2025-26 Community Announcements

Dear RISD Community,

Last night, we learned that the search for the suspect in Saturday’s horrific attack at Brown University has concluded. Law enforcement authorities announced that the man they identified as the shooter was found deceased in Salem, New Hampshire. Authorities believe he was also responsible for the murder of a MIT professor on Monday.

Brown, RISD, our College Hill and Providence neighbors, and all those whose lives were touched by this tragedy are now forever bonded by a common sadness. But we are also connected by much more—our strength and our kindness toward and care for one another. I share Brown’s President Paxson’s sentiment that reaching the conclusion of the manhunt will not restore losses, but may help us begin to move forward. Because Brown University’s community and ours are so closely intertwined,  I encourage you to read President Paxson’s most recent update (linked above).

We are mindful that many among our RISD community will continue to carry heavy feelings and we, therefore, will continue to offer direct and tangible support. Operationally, RISD’s Emergency Operations Command Team (EOCT) is actively reviewing our current security practices and protocols.

In the days ahead, we will share additional information regarding all that RISD is doing and will do regarding safety protocols and community offerings.

In the meantime, take good care, RISD.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Resources for community members following the events at Brown University

As we navigate this time together as a community, please know that there are various resources available to provide individual support to those who may be in distress.

For RISD Students:

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If you are a RISD student currently in Rhode Island, you can also call CAPS for appointments or support during standard office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm eastern).

For Faculty and Staff: 
For any faculty or staff needing personal support, Coastline EAP, our Employee Assistance provider, offers confidential counseling and referral/resource services 24 hours a day at 800 445-1195.

Other support:
Through the 988 Lifeline, you have access to free, quality, one-on-one assistance 24/7. 988 includes resources for call, text, chat and options for the hard-of-hearing community.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline: Available 24/7 and is a free and confidential counseling line for immediate mental health support following critical incidents. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.

Public Safety Guidance:
If at any time you feel unsafe or observe suspicious activity, call Public Safety at 401-454-6666. We encourage you to store this number in your phone. If there is imminent danger, dial 911.

Dear RISD Community,

I write to you following the horrific attack on Brown’s campus on Saturday. First, we at Rhode Island School of Design mourn the loss of life and injury. I know this community extends our deepest condolences to the families, beloveds, and friends of the two students who were killed, just as we share a sense of outrage and sadness for the injuries–both physical and emotional–that the survivors have suffered and will continue to endure. We also lament the heightened anxiety and dismay that now exists in our campus communities and within the city of Providence and across the state of Rhode Island.

The gorgeous and unique symbiosis and mutuality between the Brown and RISD campuses strengthen both institutions, adding to the incredible variety of modes of making, discovery, and learning that define our institutions. We share degree programs, which graduate brilliant designers, artists, scholars, and engineers. Our students share classrooms, student clubs, a museum, libraries, friendships, community, and a vibrant and vital sense of exploration, innovation, and joy. And, too, our staff and faculty share collegial relationships and friendships, and understand themselves to be not only in community with each other, but also the stewards of that community, precious and rare as it is. College Hill is now forever changed by the scourge of gun violence. And we mourn that change. And we endeavor to learn and grow from it. And while our schools are very different—with unique origin stories, missions, and outcomes, our mutuality is undeniable. And we cherish it. And so, we especially mourn what transpired at Brown on Saturday. 

Whether on campus today or at home among family, our students, staff, and faculty are experiencing a range of potent emotions: disbelief, sadness, anxiety, relief, anger, bemusement, or all of the above. Today, I sat with a small group of staff and faculty around a table over a brown-bag lunch. We talked about this painful moment—acknowledging the complex emotions our community is experiencing in the wake of such terrifying gun violence. And it is a moment experienced not just at Brown and RISD, but in Providence and the state of Rhode Island, made more difficult by the facts on the ground, which are, unfortunately, changeable and leave us without the answers that would assuage our anxieties and bewilderment. I am thankful to those who attended today’s lunch, as their insights were invaluable.

