EDUCATION
MFA in Visual Arts, Lesley Art + Design. (Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University)
BFA in Animation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
           Study Abroad, Burren College of Art, Co. Claire, Ireland
Certificate, Film Studies, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

TEACHING
Bill is an Adjunct Professor at Lesley Art + Design. Since 2015, he has taught studio art courses in the Animation & VFX, Integrated Studies, and Foundations departments. He has served as a juror for BFA Junior and Senior capstone project reviews.

SCHOLARLY RESEARCH
Bill is a member of a team of five Lesley University faculty across disciplines that has conducted extensive research on effective peer feedback since 2016, which led to the development of a three-step protocol for effective peer critique/review. The research team recently wrote a book that includes their findings and strategies for effective peer critique.
Student-Led Peer Review: A Practical Guide to Implementation Across Disciplines and Modalities

DISABILITY & ADVOCACY
Bill lives with an inherited retinal disorder. He has spoken publicly in various forums about the impacts of ableism and misconceptions about physical and cognative disabilities. Bill is also an advocate for people with disabilities as well as other marginalized communities. He is the founder and chair of the Lesley University Disability Advocacy and Education Group and a member of the Lesley Art + Design Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee and the Lesley University Diversity Council.

PROFESSIONAL WORK HISTORY
Before 2014, Bill worked as a full-time professional artist and designer in various disciplines and roles, including character animator, motion media artist, illustrator, multimedia designer, videographer, graphic designer, photographer, and video editor. He designed and animated character-driven, interactive educational media and animated promotional videos for clients such as PBS Kids, Addison Wesley, and the Aardvark Design Group. Bill was a motion graphics designer with clients across a variety of sectors, including broadcast (WLVI 56), tech companies (HP), and government agencies (US Secret Service). He has also worked in other production phases, including directing and editing videos for Simmons College, Boston College, and Coldwell Banker. Bill designed characters and environments for website interfaces and marketing materials as a freelance illustrator. In addition to contract work, Porter’s illustrations have been published in seven countries.
Limited Portfolio of Early Professional Work:  Illustration, Animation, Video Production (full-production, editing, motion graphics), Design (web, multimedia, & print), & Photography

Recent Exhibitions, Publications, & Presentations
Recent Studio Work: 2014 Present

Artist Statement

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