Skip to main content
Appalachian Today
News and events at Appalachian State University
  • For the media
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • Accolades
  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Athletics
  • Awards and Honors
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Global
  • Health and Wellness
  • Publications
  • Research
  • Safety
  • Scholarships
  • Students
  • Sustainability
☰ Menu
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • The university remains open, with emergency management protocols activated and operational modifications and precautions in place. Read the latest updates

App State alumnus applies critical thinking skills behind the lens

View larger image

Holt Menzies ’11, far right, works as a freelance camera operator in New York City. He is pictured here on location for TLC. Photo by Aaron Murphy

“The emphasis on empirical research in the Department of Psychology helps me take a critical look at what I already know and — more importantly — what I still need to learn.”

Holt Menzies ’11, a freelance camera operator in New York City

By Jan Todd
Posted Feb. 19, 2020 at 4:11 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — An appreciation for critical thinking and research skills, both fostered during his time as a psychology major at Appalachian State University, help Holt Menzies ’11 succeed in his career — as a freelance camera operator for network television in New York City.

Menzies, who is from Raleigh, has traveled extensively working on projects for Netflix, HGTV, TLC, MTV and History. “I get to be the person with a camera slung over my shoulder, following the action. It’s my job to capture footage that fits the vision for each project,” he explained.

“The emphasis on empirical research in the Department of Psychology helps me take a critical look at what I already know and — more importantly — what I still need to learn.”

Holt Menzies ’11, a freelance camera operator in New York City

While his occupation may not be typical for someone with a B.S. in psychology, Menzies regularly uses practices and skills developed while a student at Appalachian. Research methodology taught in his psychology classes helps him with problem-solving, he said.

“As a mostly self-taught camera operator, there is a lot of information to absorb. The emphasis on empirical research in the Department of Psychology helps me take a critical look at what I already know and — more importantly — what I still need to learn,” Menzies said.

View larger image

A frame from a commercial video shoot, on which Menzies was the director of photography for the Brooklyn, New York-based furniture company Tightrope. Photo by Holt Menzies

View larger image

A frame from a video for Just Listen, a program in Durham that encourages high school students to effect social change through arts and media. Photo by Holt Menzies

View larger image

A frame from a commercial video shoot, on which Menzies was the director of photography for the Brooklyn, New York-based furniture company Tightrope. Photo by Holt Menzies

View larger image

A frame from a video for Just Listen, a program in Durham that encourages high school students to effect social change through arts and media. Photo by Holt Menzies

View larger image
View larger image
View larger image
View larger image

His experience in Appalachian’s Watauga Residential College — where he was encouraged to ask questions and evaluate his own ideas and opinions — helped build communication skills that have also been instrumental in his career, Menzies said.

“Holt was as much a collaborator as he was a student … He was always hungry to try new things and incorporate new perspectives. His enthusiasm, inventiveness and positivity fueled other students’ creativity — and my own.”

Jeff Goodman, senior lecturer at Appalachian

Menzies was a photographer at The Appalachian student newspaper while in school, which developed his camera skills and provided experience in meeting deadlines. “Working closely with a motivated group, all with strong opinions and under tight time constraints, was great preparation for work in television production,” Menzies said.

Jeff Goodman, a senior lecturer of elementary education and media studies in the Reich College of Education, mentored Menzies in video production and photography classes that he took as electives.

“Holt was as much a collaborator as he was a student,” Goodman said. “He was always hungry to try new things and incorporate new perspectives. His enthusiasm, inventiveness and positivity fueled other students’ creativity — and my own — both in and out of class.”

Goodman said he was impressed with how Menzies combined insights he gleaned from his study of psychology and science with his artistic pursuits.

“He saw all of these disciplines as tools for encouraging people to pay attention to the physical world, to the people around us and to what’s in our hearts,” Goodman said.

The fast pace of television production along with the opportunity to collaborate with others and learn new techniques keeps Menzies motivated in his career. Plus, he gets to see his work on television. “It’s a competitive field. I feel lucky to do what I do,” Menzies said.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Where can an Appalachian degree take you?
Where can an Appalachian degree take you?

Anywhere you want to go! Appalachian State University generates passionate and engaged alumni, who become leaders in their communities and chosen professions. They exemplify how an Appalachian education can and does make the world a better place.

