NEW: RISD Names Provost Rosanne Somerson as Interim President
Monday, December 09, 2013
The Board of Trustees for the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) announced today that Provost Rosanne Somerson has been named as the school's interim president, beginning January 1st.
Somerson, who was named provost in 2012, is an acclaimed furniture designer with deep roots at RISD – starting as a student and moving on to alumna, professor and academic leader. The Board of Trustees will begin a search for the institution's 17th president in January.
John Maeda, RISD's 16th president announced last week that he has accepted a position with the Silicon Valley firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Provost Somerson is an inspiring, passionate and dedicated leader for RISD,” notes RISD Board of Trustees Chair Michael Spalter. “The Board genuinely appreciates Provost Somerson’s willingness to lead our institution at this time. We have every confidence that she will do so with the same passion, grace and unwavering commitment to RISD that she has demonstrated throughout her career.”
Somerson is credited with helping to create RISD’s 2012–17 strategic plan, Critical Making | Making Critical ; and co-edited the book The Art of Critical Making: Rhode Island School of Design on Creative Practice with Mara Hermano, which was released this fall.
“I am honored by the trust in me demonstrated by RISD’s Board of Trustees,” said Provost Somerson. “As we search for our next president, I will work diligently with everyone in the RISD community to honor this trust. I am fortunate to partner with Chief Operating Officer Jean Eddy, who brings great expertise and experience, all of which are invaluable to RISD. In consultation with the faculty and academic leadership, I will soon name an interim provost so that the important work of advancing our strategic plan’s academic initiatives can continue seamlessly.”
Somerson earned her Bachelor's of Fine Arts from RISD in 1976 and joined the faculty in 1985, going on to help found, then to head the Department of Furniture Design. She served as interim associate provost for Academic Affairs from 2005–07 and as interim provost during the 2011–12 academic year. In addition to her academic roles at RISD, Somerson has maintained her own studio since 1978, where she designs and makes furniture. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is included in private, corporate and museum collections, most notably at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
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