Crystal Williams
As our 18th president, Crystal Williams leads RISD in advancing and amplifying the power of art and design in a changing world, and fostering a campus and community that centers equity and inclusion in all we are and do.
A forward-looking dream
“We are galvanized to create art and design spaces, classrooms, and practices that reflect the full breadth of human dynamism and a belief that what makes us distinct from one another is precisely our strength.”
— from President Williams’ October 7, 2022 inauguration address
A vision for teaching and learning
Informing President Williams’ work and leadership is her belief in RISD’s responsibility to amplify the talents of our students, and respond to their needs.
Select interviews
“Young creatives... have all the intelligence and ingenuity we need to solve our challenges and advance what is good, right and just among our species.” (Design Milk, Jun 30, 2023)
“The art world is becoming more inclusive. But as with all change there is much to do and a long way to go… ” (The Public’s Radio, Feb 2, 2023)
“We need all artists speaking with the fullness of their voice... . This is one of the ways we might be able to find our way back to one another.” (Rhode Island Monthly, Sep 19, 2022)
Community announcements
Apr 26, 2024
A note about today's rally
Dear Students,
I learned last night that a rally is scheduled today on the RISD Beach. As you know from our previous emails, we have consistently affirmed your right to freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and peaceful assembly. And I again do so now. Perhaps less evident but no less important is that over the past several months, we have worked quietly behind the scenes to assure that these freedoms remain yours to evince as students at Rhode Island School of Design. And we will continue to protect those rights.
We are in a moment of national and international import. Across the country, college campuses are alight with activist activity. But recently, a gestalt and series of actions have emerged on other campuses that are concerning. On many of those campuses, police forces have been called in to quell, disband, or otherwise engage students. We want to avoid what we’ve seen take place elsewhere. There is no moment when I, as your president, want to see police action taken against students who are peacefully protesting. So, I want to speak to the specifics here at RISD and solicit your help. But a little context first.
Because of the nature of our city-based campus and the proximity of our buildings and gathering spaces (e.g., RISD Beach, corner of Washington Place, and S. Main, etc.) to public streets, when there are large demonstrations, Providence Police show up, typically without our invitation. That was the case during last year’s labor strike. And it will be the case today. If you see Providence Police today, be assured that we did not request their presence. If they are present, their aim is to protect the peace.
That said, we have taken proactive steps to ensure a positive result to today’s rally. I have personally contacted Mayor Smiley to express our commitment to your safety and right to demonstrate. Other RISD leaders have also reached out to their counterparts in the Providence Police Department, expressing our desire to prevent the conflicts seen on other campuses from occurring here. Moreover, RISD Public Safety is fully dedicated to protecting our community.
But we need you to do your part. As you gather, please do so peacefully. Please do not impede traffic. The corner of Waterman and Benefit is a busy public intersection, as you know. Please stay on the beach and sidewalk. Further, I feel compelled to remind you to heed the public safety notice that was issued yesterday regarding external actors driving by and shooting soft munitions from pellet guns (a national trend.) Again, because of the public nature of our campus, the possibility of mal intended external entities engaging is always an unfortunate possibility.
Finally, please be aware and review the RISD Code of Student Conduct (which was shared yesterday in an email from Vice President Quirolgico). It’s important that as you move through the world, you are armed not only with ardor for the causes you deem just but also with information that helps you make informed decisions that impact your life now and into the future.
Take good care.
Crystal Williams (she/her)
President
Apr 03, 2024
Preparedness for Life After RISD Working Group
RISD graduates emerge into a complex, global, interconnected, transdisciplinary, competitive and costly landscape. It is vital that they have command of their chosen discipline; possess the habits of mind and action that characterize artists, designers and creative leaders of genuinely original and transformative practice; and are prepared to engage the world of work effectively upon graduation. I am pleased to announce a new initiative, Preparedness for Life After RISD, a multifaceted effort based on equity principles focused on further bolstering post-graduation success.
Composed of students, faculty, staff, alums and art and design professionals, this working group is charged with producing a comprehensive report and set of recommendations that envisions a strategic and comprehensive direction for post-graduation success that is sensitive to the differences between vocational and art and design education.
Indeed, good work is already happening across the institution focused on preparing students to lead productive lives as artists, designers and creative leaders. Offices like the RISD Career Center, faculty members who integrate students into a collective network of experienced working artists and designers, academic departments that incorporate post-college preparedness into their courses, visiting artist series, student-led clubs like E-Ship and programs featuring or capitalizing on alums reflect a strong and collective commitment to ensuring post-graduation success.
