President ’ s Le t ter

This year, I’ve spent a great deal of time learning about RISD’s rich and storied history and admiring the legacy and impact of our more than 31,000 alumni who make significant contributions not only in art and design fields but also across industry, impacting everything from business and technology to environmental sustainability. Reflecting on this past academic year reveals many reasons to celebrate and lessons to grow from, but after a whirlwind first year, I admit to looking forward to the summer.

Summer often marks a moment when our pace slows, which allows for more contemplation, synthesis, and rejuvenation. Summer allows us to reconnect with one another as we enjoy warmer temperatures, additional daylight hours, and the natural beauty around us. Whether relaxing around fire pits, going on hikes, sitting at the beach, or traveling with our beloveds, summer almost always represents reconnection with more of what we hold dear in life.

In 2022, the alumni survey revealed that you missed the connection a physical magazine focused on your news, updates, and events provides. Many of you shared how important a magazine is to helping you be in community with RISD’s vast global alumni network. Thank you for adding your voice to the conversation. On page 60, you can learn more details about the survey results, how we got here, and where we’re going.

I am pleased to present to you an alumni publication— reimagined.

The magazine will explore how art and design informs our experience of the world by sharing stories from the RISD community that focus on themes that matter to you. You’ll read about art and design education not only at RISD but also in terms of its value in the larger world. And you’ll read about how RISD alumni are effecting societal change in critical areas such as sustainability, equity and social justice, and emerging technologies like AI.

For this inaugural issue, we’ve gathered stories that showcase alumni whose work strengthens their local communities and brings people together. Read on to learn about friends and former classmates

Michael Maltzan BArch 85/P 24 and Garbrielle Bullock BArch 84, whose work focuses on uniting people through design that encourages interaction. Enjoy a profile on Tavares Strachan 03 GL, a 2022 MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” fellow, and view a photo essay by Acacia Johnson 14 PH documenting the warming Arctic. Finally, a feature story on Lina Sergie Attar MArch 01 shares how she traveled to Turkey to help with disaster relief after the devastating earthquakes that struck both Turkey and Syria last February.

I hope you enjoy the new alumni magazine, and I look forward to hearing what you think. May this issue’s profiles, updates, features, and stories encourage you to deepen your connection to RISD and each other.

—Crystal Williams, RISD President