Donald Proffit, a visionary in the creative arts and former arts educator, has been short-listed for the 2024 William Saroyan International Writing Prize in nonfiction for his memoir, Hardship Alaska (Epicenter Press, April 2023). With a rich background in music, dance, and visual arts, Donald has presented workshops and original performances worldwide, including in Israel, where his work fostered meaningful dialogue among Israeli, Palestinian, and American youth. His accolades include a John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Teacher Fellowship and the D. Bennett Mazur Award for Lifetime Achievement, honoring his profound contributions to society. Donald is also the author of a novel, The Object of His Affection, and a historical fiction novella, Scapegoat, both of which are available at Synthetic Prophetic.