There are wonderful programs across campus. Integrating them more deeply and systemically across the student experience will further strengthen student outcomes. Further, through robust analysis, discernment and visioning, we have a vital opportunity to also address existing gaps and create a more cohesive and integrated approach to supporting students—one that capitalizes on and deepens existing good work and ambitiously and appropriately augments that work. To achieve this goal, we will be devoting greater focus in the months ahead to ensure that, coupled with the exceptional art and design education they receive, RISD students are also prepared for a successful professional life after RISD—no matter what field(s) or course of action they choose to pursue.
Among the scope of its charge, the working group for Preparedness for Life After RISD will focus on the following:
- Clear definitions of "prepared for life after RISD" and "post-graduation success" that are sensitive to the essential difference between vocational education and art and design education.
- Obtaining and analyzing relevant data (i.e., qualitative and quantitative, including longitudinal) regarding post-graduation success at RISD, among AICAD schools and art and design majors at research universities, etc., taking special care to understand disaggregated demographic data where possible (e.g., gender, race, nationality, first-generation-to-college status, etc.).
- Identifying ways alums might be effectively engaged on a larger, more strategic scale in promoting post-graduation success (e.g., scaling or expanding current programs, sunsetting existing programs to accommodate new ones, creating new technology-based interventions, etc.).
- Gathering information about how industry professionals are engaged across the college and assessing whether different, added or more systematic frameworks are needed.
- Gathering information about successful mentorship programs, including costs, administrative structures, etc., and, if mentorship is a key finding of the analysis, articulating such distinctive qualities at RISD, including staffing, structure, etc., in a mentorship program proposal.
- Suggesting specific ways RISD can create more robust, productive, systemic and strategic networks to benefit post-graduation success, paying particular attention to the global nature of our student body.
We aim to emerge from this project with an overarching and cohesive strategy and, potentially, a centralizing structure predicated on a deeply informed landscape analysis, data and consultations with key stakeholders on and off campus. The resulting exploration and recommendations will be ambitious and worthy of our students.
I have asked Bill Foulkes, senior critic in Industrial Design, to chair this working group. The members of the group are listed below. Their report and recommendations are due in December 2024.
We realize that their efforts will be complex and involve many on this campus and beyond, including faculty, staff, students, alums, parents and employers. I thank all participants in advance for their time and energy in strengthening our work in this area.
Sincerely,
Crystal Williams (she/her)
President
Working Group for Preparedness for Life After RISD
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 - co-founder, INDO
Antonia Steinberg 22 FD - president, Buck’s Rock Art Camp
Ayako Takase - associate professor & graduate program director, Industrial Design
Ray Quirolgico - vice president, Student Life
Mighty Wanitprapha 24 GD - co-president, E’ship Club
Mar 10, 2024
Notice of Student Death
Dear RISD Community,
It is my sad duty to share with you that our student Everett Moore 25 AP passed away off campus today. This is a tragic loss for Everett’s family, friends, peers, and our entire community. We all mourn the loss of such promise.
At this time, plans for celebrating Everett’s life have not been confirmed. We will share information as it becomes available.
As we all process this tragic loss, please support each other and keep Everett and Everett's loved ones in your thoughts.
Below are support resources that are available to our community.
Sincerely,
Crystal Williams she/her
President
President's Office
Support resources
For students: Student Affairs and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff are here to support you. CAPS is available for any student wanting to access mental health support throughout the day, after hours, or on the weekend. Students can be connected with a counselor by calling 401 454-6637 to connect with CAPS during business hours (counseling@risd.edu) or ProtoCall after hours, which offers 24/7 therapeutic support.
For faculty or staff needing personal support: Please contact Coastline EAP, our Employee Assistance provider, for confidential counseling and referral/resource services 24 hours a day at 800 445-1195.
If you are immediately concerned about a RISD community member’s well-being, contact RISD Public Safety at 401 454-6666. To alert RISD professionals (including CAPS and Student Life) of a non-urgent concern, please submit a Concern Assessment Response Evaluation (CARE) referral.
Get to know RISD
Learn what drives all we do—as an institution and an engaged creative community.
See how our current creative practices respond to the critical social, political and environmental challenges we face today.
Look back at how RISD’s commitment to art and design education has evolved since our 1877 founding.