GORHAM, Maine –  In celebration of Black History Month, University of Southern Maine Athletics is proud to collaborate with the University's Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education and the School of Social Work to host Emmy-nominated and award-winning producer and director Doug Harris on Monday, February 6 for Uncovering Untold Stories of Black Athletes: An Evening with Filmmaker Doug Harris.
 
Libby Bischof, Ph.D, the Executive Director of the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, and Associate Professor in the School of Social Work Dr. Paula Gerstenblatt along with Huskies' Athletics' NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee and men's soccer coach Mike Keller have worked together to provide USM student-athletes and the general student body with this opportunity to engage with Harris.  The February 6 event will be hosted at Bailey Hall (Room 10) from 5:30-7:00 pm.  Food and drink will be provided. 
 
"This is an outstanding opportunity for our University of Southern Maine student-athletes to engage and learn from an award-winning filmmaker and historical story teller," said Keller.  "Dr. Bischof and Dr. Gerstenblatt were critical in cultivating this event, and for helping Huskies' Athletics deliver an important educational experience for Black History Month."
 
A media producer and filmmaker whose focus has been on creating documentaries and educational media that chronicles and preserves untold history through a range of topics and has been featured in a variety of media outlets including NPR All Things Considered, KABC and KLAC Fox Sports Los Angeles, USA Today, Lost Angeles Times and NBC, Harris has directed productions for city municipalities, county and state government agencies, educational institutions, professional sports organizations and more.   
 
A former collegiate student-athlete and All-American basketball player, Harris was drafted by the NBA's Golden State Warriors (1983), and is the former executive director of Athletes United for Peace (AUP).  Harris' involvement with AUP jumpstarted his career in media after he established AUP's media division , the cornerstone of the organization's involvement as a member of the United Nations team of NGOs through the agency's Department of Public Information.
 
Since becoming a filmmaker and producer, Harris has worked to uncover the stories of pioneering African Americans through extensive research and his unique style of story-telling. The February 6 event, Uncovering Untold Stories of Black Athletes: An Evening with Filmmaker Doug Harris will engage student-athletes in meaningful discussion with Harris about his work, while sharing clips from his previous films.