New Cohort of RISD Presidential Fellows Hits the Ground Running

“As an emerging architect interested in furthering my education, I chose RISD’s Interior Architecture department because I wanted to be part of a program grounded in craft within a framework of design,” says grad student Charlston Britton MDes 27. “Considering climate issues and the fact that 50% of our global carbon emissions are caused by construction and manufacturing practices, the program’s focus on adaptive reuse makes it the perfect place for me.”

Britton, a New Orleans native who experienced first-hand Hurricane Katrina’s terrible toll on communities of color, is one of seven grad students selected to join RISD’s Society of Presidential Fellows this year. Presidential Fellows are chosen through a highly competitive process and receive full-tuition funding for the duration of their studies at RISD.

“I’ve always been interested in the idea of reuse,” Britton adds, “especially in relation to Black creativity. Since coming to RISD, I’ve started to trust my intuition and tap into my lived experiences, particularly in moments when I’m feeling stuck.”

Fellow Architecture & Design student Donelle Wedderburn MLA 28, who joined RISD’s Landscape Architecture department last fall, is also concerned about the future of our planet. Her goal at RISD is to learn how to support and empower Black communities in co-designing climate-resilient, inclusive public spaces and fostering environmental stewardship. “I intend to educate students of all ages about environmentally responsive design after graduating, fostering a new generation of stewards for the built and natural environments,” she explains.

In the Fine Arts division, textile designer and Mexican national Emilia López Filloy MFA 27 TX blends craft, innovation, and activism. In RISD’s Textiles department, she is focusing on Jacquard weaving, pushing technical boundaries, and expanding her conceptual practice. “I was attracted to RISD because it has a great variety of looms and tools we can use,” she says. “I’m also learning a lot about working with natural dyes and looking forward to collaborating with people in other departments, mixing textiles with ceramics or interiors.”

Painter Benjamin Carrasco MFA 27 PT is also interested in mixing mediums and looking forward to exploring sculpture, installation, glass, and sound in the coming months as well as immersing himself in Painting department studios. “The way I think about my work is already changing since coming here,” he says, “and these studios are incredible. In Chile, there is no art school that gives you a studio space. RISD’s facilities are amazing, and getting to meet people from other countries is great.”

Rwandan native Olivier Mbabazi MA 26 GAC began his creative journey in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, where he witnessed grief and other profound impacts of the tragedy. At RISD he is studying in the Global Arts and Cultures program, expanding his research into art’s role in preserving memory and decolonizing culture.

The cohort is rounded out by Taos Pueblo and Diné artist and designer Margeaux Abeyta MFA 27 SC, who joined RISD’s Sculpture department in the fall, and interdisciplinary designer Whitmire Vo MID 28, who is earning her degree in the Industrial Design department. Abeyta describes herself as an artist whose conceptually driven practice explores Indigenous identity, storytelling, and environmental justice. At RISD she is refining her conceptual rigor and craftsmanship and engaging in critical dialogues. Vo is committed to exploring how to ground digital experiences in physical presence and designing more intuitive, human-centered products.

“Each one of these incredible young creatives brings a unique perspective to RISD and impacts the entire community in positive and unpredictable ways,” says Vice President of Institutional Advancement Amanda MacMullan. “We’re so grateful for the opportunity to learn from them as they learn from their professors and peers across campus.”

Simone Solondz / top photo by Dee Speaks
January 20, 2026