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Lectures/presentations
bringing the distant reaches of the world
a little closer to your classroom
Objective: To provide value-added, slide-based programs tailored to support the academic concentration of each school or the interest of a particular organization. Programs are based on my experience of 1-1/2 years of travel around the world and my ongoing work as a freelance travel photojournalist since that time. They can be broad in scope (i.e. assembly slide shows to reveal the overall experience of adventure travel), or specific to the current focus of your curriculum. Subject matter has ranged from the conditions and experience of travel, to sustainability and environmental issues, to current social issues, to ancient civilizations, to human rights. All presentations have combined pictures and commentary. Structure is also flexible- general assemblies, class groups, individual classroom discussions etc. A single commitment usually involves 4-8 hours on site. A typical honorarium is $2,000.
Client List
Berkshire School (Sheffield, MA)
Berkshire Community College (Pittsfield, MA)
Berkshire Country Day School (Lenox, MA)
Berkshire Museum Camera Club (Pittsfield, MA)
Buxton School (Williamstown, MA)
Cranbrook/Kingswood Schools (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
Deerfield Academy (Deerfield, MA)
Detroit Metro News Photographers (Detroit, MI)
Emma Willard School (Troy, NY)
Grosse Pointe Optimists Club (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI)
Hotchkiss School (Lakevile, CT)
Kent School (Kent, CT)
Lee Central School (Lee, MA)
Lenox Memorial High School (Lenox, MA)
The Marvelwood School (Kent, CT)
Melborne Place (Pittsfield, MA)
Miss Hall’s School (Pittsfield, MA)
Monument Mountain Regional High School (Great Barrington, MA)
Mt. Everett High School (Sheffield, MA)
The Norman Rockwell Museum (Stockbridge, MA)
North High School (Grosse Pointe Shores, MI)
Northern Christian College (Laoag, The Philippines)
Novi High School (Novi, MI)
Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, Ohio)
Parcell’s Middle School (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI)
Phillips Academy Andover (Andover, MA)
Pierce Middle School (Grosse Pointe, MI)
Pine Cobble School (Williamstown, MA)
Rumsey Hall School (Washington Depot, CT)
St. Paul’s Catholic School (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI)
South High School (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI)
Stoneleigh-Burnham School (Greenfield, MA)
Taft School (Watertown, CT)
University Liggett School (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI)
Westminster School (Simsbury, CT)
Wilbraham & Monson Academy (Wilbraham, MA)
Williston-Northampton School (Easthampton, MA)
Worcester Academy (Worcester, MA)
Berkshire Community College (Pittsfield, MA)
Berkshire Country Day School (Lenox, MA)
Berkshire Museum Camera Club (Pittsfield, MA)
Buxton School (Williamstown, MA)
Cranbrook/Kingswood Schools (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
Deerfield Academy (Deerfield, MA)
Detroit Metro News Photographers (Detroit, MI)
Emma Willard School (Troy, NY)
Grosse Pointe Optimists Club (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI)
Hotchkiss School (Lakevile, CT)
Kent School (Kent, CT)
Lee Central School (Lee, MA)
Lenox Memorial High School (Lenox, MA)
The Marvelwood School (Kent, CT)
Melborne Place (Pittsfield, MA)
Miss Hall’s School (Pittsfield, MA)
Monument Mountain Regional High School (Great Barrington, MA)
Mt. Everett High School (Sheffield, MA)
The Norman Rockwell Museum (Stockbridge, MA)
North High School (Grosse Pointe Shores, MI)
Northern Christian College (Laoag, The Philippines)
Novi High School (Novi, MI)
Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, Ohio)
Parcell’s Middle School (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI)
Phillips Academy Andover (Andover, MA)
Pierce Middle School (Grosse Pointe, MI)
Pine Cobble School (Williamstown, MA)
Rumsey Hall School (Washington Depot, CT)
St. Paul’s Catholic School (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI)
South High School (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI)
Stoneleigh-Burnham School (Greenfield, MA)
Taft School (Watertown, CT)
University Liggett School (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI)
Westminster School (Simsbury, CT)
Wilbraham & Monson Academy (Wilbraham, MA)
Williston-Northampton School (Easthampton, MA)
Worcester Academy (Worcester, MA)
Sample Programs
Cranbrook Schools, Bloomfield Hills, MI, Feb. 20, 2009
One of four professional speakers chosen to present at the annual World Affairs Seminar (WAS 2009). The theme was Democracy. Program featured two sessions of the 1-1/2 hr. PowerPoint presentation titled "Viewing Democracy Through A Lens". The presentation focused on the various forms of democratic government that exist on the world today and discussed issues of voter participation, economic metrics, poverty & human rights, and numerous examples of successful democratic process. Students were encouraged to consider, and challenge, where appropriate, the notion that the United States is the "greatest democracy on earth". Presentation included text and photographs.
