GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Simon's Rock alum Michael Lawrence will address graduates at the 55th Commencement ceremony of Bard College at Simon's Rock on Saturday, May 18, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be held in person and live-streamed for those unable to attend.
A self-proclaimed "word nerd" working at the intersection of language, design, and technology, Lawrence received his bachelor's degree summa cum laude from Simon's Rock in 2002, building a concentration that combined cultural studies, critical theory, linguistics, art history, and graphic design — ideal preparation for his current job in the relatively new fields of content design and UX writing, which did not exist at the time.
He has worked with product and brand design teams at Meta, Indeed, and eBay, and offered freelance naming and content strategy for a number of creative entrepreneurs. His work allows him to craft the language that appears in apps and web interfaces to make digital products more useful, usable, and inclusive. Success requires careful attention to the metaphors and narratives people use to make sense of new technology, as well as close partnership with software engineers, user researchers, visual designers, translators, marketers, and policy experts.
After beginning his career in academia, Lawrence transitioned into industry. He served on the support staff of the first Bard High School Early College before going on to earn a PhD in rhetorical theory and criticism from the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Iowa. His dissertation explored discourses of 9/11 memorialization and national identity by examining the neoliberal epideictic practice of publicly reciting and reprinting the long list of names of the dead. The project earned the top dissertation award from the National Communication Association's Critical Cultural Studies Division.
He served on the faculty of Columbia College Chicago as a full-time lecturer in liberal arts and sciences, and acting program director for the college's First-Year Seminar program. He has also taught numerous courses on contemporary media and culture, as well as foundational courses in communication and critical thinking skills.
He continues to work with college students, currently co-teaching an interdisciplinary seminar at the University of San Francisco on generative AI and the question of human creativity.
Simon's Rock looks forward to honoring this year's graduating students. Read more details about commencement here.
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Great Barrington Rotary Day Of Service
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.— On Saturday, May 18, 2024, more than 800 Rotary clubs and 30,000 Rotarians across 10 states and 7 countries, from Connecticut to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York in the United States, plus the countries of Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom will volunteer in their communities for a Rotary Day of Service.
"Service is at the core of Rotary, and as our club enters its 100th year of service, we continue to explore and identify areas of need where we can make an impact. This year, Great Barrington Rotary are happy to be supporting Greenagers by helping get their April Hill gardens ready for the new season, " said Gideon Brown, Great Barrington Rotary President. "The impact that Greenagers has on our community and the future of our youth is inspiring."
Greenagers works with teens and young adults to develop deep connections to land, work, and community. They prepare youth for success in work and life by offering paid jobs and education in the areas of conservation, sustainable farming, and related trades.
Simon's Rock alum Michael Lawrence will address graduates at the 55th Commencement ceremony of Bard College at Simon's Rock on Saturday, May 18, at 11 a.m. click for more
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