Ross Laird
M.A. Psychology, 1992
 Ross Laird says he chose Antioch Seattle for its integrative and holistic approach to learning. That sounds fairly straightforward until you learn that he lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
"There aren't really any integrative or interdisciplinary programs in Canada," Laird says. "The system here is more traditional, more British, and this does not fit everyone's tastes. Students looking for an alternative, something more holistic or more innovative, typically go to the U.S."
Naturally, he had some reluctance about the long trek to Seattle.
"I was able to create my desired career and pursue it without feeling I had to sacrifice my personal learning goals for my professional development."
"Before I began the program, I thought the commute from Vancouver, especially in winter, was going to be the most difficult aspect of attending Antioch," he says.
"But with many other Canadian students also making the journey, the commute was actually enjoyable – like a rite of passage we all shared. The half dozen or so of us who carpooled from Vancouver were all psychology or whole systems design students. Many of us made friendships that persist today."
Laird says his peers' support and camaraderie top his best memories of his academic experience.
"I was able to create my desired career and pursue it without feeling I had to sacrifice my personal learning goals for my professional development. At Antioch, these two aspects went together," he says.
Laird became the best-selling author of two books, A Stone's Throw: The Enduring Nature of Myth and Grain of Truth: The Ancient Lessons of Craft. A book about the creative process and its peculiar demands, Grain of Truth was voted one of the 100 most important books of 2001 by the Toronto Globe and Mail and by Spirituality and Health magazine.
Laird still commutes to Antioch, now as an adjunct faculty member in psychology.
"I can confirm that Antioch continues its dedication to professionalism, academic rigor and personal development," he says.
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