2023-24 Community Announcements

Dear Colleagues,

As we approach the end of the semester, we write on behalf of the Financial Optimization committee to provide an update on the committee’s work to-date and path forward. The committee, which launched September 20th and will conclude its work in December 2024, is charged with: (1) reviewing RISD’s existing budget model; (2) identifying and quantifying complex and inefficient practices and structures; and (3) proposing pathways to greater revenue diversification, then making a set of recommendations that address these findings. The committee has met bi-weekly to develop a base-level understanding of the School’s finances and processes, and focused largely on the second item, which constitutes the committee’s central charge. (You can read more about the charge and membership of the committee here). We detail our approach to this second charge below.

Data collection. In order to most widely gather feedback, we circulated a form through which all faculty and staff could share their ideas and perspectives. We received 168 responses. In addition, we met individually with Division Deans and Department Heads to solicit their thoughts and observations and are planning additional individual and small group meetings with administrative leaders, staff and faculty. Presentations to the committee by senior staff have deepened the committee’s understanding of the School’s current and projected budget, as well as enrollment strategy, space usage and physical plant issues.

Preliminary analysis. We carefully reviewed all feedback received by the committee and categorized them into thematic areas. We then considered whether each item represented a “complex and inefficient practice or structure” and whether that practice or structure appears to result in sizable cost inefficiencies (defined as $500k+). The committee also preliminarily considered the ways in which shifts in operations might provide opportunities to decrease the time and effort of faculty, staff and students and improve students’ academic or wellness outcomes.

Next steps. The committee developed two paths for handling the main thematic items raised to-date:

Conduct preliminary analysis: Items that appear to reflect an inefficient practice or structure, resulting in potentially sizable cost inefficiencies, will undergo preliminary analysis. Over the next two months, with financial and other data that will be provided by RISD’s leadership team, the committee will conduct a high-level analysis of these topics. From this work, the committee will discern which items merit deeper exploration, including community discussions of the non-financial benefits and challenges of existing practices and structures. The items for preliminary analysis are:

Programmatic Areas

• Inefficient space and academic resource usage (which are impacted by a broad range of current practices including differences in course scheduling grids and duplication of academic equipment and shops)
• Consequences of, and challenges presented by, the current major declarations process

Operational Areas

• Obvious and indirect costs related to the size and turnover of staff
• Usage of external contractors, consultants and vendors
• Cost and frequency of space renovations

Refer for consideration and response: There are a number of thematic areas that did not meet the guidelines, but which the committee determined still merit consideration. These items will be referred to the RISD leadership team for consultation with academic leadership where applicable, then timely response to the committee. These items include:

Institutional Culture and Strategy

• Increase budget transparency through more information and presentations regarding the budget process, revenues and areas of spending
• Increase consistency in current spending policies and tighten oversight
• Better incentivize savings to curtail unnecessary end-of-year spending
• Enhance analysis and planning to improve decision-making institution-wide
• Develop a process for periodically reviewing programming and initiatives, exploring their efficacy and current need to assess whether we should keep, expand/shift or sunset each
• Explore coordination and collaboration across events for financial efficiency and to maximize audience and impact
   

Environmental Footprint and Efficiencies

• Increase the use of clean energy on campus
• Take additional action to decrease waste (paper, food) and increase re-use (furniture, materials)
   

While the committee will begin work in the above areas, we may shift to additional areas of inquiry as our work continues. We are grateful to those who have been part of this process to-date and hope to deepen engagement with all during the spring semester. If you have questions or thoughts to share, please do so via strategy@risd.edu.

Sincerely,

Susan Doyle and Bethany Jankunis
Financial Optimization Co-Chairs

Dear Community,
 
It is with deep and sincere regret that I write to inform you of an upcoming leadership transition. Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Kerci Marcello Stroud will be departing RISD this spring to join a strategic communications firm that specializes in building the brands of educational institutions and other nonprofits. Kerci will start part-time with the firm in February while continuing to lead her team at RISD, and then begin full-time there in April.

When faced with Kerci’s news, my unfiltered and immediate reaction was a dismayed exclamation. In my short tenure at RISD, Kerci has quickly become a highly-valued colleague and advisor, someone whose strategic thinking, positivity, commitment to collegiality and mentorship of her team and others, and extraordinary efficiency and effectiveness are truly exceptional. It has been my great honor to have worked with her over the last year and a half. The institution and the senior team have benefited from her presence at RISD. Her departure is an enormous loss to RISD but a gain for the wider education and non-profit industry, where she will be able to apply her ample and varied skills broadly and in deep service to the principles that guide her. Kerci’s excitement as she explained the opportunity to me was palpable, and so we can only wish her the greatest success and happiness as she embarks on a new professional adventure.  

Kerci’s accomplishments during her time at RISD, which are too numerous to list in full, have significantly advanced our communications and marketing outcomes. Since arriving here in 2013, she has led an outstanding team that is charged with articulating, stewarding and promoting RISD’s brand. The team's most recent achievements include creating our first-ever and award-winning brand identity and launching our new digital experience platform and, ongoing throughout Kerci’s tenure, advancing RISD’s reputation around the globe. Kerci has planned and led countless announcements, including my selection as president; overseen emergency communications, including during COVID when she also served as President Somerson’s interim chief of staff; and created the RISD Communicators Network, which connects 75+ colleagues across campus. In addition, Kerci has served as a communications adviser and trusted sounding board to colleagues across campus. 
 
