A few months ago, walking through Watson Hall, a seemingly confused and lost student mused about being unable to find his adviser’s office, but needed to fill out a form to declare a communication major.

He asked for advice for coms students and if there were any recommended teachers, though he admitted five people had already told him to take Jeff Chown.

“I guess everyone around here knows him,” the student said.

He was right.

Chown is the name to know if you’re a communication major. He has taught at NIU since 1982, right after he received his Ph.D in American studies from the University of Michigan. He’s been a communication professor since 2001 and is currently the director of the department’s graduate studies.

Besides being a recipient of an Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award and the NIU Presidential Teaching Award, he is the co-director of the Media and Culture in Ireland study abroad program, in its 15th year.

Around campus though, Chown is probably best known for producing and directing acclaimed documentaries with his students. His most recent film, “Lincoln and Black Hawk,” aired Sunday on WTTW-Ch. 11. For Chown, the opportunity to reach a mainstream audience is exciting.

“As a filmmaker, you work hard on something and want people to see it… I think the airing also says something about the quality of the documentaries that are being made by students and faculty in the communication department at NIU.”

Northern Star: Why did the story of Abraham Lincoln and Sauk Chief Black Hawk intrigue you?

Jeff Chown: It was originally supposed to be a film about the frontier background of Lincoln’s life. As I got into the research, Black Hawk was so interesting that he kind of pushed his way into the narrative, much like he pushed back into Illinois in 1832 when he was supposed to be banished to Iowa. This was a 23-year-old Abe Lincoln participating in the militia response to Indians being on the warpath. When I was writing it, we were in the middle of deciding whether Bush and Kerry’s military service during Vietnam had anything to do with their experience and leadership potential in 2004. As Lincoln is unquestionably our greatest president, I was very curious about his rather negligible service in an Indian war of 1832 which effectively removed Native American presence in Northern Illinois.

NS: What is most rewarding from working on independent films, particularly documentaries?

JC: I always like the research part best. Sometimes the editing can be fun — probably where most of the creativity is. The exhibition and distribution part is where I have to push myself.

NS: You teach in huge lecture halls and small classrooms, but your teaching style doesn’t change. What is your philosophy and how has it translated into success for you and students?

JC: I like to listen to students and I hope I’m not in love with the sound of my own voice, nasal as it is. If I’m not learning something new in any class I do, it’s a waste of time.

NS: After Michigan, you came to NIU. Did you always want to be a college professor?

JC: Actually, I started out to be a sports reporter and worked on the Michigan Daily covering track and tennis. Somewhere along the way I became more interested in reading D.H. Lawrence and going to Ingmar Bergman films than hanging around locker rooms.

NS: Finally, do you realize how badly Ohio State will dominate your Wolverines this weekend?

JC: I was actually at the 1973 game, the last time they were both undefeated. We were robbed on the Rose Bowl bid that year, so I think Michigan’s karma is going to win this year.