Max S.

Max completed their BA at Harvard University in History and Women & Gender Studies before earning their PhD from the University of California, San Diego in Music and Critical Gender Studies. They developed and taught their own university courses at UCSD, mainly in music history and musicology. Most recently these included histories of digital performance (taught in avatar form, as a Vtuber), digital production techniques, as well as Critical Studies seminars on the history of AI development. They also produce music and score for film & theatrical productions.

Prior to this, they worked in the tech sector as a founder, project owner, and manager at a variety of startups from education to virtual reality to AI translation. They are also a trained electrician and worked in theatre and film for years as a lighting designer and technician.

When they’re not teaching or making music, they like to spend most of their time outdoors hiking & camping. They’ve visited nearly every American national park and have begun to work towards their goal of visiting every Japanese national park next. They also happen to be a licensed SCUBA diver, in case you ever need one.

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