Further, this afternoon a group of RISD senior leaders debriefed Saturday’s events and our response to them. We acknowledge that there are lessons to learn and act upon–among them enhanced internal and external communication and coordination, especially given the mutual nature of our campuses. Thank you to all members of our community who have made suggestions to strengthen RISD and how we support our community members. And thank you, too, to those whose letters of support and appreciation have reached us.

I now turn to several practical interventions that are worth sharing. First, the city's shelter-in-place order is lifted; as such, RISD remains open. RISD’s Emergency Operations Command Team (EOCT) is actively monitoring the situation. The lines of communication with the City, the Mayor, and President Paxson remain open and active. We appreciate their leadership and acknowledge the incredible complexity of this moment. RISD stands ready to be of help in any way we can. Likewise, we will continue to coordinate with local law enforcement and neighboring institutions. Public Safety guidance and reminders are included below my signature. We will communicate critical information as promptly as possible via RISDAlerts and the RISD Emergency web page.

Given last night’s news about the release of the person of interest, many among us are feeling a renewed sense of tension and uncertainty.  For some of us, that means a desire to come to work and be in and among this community. For others, it may mean a different option if there is one available. We encourage RISD managers to offer increased flexibility this week for their employees wherever possible. Employees, please speak with your managers about flexible work arrangements or engage RISD’s time away policy. As a reminder, for any faculty or staff needing personal support, resources are listed at the end of this message. We are also working on securing additional crisis-response support for staff in the immediate term. We will send a separate notice regarding that resource if it becomes available.

For students, Student Life professionals are systematically identifying and contacting those who remain on campus or may be in Providence but in off-campus housing to provide care. While classes have concluded and most (not all) students are now away from campus for winter break, support is available and encouraged. Please see updated information from CAPS and additional crisis response resources below or at students.risd.edu/counseling.

But more, this situation is a harsh reminder that we live in a world where safety is not a given and where gun violence can cruelly touch each of our lives in the most lamentable way, no matter where we live, who we are, or what we dream of for the future. Last night, I attended a community vigil at Providence’s Lippitt Park – it was a reminder of the power of being in the light of loving, caring, human beings. As a community of people who seek to serve the human project rather than destroy it, I hope that we all find strength in the light of our loved ones and each other.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Resources for community members following the events at Brown University

As we navigate this time together as a community, please know that there are various resources available to provide individual support to those who may be in distress.

For RISD Students:

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All RISD students can access 24/7 mental health counseling by calling Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 401-454-6637 at any time, to be connected with our after-hours counseling service.

If you are a RISD student currently in Rhode Island, you can also call CAPS for appointments or support during standard office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm eastern).

For Faculty and Staff: 
For any faculty or staff needing personal support, Coastline EAP, our Employee Assistance provider, offers confidential counseling and referral/resource services 24 hours a day at 800 445-1195.

Other support:
Through the 988 Lifeline, you have access to free, quality, one-on-one assistance 24/7. 988 includes resources for call, text, chat and options for the hard-of-hearing community.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline: Available 24/7 and is a free and confidential counseling line for immediate mental health support following critical incidents. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.

Public Safety Guidance:
If at any time you feel unsafe or observe suspicious activity, call Public Safety at 401-454-6666. We encourage you to store this number in your phone and to also download the LiveSafe app, which provides safety resources such as tracking a friend and crime reporting. If there is imminent danger, dial 911.

Dear RISD Community,

Earlier this evening there was an active shooter incident on Brown University’s campus, which took place near Brown’s Barus & Holley Engineering building. While the situation is ongoing, RISD is closely monitoring and remains in contact with Brown Public Safety and Providence Police. Here is what we know at this time:

• Local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities are on the scene. As soon as the incident was reported, we alerted our community members to avoid Brown’s campus and the affected areas.
• There are confirmed reports of two fatalities and at least eight injured, although authorities have not yet identified the victims. Injured victims have been transported to local hospitals.
• While no additional shots have been reported, as of 8:30 pm ET, there are no suspects in custody. Authorities are searching the area and constituents are encouraged to avoid College Hill.
• RISD classes ended this week and, as a result, RISD’s campus is relatively quiet as many RISD students have already made their way to their Winter Break destination.
• For additional updates, please follow the Brown University Emergency Updates page.

