Degrees:

• M.F.A. Emerson College;
• B.A. University of California at San Diego

Biography:
Kenneth Calhoun is a Professor of Graphic Design and Chair of Graphic Design Program in the School of Communications and the Arts. He served as Assistant Professor of Interactive Media at Elon University for three years; prior to that he was a visiting professor at Duke University, where he taught a course called Digital Storytelling.

He served as a creative director, designer and writer/director in various organizations during the 1990s and early 2000s, working with Fortune 500, music and hospitality industry clients. His creative work includes documentary filmmaking, interactive design, digital illustration and fiction. An award-winning writer, his work has appeared in Ploughshares,The Paris Review, Tin House, Ninth Letter, New Stories from the South and the O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. His novel, BLACK MOON, was published by Hogarth in 2014 and was a finalist for the PEN/Bingham Prize for Debut Fiction.

How does your professional background influence your time in the classroom with students?
"The best classroom experience for the Lasell student is one that combines exposure to historical, strategic and theoretical aspects of the subject matter with insight into professional practice. To cultivate this mix of learning components, I draw heavily from my professional experiences as a writer, designer and creative director. Before teaching, I worked in three industries: hospitality, music (entertainment) and technology. I find that each one of these environments has provided me with experiences that are of value to the student. The resulting lessons range from sharing hard-earned tips about certain software quirks to instilling in students the importance of strong writing skills and professional follow-through. An even more direct benefit is realized when I am able to connect strong students with employers -- people I know and trust, having worked with them myself."