Tim McNeal, vice president of talent development and diversity for the Disney-ABC Television Group, will visit
Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications on Wednesday, March 18, for the
ninth annual "Conversation on Race and Television" with Newhouse professor Richard Dubin. The event will
take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium in Newhouse 3. The conversation is free and
open to the public. Parking is available in SU pay lots.
McNeal was named to his current position in 2006. He oversees the Disney-ABC Television Group's talent
development programs, including The Walt Disney Studios (TWDS) and ABC Entertainment Writing
Fellowship; the ABC-DGA Directing Fellowship; the ABC Entertainment Television Group and TWDS Talent
Development Scholarship-Grant Program; and the Summer Television & Film Workshop at the Institute of
American Indian Arts. He is also responsible for further expanding the scope of these programs across the
Disney-ABC Television Group to include the Disney Channel and ABC Family.
Additionally, McNeal serves as a liaison between the group and numerous diversity-related organizations,
nonprofit arts institutions, entertainment industry guilds, and colleges and universities nationwide to identify
and nurture talented, emerging writers, actors and directors.
Previously, McNeal served as senior vice president of development for the Tom Lynch Company; executive
vice president for HollywoodTicket.com; and vice president for drama development with The WB, where he
worked on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Dawson's Creek" and "Felicity."
The annual conversation on race and television is an opportunity for SU students, faculty and staff, and
members of the Syracuse community to come together and discuss the ecology of race and television with
Hollywood insiders.
