Dean's Welcome
As another academic year begins, I’m delighted to welcome students, faculty, and staff back to campus. More...
Creative Economy
Research project that measured the economic impact of HFA and our alumni on the Pioneer Valley. More...
Academic Freedom
The College's official policy on academic and artistic freedom and community response.
Creative Economy Survey Results
Alumni Profiles
The following alumni profiles were compiled as a result of a creative economy research project funded by the President of the University of Massachusetts system.
The College undertook this research during the 2007-2008 academic year to better understand how our alumni are impacting the creative economy in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts.
The following are a sampling of their stories...
- Deborah McCutchen, MFA in English
- Ronald Michaud, MFA in Art
- Stan Sherer, MFA in Printmaking
- Lorin Starr, B.A. in European Studies, M.S. in Design
- Erica Walch, B.A. in Art/Philosophy, M.A. in Translation Studies
Deborah McCutchen, MFA in English
Deborah is a Lecturer at UMass Amherst, teaching writing in the College of Natural Resources and the Environment. She is also a freelance writer and editor at Lost Arts Editing & Design.
She is the author of The Whale Road, a book of creative nonfiction (Random House, NZ, 2004; Blake, UK, 2007) that was on the Kiriyama Prize Notable Books List in 2005 and was a nominee for the Pushcart Prize in 2005.
Her stories and essays have also been published in several anthologies and journals, including Isotope: A journal of literary nature and science writing, Hayden's Ferry Review, Fish Publications, and Fourth Genre, in which she explores definitions of creative nonfiction.
To learn more about Deborah's work you can visit her web site at:
www.lostartsdesigns.co
Ron is the Associate Dean at the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at UMass Amherst. Prior to becoming the College’s Associate Dean, Ron was the Art Department Chair and helped see the recently finished Studio Arts building to completion.
Before coming home to UMass, he worked as a professor at Westfield State College and served as Westfield’s Dean for the Division of Graduate and Continuing Studies.
His drawings, lithographs and paintings are featured in the collections of numerous museums, and have been exhibited in the United States and abroad.
In addition to his administrative duties at the College he still finds time to teach one class each year on color theory, and paint in his studio.
Stan Sherer, MFA in Printmaking
Stan went back to get his masters degree after he retired from UMass where he worked for 18 years as the University’s Photographer for the Campus Chronicle. He has published four books of photography and his work has appeared in a variety of other publications. He has had numerous solo exhibitions both in the United States and abroad, as well as work included in juried group exhibitions. In his free time he mentors students from the University in photography, often having classes visit his studio. In addition to helping students at UMass he teaches workshops on photography for the community at Stockbridge, UMass and Florence.
Stan also maintains a list-serve that he co-founded in 1998 that helps connect photographers working in Western Massachusetts and Northern Vermont and keep them informed about photography related events, exhibitions, and more.
To see examples of Stan's work you can visit his website: www.stansherer.com
Lorin Starr, B.A. European History/ Minor: Classical Civilization, M.S. in Design
Lorin is a partner in Lukas Design, an Pelham-based Interior Design firm and is the Executive Director of the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (WMAIA), an organization that promotes excellence in architecture through professional development, community outreach and the celebration of local architecture.
Prior to becoming the Executive Director of the WMAIA Lorin served as the group’s programming director for 11 years.
Lorin is also active in her town government, sitting on the permanent building committee and is a library trustee.
To learn more about the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the American Institute of Architects visit their website at: www.wmaia.org
Erica Walch, B.A. in Art/Philosophy, M.A . in Translation Studies
Erica is the owner of Speak Easy Accent Modification and a professor of Italian at Springfield Technical Community College.
She is involved in many volunteer organizations, and serves on the board of the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts and Valley Technology Outreach. She coordinates the Second Saturday Walking Tours downtown with the Armoury-Quadrangle Civic Association and the Springfield Museums.
Erica also co-founded Choose Springfield, a website and grassroots public relations campaign that encourages people to relocate to the area, providing resources and neighborhood profiles for the city.
To learn more about Erica's company, Speak Easy Accent Modification click here: http://SpeakEasyEnglish.com
You can find more about Choose Springfield visit: www.choosespringfieldmass.com
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