Alumni Spotlight: Lydia Storie Takes the Lead in Storytelling and Advocacy
For Lydia Storie, a proud member of the Edinburgh High School Class of 2001, a career built on creativity and activism began right in the classrooms, gyms, and art studios of Edinburgh Community Schools. Today, Lydia resides in Los Angelas, California, with her husband, Andrew Jacobs, and their two children, Leo and Lana. As an entertainment executive, film producer, and cultural strategist, her work takes her to the heart of national media, yet her roots remain firmly planted in her hometown.
"Relating to people who are not exactly like me is something I try to carry with me in all parts of my life", reflected Lydia Storie, Class of 2001.
Growing up in a tight-knit community had a profound effect on Lydia’s worldview. Both of her parents, Gary and Linda Storie, served as dedicated educators in the Edinburgh school system. Her mother, Linda, retired in 2018 after teaching at East Side Elementary for 42 years and her father, Gary, was an educator and administrator for 38 years.
Lydia credits the small-town environment for giving her the freedom to explore a wide array of interests, ranging from sports, music, art, theater, science, and cooking. Growing up in a small community exposed her to people from every walk of life, which she notes helped her learn how to connect with all kinds of people throughout her adult life.
Lydia has spent 20 years in film and television as a creative executive and executive producer, guiding writers and filmmakers as they bring their projects from concept to screen. She describes her work as a job that requires a lot of hats, serving as a story editor, fundraiser, pitching coach, and business strategist. Every project brings unique challenges, which suits her love for variety and solving complex puzzles.
In 2021, Lydia transitioned from traditional for-profit entertainment to the nonprofit sector by joining Caring Across Generations. Founded in 2011, the national organization works to transform how society values caregiving, spanning parenting, aging, and disability care, through policy advocacy and cultural initiatives. Building on her work as a cultural strategist for the organization, Lydia recently co-founded their new multimedia entertainment banner, Give Not Take Media. Their first feature film, Take Me Home, will premiere in theaters this fall.
After graduating from Edinburgh in 2001, Lydia earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in English Literature and History from Ball State University, graduating magna cum laude. She went on to earn her master’s degree in Cinema Studies from New York University.
Her time at Ball State was packed with formative global and creative experiences. She studied abroad across Ireland, Oxford, London, Rome, and Florence, and served as the videographer for the Ball State University Singers on their international tour of China.
Additionally, Lydia participated in two intensive semester-long courses at the Virginia B. Ball Center, where she produced several short films and documentaries. Among these projects was a PBS-aired document filmed in Florence and a multimedia exhibit for the Minnetrista Cultural Center in Muncie, funded by Eli Lilly. Although she did not end up pursuing traditional publishing, her early work editing middle school yearbooks and college literary magazines taught her how to package information into clear, engaging content that she uses daily.
Lydia’s time at Edinburgh Community Schools was filled with supportive teachers and foundational experiences that shaped her career. Her 5th and 6th-grade teacher, Ms. Snyder, left a lasting impression with a unit on Ancient Egypt complete with mummifying Barbie dolls, which inspired a lifelong dream that Lydia and her husband fulfilled this past year when they visited Egypt. Another favorite teacher, Ms. Hightshue, encouraged students to forge their own paths, while a middle school Civil Rights movement project involving a student-organized protest helped ignite Lydia’s inner activist.
In Ms. Gascko’s art class, Lydia found an open, non-judgmental space to push creative boundaries with her peers. She credits that environment with fostering a passion for art that continues to this day. Meanwhile, participating in sports provided positive social experiences, memorable bus trips, and sleepovers, while instilling a lasting appreciation for physical activity that she endeavors to carry into her personal life today.
When asked what wisdom she would share with today’s Edinburgh students, Lydia encourages them to step outside their comfort zones and explore the world around them.
She advises students to travel as much as possible, whether within the United States or abroad. In her experience, meeting new people and visiting new places teaches you just as much about yourself as it does about others. It provides a deeper appreciation for small-town roots while giving you the confidence to build a life wherever you choose to go.
Sherri Sweet, Secretary to the Superintendent and School Board, profiles an ECHS alumnus once a month. To learn more about the Edinburgh School Corporation, its alumni and activities, visit ecsc.k12.in.us