Learn more

About the Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology

Appalachian’s Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology serves more than 1,000 undergraduate majors seeking the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, as well as 80 graduate students in three master’s programs (experimental psychology, school psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management) and the clinical psychology (Psy.D.) doctoral program. Learn more at https://psych.appstate.edu.

About the College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences is home to 16 academic departments, one stand-alone academic program, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and unique location. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. There are approximately 6,100 student majors in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing Appalachian's general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.

About the Watauga Residential College at Appalachian

The Watauga Residential College is a specialized academic program where classes are discussion-based seminars that allow students to pursue topics of interest to them within the context of the class. This program provides an unusual opportunity for students to become engaged in learning at a deep level through class discussions and research projects. Watauga classes are interdisciplinary and this approach to learning requires students to integrate knowledge from a variety of disciplines to gain a complete perspective on a topic. Learn more at https://watauga.appstate.edu.

About the Department of Curriculum and Instruction

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers a broad range of comprehensive degree programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels. The department seeks to provide quality programs that emphasize the integration of academics and field experiences. Learn more at https://ci.appstate.edu.

About the Reich College of Education

Appalachian offers one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation programs in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. The Reich College of Education enrolls approximately 2,400 students in its bachelor's, master's, education specialist and doctoral degree programs. With so many teacher education graduates working in the state, there is at least one RCOE graduate teaching in every county in North Carolina. Learn more at https://rcoe.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 20,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

“The emphasis on empirical research in the Department of Psychology helps me take a critical look at what I already know and — more importantly — what I still need to learn.”

Holt Menzies ’11, a freelance camera operator in New York City

Where can an Appalachian degree take you?
Where can an Appalachian degree take you?

Anywhere you want to go! Appalachian State University generates passionate and engaged alumni, who become leaders in their communities and chosen professions. They exemplify how an Appalachian education can and does make the world a better place.

Learn more

“Holt was as much a collaborator as he was a student … He was always hungry to try new things and incorporate new perspectives. His enthusiasm, inventiveness and positivity fueled other students’ creativity — and my own.”

Jeff Goodman, senior lecturer at Appalachian

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Share

Topics

  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

Share

Topics

  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities

Other Recent Posts

  • App State coronavirus information
    App State coronavirus information
  • App State’s Paul Meggett named among NC’s top 100 African American attorneys for 2nd consecutive year
    App State’s Paul Meggett named among NC’s top 100 African American attorneys for 2nd consecutive year
  • Recent App State grad offers 4 tips for forming a pandemic pod for work and home life
    Recent App State grad offers 4 tips for forming a pandemic pod for work and home life
  • A look at generations of Black Mountaineers who inspire the Appalachian Community
    A look at generations of Black Mountaineers who inspire the Appalachian Community
  • US Department of Education continues funding for App State’s Student Support Services
    US Department of Education continues funding for App State’s Student Support Services
  • WCC, App State announce Aspire Appalachian Co-Admission Program agreement
    WCC, App State announce Aspire Appalachian Co-Admission Program agreement
  • Giving back to the community: One App State student’s idea to brighten older adults’ lives through art
    Giving back to the community: One App State student’s idea to brighten older adults’ lives through art
  • Get outside to improve health during COVID, experts say [faculty quoted]
    Get outside to improve health during COVID, experts say [faculty quoted]
    Tuscon.com
  • App State students, faculty create rock kits for students across NC
    App State students, faculty create rock kits for students across NC
    Watauga Democrat
  • Campus emergency siren test to be conducted March 3
    Campus emergency siren test to be conducted March 3
  • Raising awareness and meeting demand for increased digital accessibility at App State
    Raising awareness and meeting demand for increased digital accessibility at App State
  • Renowned drummer Shirazette Tinnin ’02 shares the rhythm of her life
    Renowned drummer Shirazette Tinnin ’02 shares the rhythm of her life

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • Archives
  • Contact

Appalachian State University

Copyright 2021 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

University Communications
ASU Box 32153
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
ucomm@appstate.edu

Abouts

Disclaimer | EO Policy | Website manager: montaldi | Website Feedback

Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat