PROVIDENCE, RI.- Rhode Island School of Design’s Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Rosanne Somerson as the 17th president of the country’s leading college of art and design, effective immediately. Her appointment comes after an extensive international search during which the acclaimed furniture designer and educator has been ably serving as interim president since January 1, 2014.
“President Somerson is a gifted, inspiring leader with great integrity, humility and vision, and is the perfect fit for RISD,” notes Board of Trustees Chair Michael Spalter. “Her experiences as a RISD student, alumna, faculty member, department head, provost and interim president provide a depth of knowledge and almost instinctive understanding of the institution that no other candidate could match. She has also shown the collaborative leadership style and informed vision RISD needs to expand its role in advancing global innovation in the 21st century.”
During a nine-month search process, a Board-appointed search committee comprised of 11 members of the RISD community took suggestions from a broad range of constituents before evaluating presidential candidates. Working with the search firm Isaacson, Miller, and informed by eight special advisory groups, the committee reviewed a talented pool of more than 100 candidates from around the world, with the goal of identifying finalists with the global vision, leadership capabilities and passion to educate artists and designers for a rapidly changing future. This week the Board endorsed the search committee’s unanimous recommendation.
“President Somerson has proven to be a thoughtful, energetic, inquisitive and insightful leader,” notes Board Vice Chair Lisa Pevaroff-Cohn, an artist, RISD alumna and a co-chair of the search committee. “Her long and diverse experience at RISD enables her to weigh decisions from multiple vantage points, including as an internationally acclaimed designer and artist.”
In the past year, Somerson has guided RISD with confidence, focusing on maximizing the efficacy of current operations and on planning for emerging challenges and opportunities for higher education. She has championed continued work on a campus master plan, which has already led to significant upgrades in academic studios and classrooms, student housing and administrative spaces. With an unwavering focus on students, she has advanced academic programs and led targeted fundraising efforts, laying the groundwork for additional support for academic initiatives and scholarships.
In accepting the appointment as RISD’s 17th president, Somerson says, “I am honored to lead this institution, to build on its strong 138-year legacy and advance ambitious plans for facilities, programs and global partnerships. Our extraordinary community of faculty scholars and practitioners, students and alumni is making a positive impact in the world every day. I know firsthand the value of an art and design education, and am confident that RISD’s model of immersive, studio-based learning has greater global impact and is more important and vital than ever.”