On the precipice of a season in which so many gather, celebrate, and reflect, such a tragedy is especially devastating. We mourn for the loss of life, for the physical and emotional injury this event has caused, and for interruption of the sense of safety and security that existed on College Hill. While we do not yet have the answers and information so many of us yearn for, please know that the safety and wellbeing of our community is our highest priority. RISD Public Safety personnel are actively working with authorities to keep our community members safe. Please only contact them in the case of an emergency.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD Community,

I am saddened to share that one of our students passed away yesterday, October 25, 2025. Losing a member of the RISD community has profound effects on all of us, and our hearts go out especially to the student’s family, friends, peers, and mentors. 
 

We have contacted the student’s family, and out of respect for their wishes, are not publicly sharing the student’s identity at this time. We will do so only with the expressed consent of the surviving loved ones.

We have started the process of contacting those members of the RISD community who were close to the student, including their housemates, to provide support in this difficult time. Also, we have notified all faculty who had the student in class. My thoughts are with all of you as we hold the student’s family and friends in our hearts.

On Monday, October 27 from 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM, we will hold an open, quiet space in the Fleet Library for the RISD community to gather in this difficult moment to support and care for one another. There will be no formal remarks or program. All are welcome. 

Information on additional resources for students, faculty, and staff can be found below my signature.

Please take good care of yourselves and one another.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

For Students: 

Students who would like an appointment to speak with a counselor at Counseling and Psychological Services - please call 401 454-6637 or email counseling@risd.edu. Someone will always answer the phone number to assist you, and appointment times will be made as widely available as possible.

For Faculty and Staff:

For any faculty or staff needing personal support, Coastline EAP, our Employee Assistance provider, offers confidential counseling and referral/resource services 24 hours a day at 800 445-1195.

We encourage anyone who needs support to take advantage of these resources. In addition, we ask anyone who is concerned about the wellbeing of a RISD community member to contact RISD Public Safety at 401 454-6666, our counseling office at 401 454-6637, or to submit a Concern Assessment Response Evaluation (CARE) referral. 

Dear RISD Community,

RISD’s Board of Trustees convenes for scheduled meetings at least three times per year in addition to the ongoing work of the board’s committees to help advance the institution’s mission, set policies, and provide organizational insight.

In May, the Board of Trustees welcomed the following new trustees:

Term Trustees

• Roger Brooks P 09

• Geesun Chung P 26

• Michael Maltzan BArch 85/P 24

• Jill Medvedow

• Rex Wong BArch 03

• Christina Wu P 28 
   

Emeritus Trustee

• Kim Gassett-Schiller P 14

   

Ex-officio Trustees

• William Hammer BArch 65; chair, Emeriti Trustees

• Missy Waytena P 26; chair, Families Association

Each brings passion for RISD’s mission and vision, along with years of experience in key areas such as law, business, finance, higher education, and cultural institutions focused on art and design. We are grateful for their leadership, dedication, and care as we work together to accomplish goals and outcomes that ensure RISD’s future.

In addition to routine college business, trustees engaged with members of the cabinet to hear updates on RISD’s financial position and enrollment, the accreditation and strategic planning processes, and plans for RISD’s 150th anniversary. The board also approved the RISD Museum’s 2025–29 strategic plan, which outlines the museum’s future direction and priorities, as well as providing a practical roadmap for achieving goals and outcomes.

A highlight of each board meeting includes a student engagement lunch. This fall, undergraduate and graduate international students joined the trustees and cabinet members to discuss their experiences of studying in the US, what motivated them to study abroad at RISD, and how the current political climate has affected their decision-making process as they continue to pursue higher education opportunities.

It is always a pleasure to welcome RISD’s Board of Trustees to campus. I remain inspired by and grateful for their creativity and optimism as we continue work that advances RISD’s mission in a rapidly changing landscape. 

