About

Terence Oliver, the Walter Spearman Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, brings over 30 years of expertise in visual communication. A two-time Pulitzer Prize team member, his career is distinguished by more than 50 industry awards for creative excellence. As a pioneer in the field, Oliver developed the first motion graphics course in journalism in the United States. His contributions to education have been recognized with honors such as the Edward Vick Prize for Innovation in Teaching and the David Brinkley Teaching Excellence Award. Before joining UNC, Oliver taught digital design at Ohio University, Kent State University, and the Poynter Institute, and held key creative and management roles at major newspapers including the Akron Beacon Journal and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Oliver’s expertise encompasses digital illustrations, motion graphics, animations, and virtual reality, transforming complex information into clear, engaging visuals. As the CEO of Elite Execution Design, LLC, he leads a production company specializing in explanatory videos, motion graphics, and animations for prestigious clients like Yale University, Duke University, the USDA, and MIT Technology Review. He also led the visual design for The University of Virginia’s award-winning autonomous car. Recently, Oliver has integrated Generative AI and digital avatars into his projects, broadening the ways in which complex concepts are communicated. A recognized expert in Adobe Creative Suite, he regularly teaches and trains others in advanced design tools and has been a featured speaker for Adobe, CreativePro, and the Society for News Design, among other prominent organizations.