I will be working with Kerci in the coming months on a transition plan and I will keep you informed as we put that in place. In the meantime, please join me in thanking Kerci for her dedicated service to our community. 
 
Sincerely,

Crystal Williams
she/her

Dear RISD Community,

RISD’s Board of Trustees convenes three times per year to help advance the institution’s mission, set policies and provide organizational insight. In the spirit of transparency and to keep you informed about RISD’s challenges and opportunities, going forward I will be sharing a summary of each board meeting.

In early October, we held the first Board of Trustees meeting for the academic year. In addition to conducting routine board business, such as making committee assignments and approving audited financial statements from the past year, the board introduced a new meeting format. Trustees will now meet for two full days on the same thrice-yearly schedule of October, February and May/June. The first day is focused on the business of the college, while day two provides trustees time to learn in more detail about what is happening on campus, and employ generative thinking to reflect on our mission and inform future strategies. This is a shift from the most recent model of meeting for a long, one-day session.

The October meeting included several opportunities for trustees to engage with and hear from RISD students, faculty, staff and alumni. In one session, two alums shared how their RISD education has influenced their current work and trajectory as global makers and artists. They also shared insight about some of the things they wish they had known about life after RISD before diving into it. We also had a wonderful presentation about the RISD First-Generation to College Pre-Orientation Program, as well as informative sessions about the Fine Arts division and the Movement Lab. A highlight for trustees was welcoming a group of Resident Assistants for lunch to talk about their experiences on campus and learn more about their perspectives on residence life.

We are fortunate to have such talented, generous and dedicated trustees. Given the dynamic environment and the realities we face related to culture, climate and finance, I look forward to continuing to partner with them, and you, to accomplish the goals and outcomes that will ensure RISD is an institution that supports artists, designers and thinkers in making lasting contributions to our global society.

Our next board meeting will take place in February and will coincide with the opening of the RISD Museum's exhibition Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: I Will Not Bend an Inch.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD community,

As the tragic loss of Palestinian and Israeli lives increases, many in our campus community continue to wrestle with the repercussions of these horrific events. I understand how devastating this moment is and that we must come together to navigate its complexities. As I shared with you in my message earlier this month, I believe our primary obligation is to exhibit compassion for all of those grieving and offer gentleness as respite and salve. These practices require active and thoughtful actions that are rooted in a fundamental belief in and assertion for the dignity of human life. Our focus, therefore, is on supporting members of our campus community as we carry out RISD's educational mission.

To help with this, we have already augmented our campus resources, including expanding capacity in CAPS, and I encourage you to use all of the resources on campus as frequently as you need. We have also developed new resources, such as a workshop for faculty on negotiating challenging geopolitical moments in the classroom, hosted last week by our Teaching & Learning Lab. Additionally, we have been significantly engaged in deep, difficult and human-centered conversations within and across all of our constituencies: students, staff, faculty, parents and alumni. And yet, we continue to strive to do more; please see below for additional resources, actions and programming we are offering during this difficult time.

Reflection Rooms
Location: Homer Hall, Room 358 & 15 West, Room 238
Daily, 6 am–midnight

The Reflection Rooms are available to all RISD students, faculty and staff so that they may have a quiet space on campus for prayer, meditation or reflection. These rooms are open every day from 6 am–midnight, and they have been designed to instill a sense of calmness in the visitor. Additional information can be found here or contact ise@risd.edu 

Learning Opportunities via Brown's Watson Institute

Brown University has generously offered the opportunity for RISD students to attend the Watson Institute’s series of events addressing the current situation in Israel and Gaza. Please note that registration is required and limited; you can RSVP using the RISD-specific registration link included for each event. This evening’s event is sold out so registration is not available. 

Difficult Conversations Guide

RISD’s Intercultural Student Engagement and Student Affairs offices developed a guide that provides direction on how to have difficult conversations. We encourage you to use these guidelines as you engage with other members of the RISD community and to keep in mind RISD’s Code of Student Conduct, Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment Policy and Respect in the Workplace Policy.

Drop-In Office Hours

Several administrative staff members are making the following times available over the next two weeks for drop-in office hours for RISD community members who would like to come and share what they are thinking, feeling and carrying right now. Additional hours will be shared with students as schedules are finalized.

