Crystal Williams

Dear students, staff and faculty, 

Today is election day in the United States, and I know members of the RISD community—like all engaged artists, designers and thinkers in this world—will continue to make their voices heard when it matters most. The democratic process, embedded in the American experiment, is only as strong as the people who build and question its intent with purpose. I encourage those of you who are US citizens, and who are able, to exercise your right to vote. Resources, support and information have been and continue to be shared on https://www.risd.edu/engagement.

This week, we are holding space for impromptu and unstructured gatherings, connection and reflection. 

Students are invited to meet with Health and Wellness Ambassadors (HAWAs) on Thursday, November 7, from 6:30–8:30 pm at Ewing House (Intercultural Student Engagement, ISE). 

Faculty and staff interested in gathering as a community are welcome to gather in the auditorium at 20 Washington Place. The space has been reserved during the dates and times below this week in support of community during the following days and times:

Tuesday, Nov 5: 1–11 pm

Wednesday, Nov 6: 1–3:30 pm

Thursday, Nov 7: 2–11 pm

Friday, Nov 8: all day (7 am–11 pm)

In this tension-filled time, for those who find solace and restoration in spending time amid art and beauty, the RISD Museum is offering free admission to anyone who presents their “I Voted” sticker throughout November. And, as a reminder, the museum offers year-round free admission to all students, staff and faculty.

Please be sure to check https://involved.risd.edu/ and https://www.risd.edu/engagement for related information in the days ahead.  

Take good care.
 

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President

Dear RISD Community,

I am pleased to share that we have completed the search for RISD’s next vice president for Human Resources. Lauren Bowen, who currently directs the Total Rewards Program at Suffolk University and serves as a senior business partner in their Human Resources department, will join us on November 25, 2024.

Lauren has more than 15 years of experience in human resources management at higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations. At Suffolk University, she has focused on partnering with senior leaders to implement a strategic, multiyear benefits plan that appeals to potential new hires while being mindful of cost and budget constraints. She completed Suffolk’s Ambassador for Inclusion program and helped university leaders embed diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into annual plans at the departmental and individual levels.

Previously, Lauren was benefits manager at software company PrismHR and associate director of human resource operations at the nonprofit Council on International Exchange (CIEE), where she worked with the talent acquisitions team to identify managers who needed additional support in the area of DEI. Before that, she was director of human resources at Eastern Nazarene College, where she served on the Social Justice Committee and helped to organize an all-campus Social Justice Day that offered a variety of learning and service opportunities related to social justice and DEI. Lauren earned a bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Eastern Nazarene College. 

During the interview process, the search committee learned about Lauren’s background in implementing strategic, people-driven initiatives that allow organizations like ours to fulfill their missions and embody their stated values. She has a deep understanding of the unique relationships between faculty, staff and administration and the challenges and opportunities of the higher education environment. Her approach to relationship building and experience working with unionized employees will be of great benefit to the RISD community. 

I would like to thank the members of the search committee, listed below, and the many members of the RISD community who participated in interviews throughout the process, helping to make it thoughtful and efficient.

In addition, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Liz Rainone, who has led the Human Resources department as our interim vice president since January 2023 with great professionalism. Under Liz’s leadership, RISD completed a pay equity review, implemented a new pay grade system and a new minimum pay rate, addressed internal compression and is moving forward with the career pathways project that will inform career advancement. During a period of significant transition, Liz has put in place a talented team poised to advance institutional initiatives that strengthen RISD as a workplace. Upon Lauren’s arrival, Liz will return to her role as director of employment. Finally, I would like to recognize the members of our Human Resources team, who continue to show great care and dedication to our staff and the RISD community at large throughout this period of transition.

Please join me in welcoming Lauren to the RISD community!

Sincerely,
David Rosati
Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration

Search Committee
Renee Byas, General Counsel
Dylan Costa, Audio Visual Tech Coordinator/Programmer
Touba Ghadessi, Provost
Jennifer Prewitt-Freilino, Associate Professor, History Philosophy and the Social Sciences
Jack Silva, Vice President, Campus Services
Melanie Silva, Credit Card Services, Travel & Reimbursements Administrator
Tony Souza, Public Safety Operations Captain

Dear Community Members,

I want to acknowledge that this week holds layered and heavy meanings for many of us. As we process complex emotions at this time, I feel it is also important to call our attention to modes of comportment that are not aligned with RISD community practices and policies, and outline some of the less apparent consequences of such behaviors.  

Earlier this week, a campus wall by RISD Beach was defaced with posters, presumably as part of an unregistered protest responding to a call for a “Week of Rage” by a RISD student group. Neither Student Life nor Facilities had been made aware of this action prior to its occurrence, thus it was not eligible to be supported as an art installation. On the following morning Facilities staff members were subjected to taunting and unauthorized filming by students, simply for doing their jobs and removing the defacement from campus property. Both acts constitute violations of our policies. 

RISD’s policies, including the Campus Protests and Demonstrations Policy, Posting Policy and Anti-Doxxing Policy, are in place to uphold our collective values and help us enact them responsibly. 

The reason students are required to register demonstrations and protests in advance is to ensure that participants can freely and safely express and exchange viewpoints, while non-participating community members can learn, teach, work and create without impediment. Similarly, community members must work with staff to plan and execute the installation of art on campus so that Facilities may support these endeavors. Working with rather than against our staff means that those installations can take place in a way that encourages artistic expression on campus, but also minimizes damage to campus property. 

These repeated acts of defacing RISD property, including the use of wheatpaste on buildings and the subsequent cleanup, cause significant physical damage—often to the very mortar that holds our buildings together—and are costly to remove, impacting our operating budget. And while that damage is not always readily apparent, in aggregate and over time, these harms lead to the eventual weakening of our campus. 

Please take time to refamiliarize yourself with these policies, which are in place to help us cultivate a community that works together to actively and respectfully value artistic expression, responsible activism and the dignity inherent in all of us.

Sincerely,

Crystal Williams (she/her)
President