Beginning this fall, film students at the University of Texas at Austin will have a chance to see a lot more of Matthew McConaughey. The Academy Award-winning-actor and university alumnus were officially added to the roster of faculty as a “professor of practice.” The Moody College of Communication announced the news of its new professor in a tweet on Wednesday morning.
McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, and graduated from the university with a bachelor’s degree in 1993.
In recognition of his professional pedigree and personal investment in student success, Matthew McConaughey has been appointed a #TEXASMoody professor of practice. @McConaughey will continue to teach the #UTScriptoScreen class in @UTRTF. pic.twitter.com/9goKkc6U0A
— TEXAS Moody (@UTexasMoody) August 28, 2019
McConaughey has graced the university’s campus as a visiting professor for the past four years and has become a cult hero amongst the students. The actor won over the hearts of students when in 2016 he drove students in a golf cart as part of the university’s safe-ride program.
He was also the first brought in to teach the “Script to Screen” film-production class with another professor, Scott Rice. McConaughey helped design the course curriculum for the class, which he will continue to teach now as a full-time professor.
Last week, @McConaughey visited @UTRTF's Advanced Producing: Script-to-Screen class! #moodypride #whatstartshere pic.twitter.com/hpmhEMKi8I
— TEXAS Moody (@UTexasMoody) August 29, 2016
“It’s the class I wish I would have had when I was in film school. Working in the classroom with these students gives me a chance to prepare them,” McConaughey told UT News. “Making movies, turning words on paper into film, is both a science and art — no matter the time or generation. The elements of truth and genuine joy for the process are timeless. That will always be our classroom focus.”
These students are in for one very enriching experience.