Provost Touba Ghadessi
20 Washington Place, Room 406
Friday, Nov 3, 4–5 pm
Monday, Nov 6, 12–1 pm
Tuesday, Nov 7, 12–1 pm
Thursday, Nov 16, 8:15–9:15 am
Friday, Nov 17, 2:30–3:30 pm

Vice President for Social Equity & Inclusion David T. Carreon Bradley
20 Washington Place, Room 343
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2–3 pm
Friday, Nov 10, 1–3 pm
Monday, Nov 13, 11 am–12:30 pm
Wednesday, Nov 15, 9:30–10:30 am

Associate Dean of Students Sara Rothenberger
Carr House, Room 301
Wednesday, Nov 1, 4:30–6 pm
Monday, Nov 6, 12–1 pm
Wednesday, Nov 8, 4:30–5:30 pm
Tuesday, Nov 14, 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Wednesday, Nov 15, 4:30–6 pm
Friday, Nov 17, 11 am–12:30 pm

Director of Intercultural Student Engagement Richard Song
Ewing Multicultural Center, Room 109
Monday, Nov 6, 11 am–1 pm
Tuesday, Nov 7, 11 am–1 pm
Thursday, Nov 9, 8:30–11 am
Monday, Nov 13, 10 am–12 pm
Tuesday, Nov 14, 1–3 pm

Beyond these resources, I remain committed to working to ensure that educational systems and structures are in place at RISD to support all members of our community. As new conflicts and tragedies emerge, we will maintain spaces for learning and exchange, processing grief, social connection and fellowship.  

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear colleagues,

Thank you for the many thoughtful responses submitted to the Financial Optimization committee's request for input, detailed below. We hope that those who have not had a chance to share their ideas and perspectives via this one-question form, will do so by 4 pm this Friday, when we will close the input form.

With gratitude,
Susan Doyle
Bethany Jankunis

--
Faculty and Staff colleagues,

The Financial Optimization committee has begun its work, which is focused in three areas: (1) assessing risks to, and sustainability of, RISD’s current business organizational and functional model; (2) identifying ways of operating that appear to be inefficient or represent a poor use of limited funds; and (3) exploring pathways to greater revenue diversification.

In order to inform the committee's work on item 2, we are inviting faculty and staff to recommend topics, areas or opportunities the committee might explore. Submissions may be made through a simple submission form via the link below through November 3.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR RESPONSE

Submissions are collected anonymously and all are welcome to make multiple submissions. The committee will use these submissions, along with other information and input, to shape a menu of potential focus areas. Later this semester, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to register their opinion about the prioritization of these areas to inform the committee's recommendations.

For more information about the Financial Optimization Initiative and the committee's work, visit the initiative's webpage.
 

Sincerely,

Susan Doyle, Professor of Illustration
Bethany Jankunis, Vice President of Strategy and Planning
Financial Optimization Co-Chairs

Dear RISD Community,

Last year, when I arrived at RISD, I was very intentional about learning what is important to you. I listened, observed and asked you questions to determine what I and senior leaders could do to make RISD a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Some of you shared how policies, systems and structures could support students in their learning and life at the college better, resulting in the Holistic Student Wellness Initiative. Others told me that we could find ways to use our limited financial resources more effectively, prompting the Financial Optimization Initiative.

Because I am a firm believer in the value of gathering data, both qualitative and quantitative, to inform strategy and action, we launched the Community and Culture Assessment. Small group conversations last spring helped us shape the Community and Culture Survey, which allows you to share your personal experiences, adding richness to the stories I’ve heard and information I have received informally and in passing.

The survey is open until Sunday, and I hope you will take the time to complete it. I understand that some of you may feel skeptical about the impact this assessment will have on RISD culture, but I hope the actions we have taken so far demonstrate a commitment to addressing our challenges, even when it is uncomfortable or difficult.

I am eager for us to co-create a culture at RISD of which we all are all proud to be a part.

Please take the survey by October 29 so that we can determine our next steps toward a thriving RISD together.

Sincerely,  Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

On behalf of the Community & Culture Assessment Working Group, we thank you for hosting our info presentations, interacting with our snack promotional tables and helping spread the word about this initiative. Likewise, thank you to those who have completed the Community & Culture survey.

Our survey completion rates as of October 13 are:

• Students: 7.2%
• Full-time faculty: 28.7%
• Part-time faculty: 7.3%
• Staff: 55.4%

At the request of and in partnership with RISD undergraduate student leadership, we are delighted to extend the survey for one additional week; it will be open until midnight on Sunday, October 29.
For the survey results to most accurately reflect our collective experiences and opinions, we continue to encourage everyone in the community to participate. Offering your perspective is critical to RISD’s ability to make meaningful change, and to know what is going well and should continue to be supported. We hope to hear from everyone and get your feedback on the issues you care about most.  
We realize how busy everyone is but we ask you, if you haven’t already, to find 20-30 minutes to make your voice heard.  And please encourage others to do the same.   
This moment holds a valuable window to make every voice count. For more information about this initiative, please visit risd.edu.

Thank you,
Tony Johnson and Jennifer Roberts, Co-chairs

Community & Culture Assessment Working Group

Tila Adams -  Director, RISD Store
David T. Carreon Bradley -  Vice President for Social Equity & Inclusion
Becky Ebeling - Special Assistant to the President
Touba Ghadessi -  Provost
Brandon Ice -  Director of Operations, Student Affairs
Bethany Jankunis -  Vice President, Strategy & Planning and Senior Advisor to the President
Tony Johnson - Associate Dean for Student Social Equity & Inclusion
Deborah Levans -  Director, Counseling & Psychological Services
Alicia Luzón - Social Equity & Inclusion Partner, Human Resources
Kerci Marcello Stroud -  Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Jeremy Radtke -  Director of Digital Initiatives, RISD Museum
Jennifer Roberts - Executive Director, Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness
Sylvia Rodriguez MAT 24 -  Graduate Student
Dinh Truong BArch 24 - Undergraduate Student

Dear Community,

In the world I want to live in, no child mourns the murder of their parent, no beloved is kidnapped and presumed dead, no persons or people are attacked for their race, religion, culture, or belief system, and no terror is wrought upon an entire people. The events in Israel and Gaza are horrific. More than two thousand human beings have died. The magnitude and scale of the violence is immeasurable. Our grief is immeasurable. And what is within our control may seem minute in the larger, global context.
 