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD Community,

As you may be aware, RISD is preparing to craft its next strategic plan. As we approach our 150th anniversary, we are called to envision our highest collective aspirations, aligned with our mission, vision, and values. The strategic planning process allows us to reflect, both in celebration and contemplation, and to consider what we wish RISD’s future to be. 

For nonprofit institutions, strategic planning is a layered and iterative process. It takes into account the realities of an organization while looking at the opportunities its future could hold. The strategic planning process serves both internal and external purposes and will help RISD to identify and streamline its priorities by answering five core questions:

• What are our priorities in the current environment?

• What resources—financial, human, and institutional—do we require to achieve our goals?

• Based on our strengths and expertise, how will we continue to make an impact as an institution?

• For what and to whom do we wish to hold ourselves accountable?

• How will we know we are making progress? 

We have convened a Strategic Planning Steering Committee that will consult with a broad range of constituents (e.g., faculty, staff, students, alums, and industry leaders) as we co-create a visionary and achievable plan, moored in our mission and values, shaped by our insight, oriented toward equitable and sustainable impact, and reflective of the extraordinary work already occurring across the institution. The new plan will be shaped by a process that is rigorous, bold, and inclusive of recommendations gained from the Holistic Student Wellness, Financial Optimization, and Preparedness for Life After RISD initiatives, as well as ongoing accreditation efforts. To support the Steering Committee’s work, we have engaged the consulting firm Credo-Carnegie, which will help us not only develop a sound strategic plan, but also create a framework for its implementation.
 

Timeline

• FALL 2025 | Launch & Listening: Initial framing, stakeholder engagement, discovery, and alignment

• SPRING 2026 | Drafting & Refinement: Developing goals, metrics, and action pathways

• SUMMER 2026 | Validation & Finalization: Institutional review and final adjustments

• FALL 2026 | Public Release: Launch and dissemination of the final strategic plan

In the coming weeks, we will share more information about listening sessions and how all of you will be invited to be involved. Your support of RISD’s strategic planning process and its importance for our future is very meaningful, and we are grateful for it. 
 

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her) 
President

Touba Ghadessi (she/her) 
Provost

Strategic Planning Steering Committee Members

Yukti Agarwal, BRDD 24 TX

Ashleigh Axios 08 GD, Trustee

Roger Brooks P 09, Trustee

Tyanna Buie, associate professor, Printmaking

John Caserta, dean, Architecture & Design

Touba Ghadessi (co-chair), provost

Adela Goldbard, associate professor, Experimental and Foundation Studies

Jess Harris, student support & CARE Network program manager, Student Life

David Rosati, senior vice president, Finance & Administration

Lisa Sacco MFA 23 FD

Eric Telfort 05 IL, dean, Fine Arts

Crystal Williams (co-chair), president

Dear students, staff, and faculty,

Welcome to RISD, Class of 2029, new staff and faculty, and welcome back to our returning community members! I am thrilled to be back on campus with all of you as we begin the 2025–26 academic year.

A great deal has happened over the past few months. Below, I provide a few updates and additional information as we embark on a new semester.

New Federal Policies and Their Impacts

Last spring, the current administration announced new federal regulations and policies, with profound implications for the higher education sector.

Changes to financial aid access, including new limits on the amounts and kinds of financing available to students and parents, proposed changes to the Federal Work-Study Program, as well as new eligibility restrictions to Pell Grants, which support students with the least financial resources, will affect who has the ability to pursue higher education. International students face additional challenges, including new visa fees and changes to requirements.

Limiting options students and their parents use to pay for college and restricting access to international students can lead to a less inclusive campus community and culture. I continue to believe that our diversity is our strength. Members of the RISD community hail from nearly every continent across the globe, practice myriad faith traditions, and embody multiple identities that span race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and more. Our international students bring unique perspectives and contributions that make our learning environment more vibrant. And as a result of such admixture of learning and exchange, our community is made richer.

