Meet John Satterthwaite

What do you do at Bowie State University? 

I'm a multimedia technician in the Department of Communications. I videotape programs on and off campus, conduct interviews and sometimes serve as both the reporter and videographer. I also help with livestreams of events.

I was a student at Bowie State beginning in 1990 and returned in 2004 to finish my degree in TV production and broadcast journalism. Little known fact, I was Mr. Freshman in 1990. After I graduated in 2006, Dr. Otis Thomas, then chair of the Department of Communications, offered me a full-time position, and I've been here ever since.

What's a typical day like for you?

Every day is different. Some days I come in and work on editing projects or help students with their productions. Other days I may be asked to work on projects with historical footage and need to convert older tapes into digital formats so they can be preserved and used on computers.

What's something you do that most people don't see?

A lot of my work happens behind the scenes. I do archive, editing and preparation for events. That can include setting up cameras, running cables and getting equipment ready for programs such as convocation and special events.

We also use remote cameras around campus. Sometimes all I need is a laptop to walk into a venue and record an event, so people don't always see me working even though I'm capturing the program.

What keeps you motivated after 20 years?

I enjoy the educational environment and working with students. It's rewarding to see their eyes light up when they learn something new. I also enjoy knowing that what we do behind the scenes helps preserve campus history. We capture events so they can be archived and remembered for years to come.

How do you see your work contributing to the larger campus community?

I contribute by preserving historical events. Whether programs are aired on television or stored for future generations, we're creating a record of the university's history.

We've digitized commencements and many important campus events so the footage is always available. We've had a lot of notable guests come here. Everyone knows former President Barack Obama has been here. Hillary Clinton has spoken here. Former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris also visited our campus.

It's rewarding to see students graduate and return to help the university gain recognition and continue serving the community. As Maryland's first HBCU, Bowie State has a rich history, and preserving that history is important to me.

What did you do before this job?

My interest in television production started at Friendly High School. Later, I participated in [former NBC4 photojournalist] Harry Davis' Broadcast Factory program. I really got the itch to get into TV production.

I also worked at Sears Portrait Studio, where I received hands-on photography training. That experience helped develop my interest in photography, which is still one of my hobbies today. Most of the time, you'll see me with either a video camera or a photography camera.

What do you do outside of work?

I enjoy spending time with my family. I've been married for 16 years, and my wife, Paulette, is a kitchen designer. Sometimes her design experience even helps with ideas for sets or projects we work on here. I also enjoy traveling and spending time with my children and grandchildren.

What do most people on campus not know about you?

Most people don't know that I'm a grandfather. They usually know me as the guy who videotapes everything on campus, but they don't realize I'm a grandfather and that I've been here for more than 20 years.