But it is precisely what is within our control that we must especially tend. As members of a global community, our ability and obligation to exhibit respect for human dignity, compassion for those grieving, and gentleness offered as respite and salve can and should be a distinguishing factor of our campus.
 
In the world I want to live in, no individual at RISD feels silenced or otherwise diminished, no RISD student stands fearful and alone. And you are not. I implore members of this community to actively uphold the tenets of our campus, among which are to decry antisemitism, to condemn violence, to eschew injustices, to work towards social equity and inclusion, to support each other in so doing. The events in the world require these actions of us more now than ever.
 
Students, I am especially concerned about your levels of stress and distress, and for your emotional health and safety. To that end, I encourage you to seek the support services we have standing by. In addition to finding solace among the multiple communities here at RISD, at Brown, and in Providence, please use the resources on campus as frequently as you need. Please note:
 
    •    Through Counseling and Psychological Services, you can access mental health support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To schedule an appointment, call 401-454-6637.
 
    •    If you are concerned about a RISD peer’s well-being, contact RISD Public Safety at 401-454-6666 if the emergency is urgent or submit a Concern Assessment Response Evaluation (CARE) referral, and a member of the CARE network will reach out to offer support.
 
Faculty and staff, as with students, I encourage you to use the resources available to you, including finding succor among local community gatherings and seeking counseling referrals. Please contact Coastline EAP at 800 445-1195 or visit coastlineeap.com to pursue the latter.
 
In grief and with hope for peace,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear Community,

Upon Tsugumi Maki assuming the role of director of the RISD Museum on Tuesday, October 10, Dr. Sarah Ganz Blythe will return to her role as Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Programs. Sarah has served as interim Museum Director since January 1, 2021. 
 
Under her exceptional leadership, the museum has thrived, implemented numerous improvements, presented more than 29 special exhibitions and completed extensive gallery renovations, including the re-presentation of the Modern and Contemporary collection: Art and Design from 1900 to Now.
 
Moreover, advancing the institution’s SEI goals, Sarah oversaw the museum’s acquisitions of important works for the collection by: Emma Amos, Katsushika Hokusai, Kang Seung Lee, Courtney Leonard, Yoonmi Nam, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, Rose B. Simpson and Gee’s Bend quilters Ruth Pettway Mosley and Sally Bennett Jones. In addition to major video installations by Sky Hopinka and Arthur Jafa, the museum also acquired significant works on paper by Georgette de Montenay, Mari Katayama, Cara Romero, Michelle Stuart, Dorothea Tanning and Pavel Tchelitchew; decorative art by Paul Briggs, Sharon Church and Aaron Decker; and costume and textiles works by Beau McCall and Elizabeth Talford Scott, among others. 
 
Further, Sarah stewarded the return of the Benin Head of a King (Oba) in conjunction with the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution and the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). 
 
Sarah’s exceptional stewardship of the RISD Museum during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the transition to online programming and, later, to our ability to deftly pivot back to a phased return to in-person programs and events.
 
Her vision, exceptional leadership, collegiality and dedication have prepared the RISD Museum for a seamless transition to our new director. Please join me again in thanking Sarah for her outstanding service and leadership at the museum.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Faculty and Staff colleagues,

The Financial Optimization committee has begun its work, which is focused in three areas: (1) assessing risks to, and sustainability of, RISD’s current business organizational and functional model; (2) identifying ways of operating that appear to be inefficient or represent a poor use of limited funds; and (3) exploring pathways to greater revenue diversification.

In order to inform the committee's work on item 2, we are inviting faculty and staff to recommend topics, areas or opportunities the committee might explore. Submissions may be made through a simple submission form via the link below through November 3.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR RESPONSE

Submissions are collected anonymously and all are welcome to make multiple submissions. The committee will use these submissions, along with other information and input, to shape a menu of potential focus areas. Later this semester, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to register their opinion about the prioritization of these areas to inform the committee's recommendations.

For more information about the Financial Optimization Initiative and the committee's work, visit the initiative's webpage.
 

Sincerely,

Susan Doyle, Professor of Illustration
Bethany Jankunis, Vice President of Strategy and Planning
Financial Optimization Co-Chairs

Dear Community,

In June I informed you that Vice President for Institutional Advancement O’Neil Outar would be leaving RISD to pursue new opportunities. Today I am pleased to share that he has been appointed executive vice president of advancement for the Greater Boston Food Bank, where he will oversee communications, fundraising, government relations and marketing. O’Neil’s last day at RISD will now be November 1 so that he can step into this exciting new role.

