Jim Garbarino serves as a faculty member in the Florida State University College of Communication and Information and is the Director of CCI Digital Media Services (CCI-DMS), the College’s professional production auxiliary. Under his leadership, CCI-DMS operates as a fully functioning creative agency within the university—producing high-level visual content while providing students with immersive, real-world production experience.

Through CCI-DMS, students work directly on professional projects that support major university and state initiatives. Productions have served the Dedman College of Hospitality, Early Childhood Intervention Program, FSU Foundation, Florida Department of Education, FSU Alumni Center, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, FSU English Department’s DEMOS Program, FSU Department of Philosophy, FSU International Programs, and numerous other academic and administrative units. This model ensures that students graduate with substantial, portfolio-ready work created in service of real clients and institutional priorities.

Prior to transitioning into a full-time faculty role in 2001, Garbarino served as Executive Producer and Interim Director of Seminole Productions, where he personally produced and directed more than 600 nationally distributed television programs and was executive producer for over 1000 more. He also supervised and directed live event productions including FSU Football, Baseball, Basketball, ECHL Hockey, and Arena Football. Widely regarded as the most decorated professional to emerge from Seminole Productions, Garbarino has earned more than 70 individual national and international awards. Under his leadership, producers he supervised accumulated hundreds of additional honors, including multiple Emmy nominations.

His national production credits span major broadcast outlets and marquee programming, from college football coverage on ABC Sports and FOX Sports to feature and documentary work for PBS. He has also freelanced extensively for leading networks including ESPN and NBC. Beyond producing and directing, Garbarino has created advanced motion graphics, animation, and large-scale visual effects for FSU’s in-venue video displays and LED boards at Doak Campbell Stadium, the Donald L. Tucker Center, and Dick Howser Stadium—helping define the visual experience of Seminole athletics for tens of thousands of fans.

Before returning to FSU, Garbarino worked in production and creative services at a CBS affiliate, directing live newscasts, developing promotional campaigns, designing broadcast graphics packages, and producing commercial content for regional clients. This blend of news, sports, promotional, and commercial production experience informs both his leadership and his teaching.

A 1994 honors graduate of Florida State University, Garbarino earned his B.A. in Media Production with a minor in Film and was inducted into the National Communications Honor Society. He maintains active professional affiliations with the Broadcast Education Association, Information Display and Entertainment Association (IDEA) and the Sports Video Group, ensuring his work and instruction remain aligned with current industry standards and innovation.

Today, Garbarino brings decades of national broadcast expertise into the classroom—mentoring the next generation of media professionals while continuing to advance the strategic storytelling goals of Florida State University.

B.A. Communication: Florida State University

Broadcasting, Video Production, Scriptwriting, Non-Linear Editing

Individual Awards Received (Partial List)

Aurora Awards

2013 Platinum-Best of Show: Get Psycho Pump Up Video

2013 Gold Award: Seminole Gametime Bowl Edition

2013 Gold Award: Seminole Gametime Open

2013 Platinum-Best of Show: FSU Baseball Intro

2013 Gold Award: TRUE Seminole

2013 Gold Award: FSU Orange Bowl Intro

2010 Platinum-Best of Show: Bowden Show Open

2007 Platinum-Best of Show: Bobby Bowden Show Open

2007 Gold Award: Football Team Open

2005 Gold Award: Seminole Pride

2004 Gold Award: Football Stadium Open

2003 Gold Award: Baseball Highlights Open

Telly Awards

2013 Silver Telly: 2014 Football Feature

2013 Bronze Telly: Get Psycho Video

2013 Bronze Telly: FSU Football Stadium Intro

2013 Bronze Telly: Gametime Behind the Scenes-Orange Bowl

2006 Bronze Telly: Football Open-Maryland

2006 Bronze Telly: Bobby Bowden Show

2004 Finalist: Football Headshots

2004 Finalist: Miami Football Open

2004 Finalist: Basketball Headshots

Videographer Awards

2011 Award of Excellence: FSU Baseball Intro

2003 Award of Excellence: Football Seminole Vision Open

2003 Award of Excellence: Bobby Bowden Show Open

2003 Award of Distinction: Bobby Bowden Show

2003 Award of Distinction: Football Headshots

Communicator Awards

2005 Award of Excellence: Bobby Bowden Show Open

2005 Award of Distinction: Bobby Bowden Show

2004 Award of Excellence: Bobby Bowden Show Open

2004 Award of Excellence: Football Stadium Open

2004 Award of Distinction: Bobby Bowden Show

2004 Award of Distinction: Mike Martin Show

2003 Award of Excellence: Animated Football Open

2003 Award of Excellence: Miami Football Open

2003 Award of Excellence: Bobby Bowden Show

2003 Award of Distinction: Football Headshots

Golden Matrix Awards

2007 Best Overall Video Display Productions

2006 Best Overall Video Display Productions

2001 Best Special Occasion Video: Bobby Bowden 25^th Anniversary