John Luther Receives 2024 Brian Banks Staff Award
Longtime Stamps employee John Luther is the 2024 Brian Banks Staff Award recipient.
Luther was chosen after a nomination process that included other outstanding colleagues from the Stamps School. The nominated finalists include:
Joe Rohrer, Preparator and Exhibitions Coordinator
Mark Chung Kwan Fan, Director of Student Life
Srimoyee Mitra, Director, Stamps Gallery and Research Investigator
Stephanie Gary, Student Life Coordinator
Romy Hill-Cronin, Director of Undergraduate Academic Advising
Matthew Pritchard, Art Studio Manager
Luther is well-known to students and alums in his multifaceted role as the Stamps Career Development Coordinator. At Stamps, Luther oversees the entire career development operation, where he leads portfolio preparation workshops and job preparedness events and interviews Stamps alums for their perspectives on the job market as creatives in videos for students.
His advocacy for students, especially in helping them to find jobs on campus and also fulfilling careers as creatives. Luther’s hands-on approach is often cited by many alums as a key part of their Stamps experience, and Luther remains connected to them through his vast network.One of his colleagues who nominated Luther for the honor wrote the following statement about the positive influence he has had on Stamps students:
“My favorite part of John’s work is when students frequently discuss how John has impacted them. Students often share John’s anecdotes and stories when they’ve interacted with John and the positive relationships he’s built with them, whether in an advising meeting or during a program that John led. All Stamps students know him best through his weekly career development emails when they learn about new career opportunities targeted at Stamps students. John has had a positive impact not only on students but also on Stamps faculty and staff. At times, John can be seen in the A&A Building hallways building rapport with Stamps faculty and staff and how his services within career development can support students’ development.”
Before joining the Stamps Student Life staff in 2002, Luther was a psychotherapist in both the public and private sectors with expertise in the treatment of personality disorders, anxiety, and depression. In addition, he worked with the University of Michigan Career Center. Luther’s background before college was as a professional dancer in New York. He toured Europe with Fiddler on the Roof and Jesus Christ Superstar, performing with ballet companies, summer stock, and dinner theatre. After graduating Summa Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa from Hunter College, Luther moved to Michigan, where he not only graduated with an MSW but also began directing and choreographing musical theatre.