Upon O'Neil's departure and until we hire a new vice president, Penelepe Hunt, leader of the higher education practice at Marts&Lundy, an agency that helps mission-driven organizations develop philanthropic strategies, and Bethany Jankunis, our vice president of strategy & planning and senior advisor to the president, will provide oversight and partnership to the unit. Penelepe, who has more than three decades of fundraising experience, will lead on fundraising strategy development and execution, and Bethany, who has provided interim leadership to IA teams at previous institutions, will focus on operations, administration and internal relations. We are lucky to have these two exceptional leaders stepping in to ensure a smooth transition.

We have retained Isaacson, Miller to conduct a national search for our next IA vice president. The position is now posted and the firm is sourcing candidates.

On Tuesday, October 17 at 3:30 pm we will hold a gathering to celebrate O’Neil and wish him well. Please be on the lookout for the invitation. I hope to see you there.

In the meantime, please join me in congratulating O’Neil on his new role and thanking him for his dedicated and highly impactful service to RISD.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams
President
she/her

Dear RISD Community,


I am pleased to announce that RISD has joined the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Terra Carta Design Lab to embolden student and alum-led, high-impact solutions to the climate crisis.

His Majesty King Charles III, in his former role as the Prince of Wales, and Sir Jony Ive HD 09 launched the Terra Carta Design Lab in 2021, in partnership with the Royal College of Art. This year’s Design Lab has expanded its search to partner with four design schools from across the world, including the Royal College of Art. RISD joins as the first and only US school to participate in this endeavor, along with the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (UAE) and the National Institute of Design (India).

The Sustainable Markets Initiative is inviting students and recent alums (who graduated in the last five years) from these four schools to address the damage being done to the planet and create breakthrough solutions for “Nature, People, and Planet,” inspired by a guiding mandate, epitomized in its charter, the Terra Carta.

In the press release announcing the 2023 initiative, President Williams noted: “We are pleased to join The Sustainable Markets Initiative for its second Terra Carta Design Lab. Art and design are essential to realizing a sustainable future. This global effort is an incredible opportunity for RISD students and alumni to apply the question-based inquiry approach they learn at RISD. This is also an important opportunity to help elevate and include voices and people who have been historically underrepresented in conversations about sustainability and the climate crisis. Including a range of perspectives and experiences—particularly from those most immediately affected by these challenges—catalyzes new insights, new discoveries, and new solutions that benefit us all. I look forward to seeing the results from the RISD community and our global counterparts.”

I share President Williams’ enthusiasm and I look forward to learning from RISD students and recent alums’ engagement with this call. In particular, I am eager to see how they will center their answers and their solutions on the amplification of silenced histories and the mending of global inequities.

To this end, RISD will seek proposals that represent and uplift narratives from typically marginalized populations, especially as they devise how practices of art and design can and will confront climate change.


RISD Strategic Partnerships is supporting this effort. In mid-October, they will share details about application guidelines, eligibility, and deadlines, as well as the incredible opportunities this endeavor holds for students and alums.

We look forward to receiving the outstanding proposals you will conceive.

Take care,

Touba Ghadessi

Dear Community,

I am pleased to announce that we have completed the search for RISD’s vice president of student life and engagement. Ray Quirolgico, EdD, currently ArtCenter College of Design’s associate provost for student affairs and dean of students, will join our community on November 1. In this newly created role, Ray will oversee our Student Affairs division and be charged with leading a vibrant student life program.

With this role established, Student Affairs now reports to Provost Touba Ghadessi, and the Registrar’s Office reports to Vice President of Enrollment Management Jamie O’Hara. This change in reporting structures, which went into effect on September 1, intends to provide a more holistic approach to our students’ learning experience, ensuring that their personal well-being and academic career inform each other effectively.

It became immediately clear throughout the interview process that Ray’s leadership is grounded in a student-centered approach that makes his decision making process both collaborative and proactive. His vast knowledge of the current higher education landscape will bring additional perspective to RISD, and I am delighted to witness how he will encourage an ethic of care to address the layered complexities that define our students’ varied experiences.

Ray has served as the associate provost for student affairs and dean of students at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, CA since 2014 and previously held administrative roles at seven other US colleges and universities. He has experience in student housing and residence life, multicultural affairs, community service and civic engagement, orientation programs, student judicial affairs and campus health. He is responsible for supporting the co-curricular life of the institution by overseeing the college’s student affairs functions in the Center for the Student Experience, which includes such responsibilities as overseeing student conduct, services for students with disabilities, student health insurance, international student services, mental health counseling, student clubs and campus activities, new student orientation and student government.
 
In addition to his work with ArtCenter, Ray has held adjunct faculty appointments at four universities, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in leadership, organizational development, research methods, education, student development theory and applied ethics. He has presented his work at over 50 national and international conferences and published in multiple academic journals. Ray earned undergraduate degrees in biology and psychology from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs administration from the University of Vermont and an EdD in organization and leadership from the University of San Francisco.

