After graduating from MSU in 2011 with degrees in Japanese and Linguistics, Luke Bates went on to earn a master’s degree in Computational Linguistics from Seoul National University with the goal of working on improving Korean-English machine translation. Bates still lives in South Korea, where he is a Researcher at Chung-Ang University and an English Teacher to doctors at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. What is your…
Artist Joseph “Joe” Butts knows firsthand what it’s like to crash and burn, but he also knows it’s possible to rise burnished and better from the ashes. He channeled all of those feelings into a behemoth, show-stopping sculpture, The Phoenix. “It’s a symbol of hope, and renewal and rebirth. I think that resonates with a lot of people. I know…
Alumnus Mark Lie, BFA Graphic Design 1992 with a minor in Sculpture, is the Senior Art Director - 3D Specialist for FCB Chicago, an advertising agency, and owns and operates Piece of Cake – Custom Cakes by Mark. He even has appeared on Food Network TV shows, where he has demonstrated his talent as a cake decorator. You can find…
Alumna Gabrielle Aldridge earned both a BFA in Apparel and Textile Design and a BA in General Management from Michigan State University in 2016. She is now the Product Development Manager for Shinola, an American luxury goods brand based in Detroit. What are your responsibilities as the Product Development Manager at Shinola?My main responsibility is to take our designers’ concepts…
College of Arts & Letters faculty and students were recognized for their outstanding achievements in leadership, teaching, innovation, and community engagement at the College of Arts & Letters Alumni Board Awards ceremony on March 30 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. Hosted by the College of Arts & Letters Alumni Board, three different awards were presented at the event,…
Alumna Kellyn Uhl is a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT) who, after graduating from Michigan State University in 2010 with a BFA in Theatre, worked as an actor, dancer, and photographer in New York City and all around the world. She credits all these experiences, including her time spent at MSU, for leading her to where she is today. Dance/Movement Therapist…
College of Arts & Letters alumna Kyle Pilutti is working on nuclear nonproliferation issues at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) as part of a year-long fellowship program. After graduating from MSU in 2013 with a B.A. in Humanities Prelaw and Arabic, Pilutti worked as a Research Assistant at Ploughshares Fund and won the United Nation’s Essay Competition on her…
Patrick Kelley received his Ph.D. in Linguistics from MSU in May 2018 and currently works at Amazon as a language engineer, where he works with technologies to improve Amazon’s Alexa, a form of artificial intelligence. Could you give a basic job description of your position at Amazon? I am a language engineer at Amazon, where my day-to-day changes almost every…
Nancy Bullock, who received her B.A. in English from MSU in 1981, has spent most of her career in Vice President of Marketing and Director of Marketing positions for companies like 1-800-FLOWERS, Pampered Chef, Home Depot, Spilsbury, and Random House. She is now President and Owner of Digital Market Solutions, Inc., and does consulting for startups in the Chicago area. Bullock also recently…
College of Arts & Letters alumna Dawn Reed is the 2018 recipient of the Ray H. Lawson Award presented by the Michigan Council of Teachers of English (MCTE). Each year, this award honors one outstanding MCTE educator who has demonstrated leadership to the profession and is held in high esteem by colleagues and students. Reed is a teacher at Okemos…