Contact: Holly Arida, Global Programs Coordinator, (248) 645-3448
University Liggett School, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, Feb. 19, 2009.
Full-day program featuring all-school assembly presentation of "The Face of Our World; How People Work, Live & Survive On Less Than $10/Day, And What This Means To You". Presentation examined how the vast majority of people around the world live, and established connections between the daily lives of students and these people. Particular emphasis was placed on the choices that students make today, and that they will make as they progress in their lives, that impact on the lives of others less fortunate. The audience was given a list of items that they could incorporate into their lives to help make the planet more sustainable. Classroom visits included AP World History, Journalism, and Environmental Science.
Contacts: David Backhurst, Trey Cassidy, & Ellen Meranze, (313) 884-4444
Taft School, Watertown, CT, Oct. 7, 2008
Full-day program featuring all-school assembly presentation titled "Poverty and Human Rights" as part of a year-long lecture series celebrating the 60th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The lecture focused on the growing inequities between rich and poor, both in the U.S. and around the globe, and the long-term consequences these present for the human race. Students were encouraged to consider ways that they can contribute to alleviating the problem as they progress in their lives and careers. The lecture concluded with "Stevie's Top Ten List of Every-Day, Easy-To-Do Actions To Help Make The World a Better Place". Classroom visits for the balance of the day included Photography, Service Learning and Philosophy classes.
Contact: Robert Ganung, (860) 945-7803
Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, Nov. 8, 2007
Evening all-campus lecture titled "From Wall Street to Dream Street: Seizing Opportunity From a World of Experience". Lecture focused on a life-changing journey around the world that culminated in a drastic career change from corporate executive sales positions to freelance travel photographer. The central themes were goal-setting and dream fulfillment, and students were encouraged to take a broad view of the world and the opportunities open to them while always applying honest self-assessment and disciplined planning and execution to the goals they set for themselves. A classroom visit during the day featured a presentation and discussion period with a senior seminar titled "Asian and Arab Women in Literature: Debunking the Myth of the 'Oriental Woman'"
Contact: Dr. Anne Sokolsky, Dept. of Humanities & Classics, (740) 368-3572
Emma Willard School, Troy, N.Y. Jan. 31, 2007
Featured speaker in year-long Series titled "Serving and Shaping Her World". All-school morning assembly presentation focused on the fragile balance between the human and the natural environments and the sustainability of the world. 35-minute lecture with 10-minute Q&A period. Three additional classroom symposium hours with a variety of student organizations including the Sustainable Life Community Service Groups.
Contact: Lynn Magovern, (518) 833-1300
Westminster School, Simsbury, CT, Feb. 24, 2006
All-day program featuring morning all-school assembly presentation of "The Face of Our World, How People Work, Live and Survive on Less Than $10/day". 45-minute presentation with 15 minute Q&A period. The balance of the day featured classroom visits to two AP Environmental Studies classes and two Photography classes.
