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Biography

William DeForest is a graphic designer, artist, and Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Castleton University. As a designer, his interest is in working with community and not-for-profit organizations to promote local economies, social justice and sustainable, earth-friendly practices. Personal projects include calendar design serving the Onondaga Environmental Institute awareness campaign “Reviving Place: Onondaga Lake Watershed Community Mapping and Environmental Planning Education Project” reflecting the value and meaning of local waters to community residents; logo design for a patented medical assistance device developed locally by Dr. Marie Pavini for humane patient restraint; identity design for the California Alliance for Community Schools, a coalition of parent groups and educators seeking to expand the number of public schools defined as “community” schools.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he serves on the Board of Directors as well as Marketing, Promotion & Finance Committee of the Slate Valley Trails association. DeForest further serves as Faculty Advisor to the Castleton Content Lab, a student design club and creative agency with a socially progressive mission to support local and community development. Client works include informational brochures for Green Mountain Water Environmental Agency detailing pollutants citizens unknowingly contribute to Vermont's waters and providing alternate disposal suggestions; promotional advertising for Castleton and Poultney townships supporting Shop Local campaigns as part of Restart Vermont Regional Marketing Grants benefitting local businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic; promotional advertising for Town of Poultney Office of  Economic Development to drive participation in the Recreational Economies in Rural Communities workshop series; informational poster campaign “Opioid Misuse & Abuse” for Rutland Pharmacies, serving a grant from the Vermont Department of Health.

Prof. DeForest moved to Vermont from the chores of Lake Ontario in Oswego, NY, in the Central New York region. He holds a BFA in Fine Arts from the State University of New York at Oswego, an MFA in Fine Arts from the Ohio State University, and an MFA in Medical Illustration with concentration in Computer Graphics from the Rochester Institute of Technology. His personal interests include sociology, history, sci fi, hiking, canoeing, XC-skiing, and horseback riding. Among his passions are veggie gardening and canning. He plays banjo, albeit badly. And sincerely hopes that will improve with age.

Education

M.F.A, Rochester Institute of Technology
M.F.A., The Ohio State University
B.F.A., SUNY, College at Oswego