying drones, backpacking, pedaling bikes and sampling craft beers.