Crystal Williams

Dear RISD Community,

In the final weekend of May, we celebrated Commencement and Reunion Weekend where friends, families and beloveds cheered as graduates crossed the stage and turned their tassels to mark the official transition from student to graduate. Hundreds of alums returned to campus to reminisce about their time at RISD while they reconnected with old classmates and made new friends. As we transition from campus to our summer locales, once again, I want to recognize the passion, hard work and dedication the Class of 2025 has displayed throughout their time at RISD as makers, scholars and thinkers. We look forward to learning more about where this next chapter of life takes them.

As I shared with the graduates on Commencement Day, the work that we endeavor together at RISD has never mattered more. We have witnessed, throughout history, that investment in the arts, artists and designers generates lasting, exponential value, especially in the most challenging times. The skills a RISD education nurtures and teaches—iteration and experimentation, questioning and critique, close looking and deep thinking, collaboration and teamwork—are crucial for rendering the world we wish to inhabit, building alternative systems and structures and fostering and nurturing a community that uplifts the collective good. 

RISD Community, I wish you a summer of leisure and rest, filled with time for reflection and contemplation. May you feel renewed through your making, studying, work or research. May your spirit be restored and your purpose made more clear.

Take good care.

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear Students, Staff, and Faculty,

I write to share additional information and resources regarding federal policies.

International Student Visas

You may have seen the widely reported news that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has restored the legal status of many international students whose visas were revoked in April. As of today, RISD has no student visa records with a status marked as terminated. RISD will, however, continue to remain vigilant, and the International Students and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) will monitor students’ status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) for any disruptions. In addition, ISSA will contact international students and scholars directly with any relevant updates. 

Information Session 

RISD will host Through the Legal Lens: Making Sense of Immigration Law Today, an information session with expert immigration lawyers, Leon Rodriguez and Dawn M. Lurie. The session will provide clarity on topics including enforcement actions, visa scrutiny, travel restrictions, and access to resources. It will be offered on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at two times: 12 –1:30 pm and 2 – 3:30 pm in the 20 Washington Place Auditorium. 

The event is open to all RISD students, staff, and faculty. Food and beverages will be provided.

Registration is not required. For accommodations or to submit questions for the live Q&A, please email risdlegal@risd.edu.

Guidance and Resources

In addition to the risd.edu/guidance website, which is updated regularly, the Office of General Counsel has prepared a printable FAQ with answers to common questions in response to immigration enforcement actions on campus. 

A wallet-sized “Know Your Rights” card with important RISD contacts and information will be distributed to attendees to the May 8 information session. It is also available to download and print.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams, she/her 
President

Dear RISD Community,

I write to inform you that vice president of Strategy and Planning Bethany Jankunis is leaving her position at RISD to pursue other opportunities closer to family and loved ones in the New York City metro area. Bethany’s last day will be May 2, 2025. 

Since joining RISD in 2023, Bethany’s core charge has been to advance our strategic priorities, drive new and cross-cutting initiatives, and advance operational effectiveness and efficiency. Her work has been broad ranging and impactful throughout her tenure, including providing leadership for key presidential initiatives in addition to overseeing the Center for Community Partnerships, Continuing Education, and Institutional Research.

The College's strategy and planning efforts seek to foster alignment between RISD and its impact on a changing world and to drive organizational, programmatic and operational transformation across the institution. Bethany provided leadership over two of the institution’s strategic initiatives and was highly involved in a third. In her role as co-chair of the Holistic Student Wellness Committee, Bethany led a school-wide committee, comprised of faculty, staff and students, that examined student wellness at RISD and made recommendations aimed to enhance the wellness environment at RISD. As co-chair of the Financial Optimization Initiative, Bethany and faculty and staff colleagues identified ways RISD can use space more efficiently and in greater alignment with the school’s aspirations. As a member of the Preparedness for Life After RISD working group, Bethany helped reimagine how RISD prepares students for success after graduation. I am grateful to Bethany, the committee co-chairs, and to all who contributed to these initiatives, reports and recommendations. The Cabinet members and I have been reviewing the three strategic initiative reports, and we will soon announce next steps. 

Please join me in thanking Bethany for her leadership and contributions to our community and wishing her the very best in her next endeavors. 

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President