Until Ray’s arrival on November 1, we are lucky to have strong leaders in place to oversee our Student Affairs division. Dave Milstone, our current interim associate vice president of student affairs, will be with us through the end of the month. I would like to extend my deep appreciation to Dave for his dedicated leadership over this past year. From October 1 until October 31, Sara Rothenberger, our associate dean of students, will lead the division, and I thank her for stepping into this important role. I would also like to thank the below listed search committee members and members of our community who participated in interviews during our search.

Please join me in welcoming Ray to RISD!

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Search Committee Members

Touba Ghadessi – Co-Chair; Provost
James O’Hara – Co-Chair; Vice President, Enrollment Management
David T. Carreon Bradley – Vice President, Social Equity and Inclusion
John Caserta – Dean, Architecture & Design
Brandon Ice – Director of Operations, Student Affairs
Bethany Jankunis – Vice President, Strategy and Planning and Senior Advisor to the President
Linda Muller – Senior Academic Specialist, Ceramics, Glass and Jewelry + Metalsmithing
Suzanne Scanlan – Assistant Professor, Theory and History of Art and Design
Joanne Stryker – Dean of Experimental and Foundation Studies
Nelly Torres – Office Assistant, Student Affairs

Dear RISD community member,

Last winter we launched our campus-wide climate assessment to enable us to assess how all members of our community experience the current campus climate. Today we are launching the most critical input into this initiative: the Community and Culture survey.  

Through this 20-30 minute survey, you can help us assess what aspects of living, working and learning at RISD are going well and the areas in which we can improve. Consider this a chance to share your personal experiences and observations, and to offer suggestions for meaningful changes that can make RISD a place where everyone can thrive. In addition, after you complete the survey, you will have an opportunity to enter to win over 70 prizes, including gift cards, RISD Bucks, and experiences like a movie night at Providence Place for you and friends or a one-hour video chat with noted RISD alumni trustees, including Ilene Chaiken, Joe Gebbia, David Lee and Nicole Miller, among other incentives.

Please know that your survey responses will remain confidential, and the results will be reported in group form only. You will not be identifiable as an individual, and your participation in this project is voluntary. More information about this research, which has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board, an administrative committee that provides ethical and regulatory oversight of research that involves human subjects and protects the rights, safety and welfare of the people involved in such projects, is available on risd.edu.

TAKE THE SURVEY NOW

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this vital project.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear Community,

RISD’s 146th academic year is upon us, and I am excited to welcome the class of 2027, our returning community members, and RISD’s new staff, faculty, and senior leaders to our community!

Over the past few weeks, campus has been a cacophony of back-to-school activity—Resident Assistants zipping around campus preparing for returning students, residence hall move-ins, studio set-ups, supply shopping, Providence exploring—and hopefully some friend-making, too. It is exciting to witness the joy, passion and enthusiasm displayed by RISD students, staff and faculty as we prepare for classes and studios to begin.

Our community members hail from 60 countries across the globe and represent an extraordinary range of diversity of identities, backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. As I’ve said before, I believe that our differences stimulate deeper and more complex thinking, learning, and creativity. Embracing our differences and willingly engaging each other with grace and empathy—even when it is difficult or uncomfortable—supports our ongoing work of building the kind of institution of which we are proud to be a part. Through our collective efforts, I hope we can begin to manifest a reality where RISD is a place where all of us feel we have the opportunity to thrive.

Toward that end, I look forward to making progress this semester on several key community and culture initiatives:

• The Community and Culture Survey will launch later this month. I hope you will candidly share your experiences and suggestions to improve our campus culture.
• The Holistic Student Wellness Initiative will commence in earnest as we nominate two student leaders to serve on the committee. This work will center RISD’s students’ whole-person experience and make recommendations to ensure that our work and institution is optimally designed and focused on ensuring that all students can thrive.  
• The Financial Optimization Initiative will continue identifying inefficiencies and opportunities to strengthen our institution’s long-term sustainability by making recommendations for maximizing our limited resources.

To stay informed of these initiatives and other campus news and updates, I encourage you to read monthly newsletters from my office (News & Notes) and others. Stay connected by following our social media channels (such as @risd1877 on Instagram) and my Instagram, where I have a lot of fun sharing some of my adventures around campus and out in the world, especially when I’m meeting and visiting with RISD alumni, parents, and friends!

I wish you a joy-filled and purposeful start to the year. I look forward to running into you around campus.

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear students, faculty and staff,

I am pleased to update you today on plans RISD and other area colleges and universities have been making with Mayor Brett Smiley for how we will continue to support the City of Providence in the years ahead.

In 2003 RISD, Brown University, Johnson & Wales University and Providence College created a 20-year agreement to collectively support the city through voluntary payments in addition to many other financial and in-kind ways our institutions contribute to Providence. To learn about RISD’s specific contributions, please see our 2022 economic impact fact sheet.

With the 2003 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) expiring this year, we have worked collaboratively with the Mayor’s Office and our neighboring institutions of higher education to create a new 20-year agreement that includes voluntary financial payments and other contributions to the city. This proposal will be introduced at the Providence City Council’s meeting this week, and we are hopeful that it will be quickly approved.