Artists and designers shape nearly every aspect of our world. Therefore it matters greatly who is able to imagine themselves as an artist or designer. Recognizing the broader purpose of higher education—to produce critical thinkers and problem solvers who are engaged citizens of the country and the world—implies that diversity of thought and approach is crucial to creating solutions to the world’s most complex challenges and to societal advancement. Art and design education is and remains central to this critical work. The impact of many of the new and changing policies is still unfolding, but be assured that I and senior leaders continue to monitor developments closely.

Looking Ahead

Federal Landscape: We continue to focus on strategic priorities centered on our students, stabilizing our operations and finances, and strengthening our community. To keep everyone informed of developments, Senior Vice President for Finance David Rosati, Provost Touba Ghadessi, and Vice President for Enrollment Management Jamie O’Hara will once again offer open sessions in which community members can learn about the college’s current financial position and future plans. Dates and calendar holds will be sent soon. We will also hold forums to informally discuss current events in the federal policy landscape for students, staff, and faculty. Additional details will be shared shortly.

Strategic Initiatives: We are moving forward with some recommendations that emerged from the three working group initiatives—Holistic Student Wellness, Preparedness for Life After RISD, and Financial Optimization. Implementation plans based on the working group recommendations have been created; additional details will be shared in an upcoming message.

Planning Overview: In addition, these next two years will be full of impactful engagement. First, we are approaching our 150th anniversary. Second, we are in the midst of focusing our fundraising efforts very keenly on student success, which will strengthen the student experience. Thirdly, we are on the precipice of developing RISD’s new strategic plan. While distinct endeavors, they offer us an opportunity to integrate not only our thinking, but also our actions, so that the work of one effort can strengthen the outcomes of another.

As we approach our 150th anniversary, we are called to envision our highest collective aspirations as aligned with our mission, vision, and values. This anniversary provides us with an important opportunity to celebrate—boldly, creatively, joyfully, and ambitiously—while simultaneously laying plans to ensure that RISD will be here and thriving for another 150 years. In the midst of all of that momentum, which we are building even as I write this, we are focusing on expanding financial aid coffers, ensuring RISD students have access to the high-impact practices and resources that we know inform their post-graduation outcomes, and can be full participants in the RISD experience no matter their financial status. The strategic planning process affords us an opportunity to reflect, both in celebration and contemplation, and to consider what we wish RISD’s future institutional impact to be. Listening sessions will begin later this month, and more information about the process and how community members can be involved will be shared soon.

Accreditation: To maintain accreditation, RISD is required to conduct a substantial self-study every 10 years, of which we are in the midst. This self-study must rigorously and honestly examine all areas of college operations to demonstrate compliance with the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) standards. Last fall, RISD initiated its reaccreditation process by convening eight working groups, comprising community members from across the college and led by chairs, to focus intently on each NECHE standard and gather information on RISD’s compliance with these standards. The working groups submitted detailed sets of bullet points that demonstrate compliance, citing appropriate documentation when possible. Using those reports, accreditation co-chairs Provost Ghadessi and Executive Director of Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness Jennifer Roberts, with Director, Center for Arts & Language Jennifer Liese, drafted a comprehensive report (currently under cabinet review and available to the RISD community later in the fall semester). In late October, the chair of the visiting team, Trinity College President Emerita Joanne Berger-Sweeney, will conduct a preliminary visit to campus in anticipation of the full team visit that concludes the self-study process in March 2026.

The start of a new academic year is a wonderful time to reset, explore new perspectives, and imagine possibilities without limits. The collective work before us—whether helping to envision our new institutional strategy, participating in planning or evincing of events and interactions for the sesquicentennial, helping to raise new funds in service of expanding access, or engaging in the reaccreditation process to ensure we’re critically evaluating and reflecting our strengths and adequately and effectively addressing our challenges—all call us to amplify this amazing place and its people. In this, I find an enormous amount of hope and joy. I look eagerly forward to the year ahead. And I wish each of you a joyful and abundant beginning, too!

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President