Contact: Barbara Adams, (860) 408-3000
Emma Willard School, Troy, NY, May 6th, 2004
Morning assembly presentation to entire student body and faculty titled "The Face of Our World, How People Work, Live and Survive on Less Than $10/day". This 45-minute slide-based presentation addressed over 4 billion people around the world and examined the type of work, living conditions and life styles typical of the majority of people on earth. 10 minute Q&A/discussion period followed. Contact: Jack Easterling, (518) 833-1315
University Liggett School, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, April 29th, 2004
Morning assembly presentation to entire student body and faculty titled, "The Face of Our World, How People Work, Live and Survive on Less Than $10/day". This 45-minute slide-based presentation addressed over 4 billion people around the world and examined the type of work, living conditions and life styles typical of the majority of people on earth. 10 minute Q&A/discussion period followed. Contact: Elizabeth Jemette, (313) 884-4444
Berkshire School, Sheffield, MA, April 13th, 2004
Morning assembly presentation to entire student body and faculty. This slide and lecture presentation coincided with the introduction of the school’s Green Campus Initiative and addressed issues pertaining to the environment and humankind’s critical role in shaping the future of the planet. Program was designed to stimulate and challenge the audience to consider the impact of the myriad choices that they make in their everyday lives, and ones that they will be faced with in the future. 35-minute presentation was followed by 10 minutes of Q&A time and a final inspirational slide show set to music. Contact: Peter Parisi, Director of Student Affairs, (413) 229-8511
Taft School, Watertown, CT, April 24th, 2003
Guest Speaker for year-long speaker series on Earth issues sponsored by the school’s Diversity Committee. All-school assembly presentation dealt with issues pertaining to the tenuous, often adversarial, relationship between the human and natural environments and addressed the question of the sustainability of our world. References were drawn from Daniel Quinn’s "Ishmael", and J.R. McNeill’s "Something New Under The Sun", which were both required reading for the student body as a component of the lecture series. Students were offered 10 ways that they can act to help minimize damage to the environment as they go forward in their lives. 20-minute speech and slide presentation was followed by 10-minute Q&A period. Contact: Michael Spencer, School Chaplain, (860) 945-7803.
One of four professional speakers chosen to present at the annual World Affairs Seminar (WAS 2009). The theme was Democracy. Program featured two sessions of the 1-1/2 hr. PowerPoint presentation titled "Viewing Democracy Through A Lens". The presentation focused on the various forms of democratic government that exist on the world today and discussed issues of voter participation, economic metrics, poverty & human rights, and numerous examples of successful democratic process. Students were encouraged to consider, and challenge, where appropriate, the notion that the United States is the "greatest democracy on earth". Presentation included text and photographs.
Contact: Holly Arida, Global Programs Coordinator, (248) 645-3448
University Liggett School, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, Feb. 19, 2009.
Full-day program featuring all-school assembly presentation of "The Face of Our World; How People Work, Live & Survive On Less Than $10/Day, And What This Means To You". Presentation examined how the vast majority of people around the world live, and established connections between the daily lives of students and these people. Particular emphasis was placed on the choices that students make today, and that they will make as they progress in their lives, that impact on the lives of others less fortunate. The audience was given a list of items that they could incorporate into their lives to help make the planet more sustainable. Classroom visits included AP World History, Journalism, and Environmental Science.
Contacts: David Backhurst, Trey Cassidy, & Ellen Meranze, (313) 884-4444
Taft School, Watertown, CT, Oct. 7, 2008
Full-day program featuring all-school assembly presentation titled "Poverty and Human Rights" as part of a year-long lecture series celebrating the 60th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The lecture focused on the growing inequities between rich and poor, both in the U.S. and around the globe, and the long-term consequences these present for the human race. Students were encouraged to consider ways that they can contribute to alleviating the problem as they progress in their lives and careers. The lecture concluded with "Stevie's Top Ten List of Every-Day, Easy-To-Do Actions To Help Make The World a Better Place". Classroom visits for the balance of the day included Photography, Service Learning and Philosophy classes.