In the proposed agreement, RISD will make annual payments to the city, which start at $600,000 in FY24 and increase by a small percentage (which is in the process of being determined) over the course of the agreement. While our 2003 agreement directed our contributions to a general fund, the payments in our new agreement go to five specific areas that we feel are important priorities to support:

• Pre-K–12 education
• Equity, diversity and inclusion
• Community safety and well-being
• Promotion of the city of Providence as a safe, vibrant and inviting place to live, work and learn
• Climate change and resiliency and adaptation infrastructure and policy

Our annual payments in this new MOU are an increase from our 2003 MOU. Given RISD’s current financial challenges, this is not an easy commitment for us to make, but we believe it is the right thing to do to support Providence. We have accounted for it in our current budget projection, which I outlined in my email last week.

The MOU also recognizes the broad range of ways RISD has contributed and will continue to contribute to Providence in addition to annual payments. This includes, for example, paying taxes on RISD properties we lease to other tenants, generating jobs as one of Providence’s top 20 employers, attracting residents and visitors to Providence who contribute to the local economy, maintaining the city-owned riverwalk area at RISD’s expense, providing Public Safety detail during select city event, hosting thousands of K-12 students at the RISD Museum for free education programs and providing art education and mentoring for hundreds of Providence teens through Project Open Door.

As a place-based institution, we believe these are important commitments for RISD to make. RISD and its many faculty, staff, students and alumni who live in Providence help foster the city’s creative ecosystem and anchor the local economy, playing a critical role in the city’s continued growth, success and financial sustainability. When Providence thrives, we all do.

Sincerely, 
David Rosati (he/ him)  Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration

Dear RISD Community,

It has been a pleasure learning about RISD and meeting many of you since I joined the institution in May. I’m looking forward to more opportunities to do so as the academic year gets underway.

Today, as a follow-up to President Williams’ June 20 campus communication that in part addressed our forecasted budget deficit, I am writing to provide additional information regarding the FY24 budget, which began on July 1.

As President Williams shared in June, we have a smaller enrollment this year than last (due largely—but not solely—to the end of the COVID-related enrollment spike and not hitting our graduate and transfer student enrollment goals). In addition, we are a tuition-dependent school facing the same inflationary pressures as other institutions. Due to the combination of these factors, we are currently projecting an operating deficit of approximately $1.6 million for FY24. This is an improvement from the original deficit projection of $3.9 million and was primarily achieved through the discretionary budget cuts outlined in President Williams' February 28 communication. While we have made significant progress in reducing the deficit, we will need to continue working to address it.

I will be back in touch with more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, I will continue to work closely with campus leaders to identify additional ways to reduce our operating costs while retaining RISD’s uniqueness and continuing to provide an exceptional education.

One of the pathways towards better fiscal health is consultation and education. So, in the coming months we will be asking colleagues who hold expertise in various areas of our institution’s operations to participate in discussions and provide input on our efforts. In addition, throughout the year ahead I plan to meet with various groups to communicate about our budget process and provide opportunities for discussion. I am looking forward to connecting with as many members of our community as I can, and I hope you will share your ideas and feedback with me.

Looking ahead at how we strengthen our long-term financial sustainability, this year our Financial Optimization Initiative will examine how we can best maximize our limited resources, decrease expenses and identify ways to increase revenues in support of our mission. As always, our focus remains on providing an exceptional experience for our students while keeping tuition rates as low as possible and increasing financial aid as much as possible.

Thank you for your help as we collectively continue to address our financial realities. I wish you a wonderful start to the semester.

Sincerely,


David Rosati (he/him)


Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration

Dear RISD Community,  

Across the institution, we are working to create a living, learning and working environment that supports the success of everyone at RISD. Feedback from members of the community is an integral part of this work. Recently, we had two important opportunities to receive this feedback through recommendations made by the Community Advisory Group and by the focus groups convened through the Community & Culture Assessment Initiative. We have carefully reviewed these recommendations to identify common themes and ways that we can take immediate action to be responsive to this feedback. The themes we heard from these groups included:  

• Find ways to alleviate the pressure on students and make RISD easier for students to navigate and find support.
• Increase understanding of the resources offered to members of our community.
• Organize town halls and other opportunities for the community to be in dialogue with one another and provide feedback, along with multi-constituent social events to bring together our full community.
• Continue with an evolution of the Community Advisory Group or other group structure for bringing together students, faculty and staff to recommend ways to strengthen our campus community.

We have recently launched or are in the process of initiating several concrete actions that address the above themes:

• Student Hub: launched this week, this new digital destination helps RISD students find what they need to succeed and thrive at RISD, including key information and pathways to essential transactions, and houses digital “front desks” for many student-facing campus services.
• Holistic Student Wellness Initiative: starting in September, a committee of students, faculty and staff will lead a comprehensive examination of student wellness, including the degree to which the living, learning and working environments we provide for students are consistent with our stated values concerning their physical, emotional and mental well-being.
• Onboarding Pilot Initiative: Human Resources and Social Equity & Inclusion are currently partnering to pilot a new onboarding and orientation program for all RISD employees, which will focus on building an inclusive community, engaging with the institution and accessing RISD resources and support services.
• We will create additional opportunities for the campus community to learn more about the institution, voice concerns and participate in dialogues; town halls are currently scheduled for November 14, 2023 and April 9, 2024.
• We will host more multi-constituency social events focused on building community, such as the RISD Summer Gathering held last week for staff, faculty and families at Tillinghast Place.
• We will launch a new group comprised of faculty, staff and student representatives from existing campus groups to gather, assess and follow through on community-building recommendations.

