Canadian Hall of Fame TV Producer, Stephen Stohn, Named 2015 Alumni-in-Residence
October 2015 residency to feature workshops for students, public presentations and more
Leading entertainment lawyer, television producer and distinguished alumnus Stephen Stohn ‘66 will be back at Trent University this fall as the 2015 alumni-in-residence thanks to a partnership between the Office of Alumni Affairs and Champlain College.
As alumni-in-residence, Mr. Stohn will return to his alma mater from October, 13 to 18, 2015, to participate in workshops and seminars with Trent students. As part of the residency, Mr. Stohn will also interact with members of the Peterborough community through public presentations and “drop in” functions.
"It is a great pleasure to welcome Stephen back to Trent University and Champlain College as the alumni-in-residence for this year,” said Lee Hays, director of Alumni Affairs. “Making meaningful, life-altering connections is an integral part of the Trent experience. As a student, Stephen was instrumental in bringing students together through his work with Trent Radio and Arthur. We are excited that, as an alumnus, he maintains this passion for providing leadership within the Trent Community. Welcome back Stephen!”
Mr. Stohn has worked in the entertainment industry for over 40 years, commencing with part-time appearances as a performing artist, continuing with active work as a songwriter (including two songs that reached the Canadian Top-10, Maybe Your Heart and Once In A Long Time), and a primary career as an entertainment and copyright lawyer since being called to the Ontario Bar in 1979. During his time at Trent University, Mr. Stohn helped found both Trent Radio and Arthur newspaper. Special time has been put aside for him to meet with these groups.
When asked what he’s most looking forward to during his stay as an alumnus in residence, Mr. Stohn said: “I love social media and digital interaction, but there’s nothing like face-to-face get-togethers. In my producing and legal career I’ve benefited from being surrounded by extremely talented and grounded young people, many of whom are the same age as most Trent students and are just starting the great path through their lives. I’m a huge fan of mentoring, and not just because it’s good for those who are being mentored, it’s equally as good for those who are mentoring. It’s a chance to revisit my own experiences and world views in the light of fresh and entirely open-minded questioning.”
Mr. Stohn’s first community engagement event will start with an event on Thursday, October 15 where he will be a featured panelist at Through a Canadian Lens: The Current and Future Landscape of Television and Film, a free event taking place at 7:00 p.m. in Bagnani Hall, Traill College. There will also be a drop-in event for members of the public and students to meet with Mr. Stohn at Black Honey from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 16.
The alumni-in-residence program began at Trent in 1999 as a collaboration between Colleges and Alumni Affairs to provide a venue for inviting outstanding alumni of the college back to campus to share experiences with the Trent community. Through this program, distinguished alumni have the opportunity to contribute to the student experience, provide insights to strengthen academic preparation of students, and to reconnect to their alma mater.
To learn more about Stephen Stohn, visit: http://www.trentu.ca/convocation/honorarydegree.php