MIAD confers honorary doctorate on Lt. Gov. Lawton May 10

The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design has conferred an honorary doctorate on Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton at its commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10.

Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton

“MIAD is privileged to honor Lt. Gov. Lawton for her leadership in fostering both Wisconsin’s creative economy and the arts education that provides the innovative skills necessary for driving that economy,” said Neil Hoffman, MIAD president.

As chair of the Wisconsin Arts Board, Lt. Gov. Lawton led the successful effort to pass legislation creating tax incentives for the film and video game industry, recently announced at MIAD a partnership with the Department of Public Instruction to create the Wisconsin Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education, and was recognized for her work nationally as an invited member of the National Arts Policy Roundtable convened last fall by Robert Redford and Americans for the Arts.

Nearly 140 students received their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree this year. They have joined MIAD’s 2,500 alumni, who fuel the state’s economy and society while serving clients worldwide. Some 80% choose to live and work in Wisconsin, negating a well-documented regional brain drain.