Presidential Initiatives

In 2024, three core committees of faculty, staff, and students delivered recommendations to President Williams regarding Holistic Student Wellness, Preparedness for Life After RISD, and Financial Optimization. The recommendations reflect deep collaboration and represent the best of our collective thinking and action as we look toward RISD’s future. The implementation of the recommendations is deeply connected to the strategic planning process.

Holistic Student Wellness

Through the Holistic Student Wellness initiative, we aim to align the living, learning, and working environments of RISD students with our values concerning their physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.

Students carry art supplies and walking past RISD Beach on a beautiful day

Financial Optimization

The aim of the Financial Optimization initiative is to strengthen RISD’s long-term financial sustainability, maximize limited funds, and build new and expanded revenue streams to sustainably support our core mission.

Image of Carr House roofline on campus amid fall foliage

Preparedness for Life After RISD

Responding to the ever-changing landscape of creative-industry careers, the Preparedness for Life After RISD initiative builds systems, structures, and practices to prepare RISD students to thrive in professional practice.

View from behind of students assembled at a RISD Commencement ceremony