The Ohio Northern University Office of Multicultural Development and the Department of English present acclaimed filmmaker Ya’Ke Smith on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. in the McIntosh Ballroom to help celebrate Black History Month.          
           
During his lecture, titled “Art Reflecting Life, Life Reflecting Art: Cinema as a Social Tool,” Smith will discuss his experiences as a filmmaker and how his work seeks to debunk negative stereotypes, while sometimes using those same stereotypes to expose truths in the black community.
           
Smith is a filmmaker whose work has won awards at more than 80 film festivals. His short “Katrina’s Son” was eligible for the 2012 Academy Award in short filmmaking, and his debut feature “Wolf” won several awards, including the Grand Jury Prize for Best Texas Feature at the Dallas International Film Festival.
           
Smith received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin’s film program. He currently is the Morgan Woodward distinguished professor of film at the University of Texas at Arlington.
           
Ohio Northern University commemorates Black History Month this February with a number of scheduled events. Several campus organizations will collaborate to provide diverse opportunities to celebrate African-American heritage.