Building the community we desire will take time and dedication. To help with this, we will also continue to review feedback and recommendations to determine additional ways that we can be responsive to the needs of the campus community. Additionally, we will launch the RISD Community & Culture Assessment survey on September 19, which will provide a critical opportunity for everyone in the RISD campus community to share feedback on our living, learning and working environment. We hope that you will lend your voice to this important effort, which will in turn inform future work across campus. 
 
In Solidarity,

Crystal Williams, President
Renee Byas, General Counsel 
David T. Carreon Bradley, Vice President for Social Equity & Inclusion 
Sarah Ganz Blythe, Interim Director of the RISD Museum 
Touba Ghadessi, Provost 
Bethany Jankunis, Vice President of Strategy & Planning and Senior Advisor to the President 
Rick Mickool, Chief Information Officer
David Milstone, Interim Associate Vice President for Student Affairs 
James O’Hara, Vice President of Enrollment Management 
O’Neil Outar, Vice President of Institutional Advancement 
Liz Rainone, Interim Vice President of Human Resources 
David Rosati, Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration 
Jack Silva, Vice President of Campus Services 
Kerci Marcello Stroud, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer

Dear RISD Community,

I am saddened to share that our student, Brittany Colasanto 25 PH, recently passed away. We were informed of Brittany’s passing by her family. Their lovely remembrance of her can be found in the obituary. Brittany was a talented artist and passionate photographer who treasured being part of the RISD community. We extend our deepest sympathies to Brittany’s beloved family and friends.

A memorial service, which is open for all, will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at 10:00 am at Hope Church in Cranston, RI. Additionally, we will hold a gathering to honor Brittany’s life and memory in the fall. We will share details once they are finalized.

We have personally notified her departmental faculty and as many of her friends as possible. In addition to being heartbreaking, the death of someone so young, vibrant and talented can be particularly difficult to understand and grapple with. Student Affairs and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff are here to support you. CAPS is available for any student who would like to access mental health support throughout the day, after hours, or on the weekend. Students can connect with CAPS to speak with a counselor by calling 401 454-6637 or emailing counseling@risd.edu.

Dear Community,

I am pleased to inform you that we concluded the search for the next director of the RISD Museum. Tsugumi Maki, currently chief exhibitions and collections officer at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), will join our community on October 10.

As we conducted the search, I was impressed with Tsugumi’s expertise, her inclusive and collaborative leadership style, and her enthusiasm about capitalizing on the unique aspects of the school and museum. She has 25 years of experience at institutions with which RISD has relationships, and her MFA in photography and deep appreciation for makers allows her to bring an artist’s eye to the work ahead. I am eager to support Tsugumi’s vision as she takes on this leadership role and continues to amplify the RISD Museum’s importance as a cultural hub for our region and the nation.

As the chief exhibitions and collections officer at SFMOMA, Tsugumi oversees exhibitions, collection and design programs contributing to the museum’s continued status as a global leader in the art world. Prior to joining SFMOMA, she served as chief operating officer at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, as associate director of operations and collections management at the Davis Museum at Wellesley College, and in several roles at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, including head of gallery planning. You can read more about Tsugumi here.  

The international search for this role was led by myself; Bob DiMuccio, chair of the RISD Museum Board of Governors; and Anais Missakian, Pevaroff-Cohn Family Endowed Chair in Textiles. I would like to thank Bob and Anais, and the members of the search committee listed below, for the care and attention they devoted to this search, and I would also like to thank the many members of our community who participated in interviews during the finalist stage.

In addition, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Sarah Ganz Blythe who has led the museum as our interim director since December 2020. Under Sarah’s exceptional leadership, the museum has had rebounding attendance post-COVID, opened critically recognized new galleries devoted to modern and contemporary art and made acquisitions and created exhibitions, publications and programming rooted in an open and responsive approach. Upon Tsugumi’s arrival, Sarah will return to her role as deputy director for exhibitions, education and programs, which she has served in while also leading the museum.

I look forward to Tsugumi helping us build on and amplify the tremendous work underway at the museum in partnership with our wonderful museum team.

Please join me in welcoming Tsugumi to the RISD community!

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Museum Director Search Committee
Bob DiMuccio – co-chair; chair, Museum Board of Governors
Anais Missakian – co-chair; interim provost 22–23, Pevaroff-Cohn Family Endowed Chair in Textiles
Crystal Williams – co-chair; president
Jameka Hartley –  Schiller Family Assistant Professorship in Race in Art and Design, assistant professor of History, Philosophy, Social Science
Dennis Congdon – professor, Painting
Robert Mitchell – member, RISD Museum Board of Governors
Kate Irvin – curator and head, costume & textiles 
Kajette Solomon – museum SEI program specialist
Todd Waterbury – member, RISD Board of Trustees
Toots Zynsky – member, RISD Museum Board of Governors