Cal Poly graphic communication associate professor Brian Lawler was awarded Educator of the Year by the Electronic Document Systems Foundation, a foundation dedicated to the worldwide enhancement of the value and relevance of graphic communication.
The award is presented to academic professionals “who have made significant contributions in the classroom with students, in curriculum development and within the document management and graphic communications marketplace,” according to a press release issued by the foundation.
When asked about how he feels about receiving the award, Lawler said, “I am honored. It’s a good thing. To be selected from a group of people who have accomplished so much really amplifies the honor.”
Lawler received his Educator of the Year trophy at a reception in Philadelphia in April.
In a press release detailing Lawler’s achievment, Harvey Levenson, head of Cal Poly’s graphic communication department, said, “Brian Lawler’s vast industry experience and global presence in the graphic communication profession gives him a unique perspective that he brings to the classroom.”
Lawler, who has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of photography, typography and prepress, teaches color management, digital printing and typography. His specialties are in color management and the integration of color systems in prepress workflows, or the step-by-step decisions made in the production of a print.
Before becoming a professor at Cal Poly, Lawler worked as a consultant for Kodak, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Adobe Systems, Epson and Nikon.
Business administration senior Eric Pratt, student-curator of the Cal Poly Shakespeare Press Museum, works with Lawler, who is the museum’s faculty adviser.
“He is a jack of all trades,” Pratt said. “He has such a wealth of knowledge that continues to amaze me, seeming to know everything about anything.”
Lawler is an “incredibly unique individual that is always willing to help others with their goals, providing help along the way as he sees needed but never being overbearing,” Pratt said.
In addition to teaching and advising, Lawler takes pride in the antique collection of typefaces, printing presses and other equipment on display at the museum. He is currently involved in a research project that digitizes wood and metal type fonts from the Shakespeare Press Museum collection. He also writes a blog for Whattheythink.com, a site dedicated to premedia.
With all of Lawler’s duties, he still finds time to keep up on latest technology.
Ken Macro, associate professor of graphic communication, calls Lawler “the energizer.”
“He’s an insomniac; he never sleeps because he’s constantly engaged in learning new material and taking up new activities,” Macro said. “He’s totally deserving of the award and I’m proud to have him as my colleague.”