Miseducated: Student Collaboration at Its Best

Do you know what happens when students from different majors put their heads together for a project? The answer is "Miseducated."

During her first year at GSU, Zona Akunwanne wanted to create a story centered on Black women, made by Black women (think of a 90s sitcom meets 2026 Gen Z). And that was the beginning of "Miseducated." But you know what every good story needs? A second creator! And that's when we get Charlie Lucas. Zona and Charlie met at GSU's improv club, where Charlie introduced themselves as a comedy writer.

The study group starts with Missy, played by Zona, trying to tutor all the girls, and chaos ensues. They all have different personalities, with one commonality: they don't fit anywhere else, and they don't get a budget for their group. Missy, at one point, shares, "Who needs food when we can fuel our minds," so they do the most obvious thing: they become a club. And they do… become a club and get some money. But that was not the end of their worries. It was only the beginning.

So, what is Miseducated? "Miseducated" is a short-form comedy/mockumentary series that premiered in 2025. Centered on an all-Black women's study group at a predominantly white institution (PWI), the series explores academics, identity, friendship and campus politics with wit and authenticity.

What sets "Miseducated" apart is not just how funny it is but the interdisciplinary collaboration behind it. The series was conceived and brought to life by a diverse team of students spanning Film and Media, Acting, Theatre, Media Entrepreneurship, Political Science, Psychology, English, Philosophy and more, proving that the love for filmmaking and acting can be found in everyone.

Students in the School of Film, Media & Theatre (FMT) contributed not only as performers but also as directors, editors, designers and members of the technical crew.

The creative team behind Miseducated is a testament to the power of student initiative and teamwork. Here they are:

The Creative Team:

Zona Akunwanne — Creator, Headwriter, Showrunner, Director; Media Entrepreneurship
Charlie Lucas — Co-Director, Writing Team, Actor; Political Science
Amari Akua — Director of Photography / Camera Operator / Editor; Film & Media
Yaelin Otero — 1st Assistant Director; Film & Media
Rezi Oziwo — 2nd Assistant Director, Writing Team, Actor; Psychology

The Cast

The show's cast further reflects the production's cross-disciplinary nature. Zona Akunwanne stars as Missy, joined by:

Taylor Palmore — Sade; Film & Media
Symphony Simpson — Paris; Acting
Harmony Simpson — London; Film & Media
Olivia Moyston — Naomi; Philosophy
Jay Felipe — Julia; English (Creative Writing)
Rezi Oziwo — Daria; Psychology
Charlie Lucas — Marcus Charles; Political Science

Each actor brought their unique academic and personal backgrounds to their performances, creating characters that feel both relatable and real.

Behind the Scenes

Supporting the leads are talented students specializing in everything from social media (Shontreace Morgan), script supervision (Christina Salem), and lighting (Christian Ramnath, Haidyn Jack), to sound (Neolany Anokam, Belen Garcia Precaido, Noah Coyne, Nyasia Wallace), makeup and hair (Genesis Dudley, Ar Pirkle), and behind-the-scenes photography (Jurnee Akins). Many of these contributors are from FMT, and their expertise brought technical polish and creative energy to the project.

If you haven't yet, check out "Miseducated" (@miseducatedtheseries) on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, and experience the result of this remarkable collaboration.