Steve mcwilliams : Producer and Director
Steve McWilliams has dedicated over four decades to teaching in the Communication and Theater programs at Villanova University, bringing a wealth of experience from his advanced studies at Temple University, where he earned both an M.F.A. and a Ph.D. Throughout his career, McWilliams has showcased his versatility in the arts by engaging in writing, directing, producing, and acting across stage, screen, and television. His commitment to the disabled community through film has been widely acclaimed garnering numerous awards such as the Broader Vision Award from the Garden State Film Association and the United Cerebral Palsy Nation Service Award. His social justice advocacy films have not only been recognized by prestigious publications like the New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer but has also been highlighted by major networks such as ESPN and NBC10. In the realm of Sports Psychology, McWilliams has produced significant works related to Title IX, further establishing his influence in both academia and the sports world. As an author, he has penned three books, including Green Bananas, The Wisdom of Father Bill Atkinson and Life’s an Audible: The Jimmy Murry Story. McWilliams is also known for creating and co-producing Mission Possible with Eric Legrand, a sports documentary series on Fox Sports that celebrated the journeys of disabled athletes.
Rick Eckstein: producer and research director
Rick Eckstein is a professor and program director in the Sociology/Criminology Department at Villanova University, where he has received multiple awards for teaching, service, and scholarship. His Most recent book How College Athletics are Hurting Girls' Sports: The Pay to Play Pipeline (Rowman and Littlefield), was originally published in 2017 with an updated edition released in 2023. His research on youth sports, college admissions policies, publicly financed sports stadiums, and other sports-related topics have been featured in hundreds of outlets, including The Conversation, The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Inside Higher, Ed, And Sports Illustrated. He was the featured expert on a 2023 HBO Real Sports segment about college athlete admissions advantages.
Linda Flanagan: Producer and writer
Linda Flanagan is a freelance journalist and former high school track coach who writes extensively on the social and cultural elements of sport, especially youth sport. Her recent book, Taking Back the Game: How Money and Mania are Ruining Kids’ Sports and Why it Matters has received numerous awards and been featured at many conferences. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Inside Higher Ed.
Edward Hastings: Producer and Writer
Edward Hastings currently is a full-time faculty member in the department of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University where he teaches courses in Sports and Spirituality. He has served as director of the Center of Sport, Spirituality, and Character Development at Neumann University. He received his doctorate from Duquesne University and has a master of arts degree in systematic theology from Washington Theological Union.
Edward has been active in sports all his life, including playing basketball and coaching for Villanova University. He was part of the 1970-1971 Villanova team that played for the national champion. He has served as a faculty advisor for the Villanova Women’s Basketball program and has coached on the high school and collegiate levels.
Drew Peezick: Editor
Drew Peezick has over a decade of film and video editing experience. He has video editing and filming work for places such as Main Line TV and the Philadelphia Phoenix, and he was worked as a teacher for Villanova University’s VUnited program as a film instructor as well as an assistant teacher for a social documentary class and has produced numerous freelance projects for businesses and programs.
Robert Robinson: Producer
Robert Robinson is the creator of the upcoming PBS series, The Dinner Salon. He has founded, raised capital, built and sold several companies. These include Supply Marketing, a marketing communications company that developed marketing platforms within 200,000+ physician offices across the United Sates; and Emerald City Enterprises, the licensing and merchandising arm for the internationally renowned Barnes Foundation. Robert created and executive produced along with Pat Younge (former president of The Travel Channel) and Sunil Patel (CEO of Whisper, who co-funded the production) the Talk. This critically acclaimed documentary aired the summer of 2020 on Channel 4 in the U.K., and was shortlisted for two British Broadcast Awards - Best Documentary Feature and Best Lockdown Factual Feature. It was awarded the Highest Commendation by the Judges.
Andrew Ord: Consulting Producer
Andrew, a co-creator at The Dinner Salon, brought his expertise from the UK based Provokativ09, which he originally founded as a vibrant online gathering place for artists, writers, and designers. As a hub aimed at nurturing fresh talent his initial vision for Provokativ09 was to conceive and package unique intellectual property for diverse media. This inspiration now drives the Dinner Salon.
Our Advisory Board
Kaitlin Pericak Ph.D.
Kaitlin Pericak is Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at University of Oklahoma and author of the book Body Factory: Exploiting University Athletes’ Healthcare for Profit (Temple U Press). She has written extensively on the systemic assault on college athletes’ physical and mental health. She played Division 1 lacrosse as an undergraduate and has coached youth and college lacrosse.
Simran Sethi Ph.D.
Simran Sethi is Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion at the University of Kentucky. She recently completed her Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma and also competed on Oklahoma’s women’s tennis team as an undergraduate. Her scholarship focuses on the unique physical and emotional challenges faced by international college athletes in the U.S.
Kelsey Parks smith m.s.
Kelsey Parks Smith is Assistant Athletic Director for Equity, Inclusion, and Student-Athlete Well-Being at Smith College where she serves as a resource for athletes, coaches, and administrators on aspects of equity and inclusion, allyship, team cohesion, and mental health. A 2017 Smith Graduate, Hunter has also worked with Project Coach to help lead high school coaches through Youth Participatory Action Research.
Tony Chennault
Tony Chennault is a film producer, director, and community activist. He was an All-Star basketball player at both Wake Forest and Villanova Universities. After graduation he embarked on a successful career in Los Angeles as a film director. He wrote and produced the web series and feature film “Oldhead.” Tony is active in youth sports as a mentor, coach, and educator.
ellen staurowsy ed.d.
Ellen Staurowsy is, perhaps, the most widely respected U.S. scholar on women’s sports. Her multitude of books, articles, and public presentations have set the bar for research and teaching in the field. Ellen is currently Professor of Media Studies in the School of Communication at Ithaca college. Previously, she was Professor of Sport Management at Drexel University. Ellen currently host the popular podcast, Talking Title IX.
Dona Rodgers
Dona Rodgers is co-founder and president of Morgan’s Message, a national advocacy group seeking to reduce the stigma associated with college and youth athletes’ mental health challenges. Dona’s daughter, Morgan, was a member of the Duke University women’s lacrosse team and tragically died by suicide in 2019.