Alumni Spotlight Details

Kimberly Steward ‘99 graduated from Webster University’s School of Communications in 2003 with a degree in broadcast journalism. Kimberly is an Academy Award-nominated producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. In 2013, Kimberly formed the media company K Period Media (KPM), with the goal of producing quality content that would launch the careers of the next generation of talent on both sides of the camera.  

Steward’s first producing credits include the noted Afro-centric documentaries OPPOSITE FIELD and THROUGH A LENS DARKLY: BLACK PHOTOGRAPHERS AND THE EMERGENCE OF A PEOPLE.  In 2016, Steward and KPM produced the critically acclaimed film, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards® making Steward the second black woman, after Oprah Winfrey, to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA went on to win Oscars for both Best Original Screenplay (Kenneth Lonergan) and Best Actor (Casey Affleck). 

Most recently K Period produced THE ACCIDENTAL GETAWAY DRIVER, which won the US Dramatic Directing Award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival for director Sing J Lee, and THE VANISHINGS AT CADDO LAKE from highly acclaimed writing-directing team Celine Held & Logan George. KPM’s film credits also include TOPSIDE, which premiered in 2020 to critical acclaim at both SXSW and the Venice Film Festival; THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF WOLFBOY starring Jaeden Martell, John Turturro, Chris Messina, Eve Hewson, and Chloe Sevigny; as well as Luca Guadagnino’s re-imagining of the horror thriller SUSPIRIA with Amazon Studios. KPM’s theatre credits include THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES (2019) and the Broadway adaptation of John Carney's musical film SING STREET. K Period Media continues to develop an extensive slate of film, television, and theater projects.

Steward is an active and passionate philanthropist. In 2022, she founded the K Period Media Foundation, a fiscally sponsored fund housed at the Entertainment Industry Foundation focused on harnessing the power of art and storytelling to build a more inclusive world. In 2023, the KPM Foundation launched the first annual Screamwriters Fellowship in partnership with Blumhouse and in collaboration with Sundance. The fellowship provides support to underrepresented artists working in the horror genre with the goal of providing fellows with meaningful opportunities for project development and professional advancement within the industry.  The fellows also participate in a multi-day intensive with leading writers, producers, directors, and executives in the entertainment industry, focused on developing their project and honing their skills. Additionally, Kimberly funds a variety of organizations annually, most notably within the impact areas of arts, culture, and storytelling; women and girls; youth empowerment, and social justice. Kimberly proudly serves on the boards of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Sundance Institute, One Community, Ava DuVernay’s Array Alliance, the Fresh Air Fund, as well as on the Ubuntu Council of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP). 

What message do you hope Whitfield students will understand better after you talk with them during assembly on November 7? 

I will focus on the importance of transferable skills—qualities and abilities that can be applied across different careers and industries. Skills like problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability, and leadership have helped me become a successful producer and leader in the entertainment industry, and how those same skills can be valuable no matter what field students choose to pursue.

I hope Whitfield students feel inspired to explore different possibilities and realize that the skills they are developing now can open doors in unexpected places. Success isn’t always a straight path but often comes from being adaptable and applying what you’ve learned in new ways.

Describe how Whitfield prepared you for college and beyond. 

Whitfield's focus on creative programs, such as the drama program, and being part of the school's musicals and plays, as well as being a thespian, were pivotal in shaping my skills. These well-produced performances allowed me to view the complexities of production through a nuanced lens, imparting invaluable skills.

What are you most thankful for from your Whitfield experience, both in and outside of the classroom?

Whitfield’s small classes provided me with a more personalized education, allowing for individual attention and growth.

What were your primary interests and activities while you were at Whitfield? OR What were some of your favorite classes at Whitfield? Why?

I was actively involved in theater and dance and even competed in dance. I also played basketball and volleyball. The dance and theater programs, in particular, were some of my favorites because they combined creative expression with teamwork and discipline.

What skills do you use in your career that you began forming at Whitfield?

At Whitfield, I learned the foundations of producing by adopting a creative lens rooted in hard work. I trusted my instincts about people and believed in myself, skills that I carry with me in my career today.