Stephens Alum Savana “SJ” Johnson Selected for Kansas City PBS Non-fiction Film Fellowship
Stephens College alum Savana “SJ” Johnson ’23 has been selected as one of two emerging filmmakers for the inaugural Kansas City PBS Non-fiction Film Fellowship, a yearlong program designed to elevate new voices in documentary storytelling.
Johnson, an aspiring filmmaker and graphic designer from Ashland, Missouri, joins fellow creative Collin Riggins of Kansas City in the prestigious fellowship, which offers hands-on production experience, mentorship from award-winning PBS professionals, and access to state-of-the-art studio resources.
“Being selected for this fellowship is surreal,” Johnson said. “I feel like I am reconnecting with the 5-year-old version of myself that always wanted to tell stories to every stranger on the street. She’s finally getting her chance to shine again.”
At Stephens College, Johnson honed her creative voice through coursework in digital filmmaking and design, building a portfolio that blended artistry and storytelling. She also was captain of the Stephens Stars Soccer team and leader of several organizations and committees.
Her distinctive style—authentic, emotive, and visually driven—reflects her passion for capturing real stories with heart.
“Stephens really paved the way for me to chase after storytelling as a full-time passion,” Johnson said. “I love helping fellow creatives be creative, and I know that the skills and relationships I gained from my time at Stephens will be my grounding force for the stories I hope to tell at Kansas City PBS.”
The Kansas City PBS Non-fiction Film Fellowship, supported by the Health Forward Foundation, guides participants from pitch to final cut of their own short documentary, which will premiere on Kansas City PBS next spring. Fellows also gain access to professional development workshops, industry networking, and mentorship from public media leaders.
“Our Fellowship represents one of the many ways that we invest in the development of creative talent in our region,” said Kliff Kuehl, Kansas City PBS president and CEO. “We’re excited to help these emerging filmmakers share their stories with more than a million viewers.”
Cole Blaise, Director of Production at Kansas City PBS, added, “This initiative formalizes our ongoing work to amplify underrepresented voices and foster career readiness in the creative community.”
For Johnson, the fellowship represents the next step in a growing creative career built on curiosity, collaboration, and storytelling—a journey that began right here at Stephens College.
Learn more about the Kansas City PBS Non-fiction Film Fellowship at kansascitypbs.org/about/film-fellowship.
