Committee and Working Group Rosters

Find below lists of the students, faculty, staff and alums who comprise the committees and working groups steering RISD’s key strategic initiatives.

Holistic Student Wellness Initiative Committee

  • Patricia Barbeito - Dean, Liberal Arts
  • Kaz Bradley - Student, Sculpture 2027
  • Janice DeFrances - Senior Lecturer, Teaching + Learning in Art + Design
  • Ginnie Dunleavy - Executive Director, Auxiliary Services
  • Spencer Evans - Associate Professor, Experimental and Foundation Studies
  • Holly Gaboriault - Assistant Professor-in-Residence, Illustration
  • Touba Ghadessi - Provost
  • Waverly Huang - Student, Industrial Design 2026
  • Alison Huff - Academic Division Manager, Fine Arts
  • Bethany Jankunis - Vice President of Strategy and Planning & Senior Advisor to the President
  • Tony Johnson - Associate Dean, Student Social Equity and Inclusion
  • Elyana Kadish - Health Educator, Student Life
  • Maya Krinsky - Associate Director, Multilingual Learning and Inclusive Teaching
  • Deborah Levans - Director, Counseling and Psychological Services
  • Ray Quirolgico - Vice President of Student Life
  • Sara Rothenberger - Associate Dean of Students, Student Life
  • Paige Sias - Student, Apparel Design 2026
  • Brian Ulrich - Department Head and Associate Professor, Photography
  • Clement Valla - Dean, Experimental and Foundation Studies
  • Lothar Windels - Professor, Furniture Design

Past Members: 

  • Zaineb Aljumayaat - Student, Illustration 2025
  • David Carreon Bradley - Vice President, Social Equity and Inclusion
  • Khipra Nichols - Associate Professor, Industrial Design
  • Jennifer Prewitt-Freilino - former Dean, Liberal Arts
  • Joanne Stryker - former Dean, Experimental and Foundation Studies

Financial Optimization Initiative Committee

  • Alejandro Borsani - Associate Professor, Experimental and Foundational Studies
  • John Caserta - Dean, Architecture and Design
  • Sarah Cunningham - Vice Provost, Strategic Partnerships
  • Bob DiMuccio - Board of Trustees
  • Susan Doyle - Professor, Illustration
  • Fabian Fondriest - Board of Trustees
  • Touba Ghadessi - Provost
  • Brooks Hagan - Dean, Fine Arts
  • Bethany Jankunis - Vice President of Strategy and Planning & Senior Advisor to the President
  • Leora Maltz-Leca - Professor, Theory and History of Art and Design
  • Jorge Mejia - Director, Auxiliary Business Affairs and Budget
  • Rick Mickool - Chief Information Officer
  • Ray Quirolgico - Vice President of Student Life
  • David Rosati - Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration
  • Jack Silva - Vice President, Campus Services
  • Nicholas Ventola - Technical Assistant III, Experimental and Foundation Studies
  • JOFF - Associate Professor, Apparel Design

Past members:

  • Jennifer Bose - Deputy Director, Museum Finance and Operations
  • David Carreon Bradley - Vice President, Social Equity and Inclusion
  • Richard Gann - Senior Critic, Illustration

Life After RISD Initiative Working Group

Chair
Bill Foulkes - senior critic, Industrial Design

Members
Brooks Hagan - professor, Textiles; dean, Fine Arts
Kevin Jankowski - director, RISD Career Center
Bethany Jankunis - vice president of Strategy and Planning
Karma Johnson 26 SC - student
Tony Johnson - associate dean, Student Social Equity & Inclusion
Alex Posen P 27 - artist/entrepreneur
Dallas Pride - executive director, Alumni and Family Relations
Urvi Sharma 17 FD - cofounder, INDO
Antonia Steinberg 22 FD - president, Buck’s Rock Art Camp
Ayako Takase - associate professor and graduate program director, Industrial Design
Ray Quirolgico - vice president, Student Life
Mighty Wanitprapha 24 GD - co-president, E’ship Club

Active strategic initiatives

RISD Health and Wellness Ambassadors at Move-In Day - photo by Jo Sittenfeld
Holistic Student Wellness

The Holistic Student Wellness Initiative aims to align students’ living, learning and working environment with our stated values concerning their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

RISD flags flying in front of downtown highrises
Financial Optimization

Through this initiative we aim to strengthen our long-term financial sustainability, maximize the use of our limited funds, and build new and expanded revenue streams that strengthen our financial base and increase resources to support our core mission.

Washington Place, home of the Career Center, on a sunny spring day
Life After RISD

Responding to the constantly changing landscape of creative-industry careers, this working group aims to build systems, structures and practices that will prepare RISD students to thrive in their chosen professional practices.