Contact: Robert Ganung, (860) 945-7803
Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, Nov. 8, 2007
Evening all-campus lecture titled "From Wall Street to Dream Street: Seizing Opportunity From a World of Experience". Lecture focused on a life-changing journey around the world that culminated in a drastic career change from corporate executive sales positions to freelance travel photographer. The central themes were goal-setting and dream fulfillment, and students were encouraged to take a broad view of the world and the opportunities open to them while always applying honest self-assessment and disciplined planning and execution to the goals they set for themselves. A classroom visit during the day featured a presentation and discussion period with a senior seminar titled "Asian and Arab Women in Literature: Debunking the Myth of the 'Oriental Woman'"
Contact: Dr. Anne Sokolsky, Dept. of Humanities & Classics, (740) 368-3572
Emma Willard School, Troy, N.Y. Jan. 31, 2007
Featured speaker in year-long Series titled "Serving and Shaping Her World". All-school morning assembly presentation focused on the fragile balance between the human and the natural environments and the sustainability of the world. 35-minute lecture with 10-minute Q&A period. Three additional classroom symposium hours with a variety of student organizations including the Sustainable Life Community Service Groups.
Contact: Lynn Magovern, (518) 833-1300
Westminster School, Simsbury, CT, Feb. 24, 2006
All-day program featuring morning all-school assembly presentation of "The Face of Our World, How People Work, Live and Survive on Less Than $10/day". 45-minute presentation with 15 minute Q&A period. The balance of the day featured classroom visits to two AP Environmental Studies classes and two Photography classes.
Contact: Barbara Adams, (860) 408-3000
Emma Willard School, Troy, NY, May 6th, 2004
Morning assembly presentation to entire student body and faculty titled "The Face of Our World, How People Work, Live and Survive on Less Than $10/day". This 45-minute slide-based presentation addressed over 4 billion people around the world and examined the type of work, living conditions and life styles typical of the majority of people on earth. 10 minute Q&A/discussion period followed. Contact: Jack Easterling, (518) 833-1315
University Liggett School, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, April 29th, 2004
Morning assembly presentation to entire student body and faculty titled, "The Face of Our World, How People Work, Live and Survive on Less Than $10/day". This 45-minute slide-based presentation addressed over 4 billion people around the world and examined the type of work, living conditions and life styles typical of the majority of people on earth. 10 minute Q&A/discussion period followed. Contact: Elizabeth Jemette, (313) 884-4444
Berkshire School, Sheffield, MA, April 13th, 2004
Morning assembly presentation to entire student body and faculty. This slide and lecture presentation coincided with the introduction of the school’s Green Campus Initiative and addressed issues pertaining to the environment and humankind’s critical role in shaping the future of the planet. Program was designed to stimulate and challenge the audience to consider the impact of the myriad choices that they make in their everyday lives, and ones that they will be faced with in the future. 35-minute presentation was followed by 10 minutes of Q&A time and a final inspirational slide show set to music. Contact: Peter Parisi, Director of Student Affairs, (413) 229-8511
Taft School, Watertown, CT, April 24th, 2003
Guest Speaker for year-long speaker series on Earth issues sponsored by the school’s Diversity Committee. All-school assembly presentation dealt with issues pertaining to the tenuous, often adversarial, relationship between the human and natural environments and addressed the question of the sustainability of our world. References were drawn from Daniel Quinn’s "Ishmael", and J.R. McNeill’s "Something New Under The Sun", which were both required reading for the student body as a component of the lecture series. Students were offered 10 ways that they can act to help minimize damage to the environment as they go forward in their lives. 20-minute speech and slide presentation was followed by 10-minute Q&A period. Contact: Michael Spencer, School Chaplain, (860) 945-7803.