Contacts and resources
At RISD, students and faculty enjoy access to a wealth of services and resources for furthering research and studio practice. With general oversight from the Provost’s Office and substantial input from deans and department heads, graduate program directors serve as primary points of contact for graduate students.
Degree candidates also work in close consultation with RISD’s exceptional faculty on studio projects and issues related to research, scholarship and pedagogy. For grad students at the thesis stage, their committee chairs are invaluable sources of support and guidance.
Current students with program-specific questions should email their graduate program director (GPD). The RISD Student Hub also offers a wide variety of resources and information about housing, on-campus dining, academic and financial support, and much more.
For general inquiries about admission or enrollment, email the Admissions team at admissions@risd.edu.
Graduate Studies Office
The Graduate Studies Office is an institutional navigation and information hub for students, faculty and staff concerning all aspects of graduate study shared across departmental programs and divisions. The office works closely with graduate program directors and student leadership to facilitate graduate study and to support the graduate community at RISD.
Director, Amy Horschak: ahorscha@risd.edu
Graduate Program Directors (GPDs)
Architecture: Debbie Chen
Bayard Ewing Building archgrad@risd.edu
Ceramics: Katy Schimert (department head)
Metcalf Building kschimer@risd.edu
Design Engineering: Charlie Cannon
CIT Building/Mason Building ccannon@risd.edu
Digital + Media: Shona Kitchen (department head)
CIT Building/Mason Building skitchen@risd.edu
Furniture Design: Patricia Johnson
20 Washington Place pjohns01@risd.edu
Glass: Sean Salstrom (department head)
Metcalf Building ssalstro@risd.edu
Global Arts and Cultures: Eric Anderson
College Building eanderso02@risd.edu
Graphic Design: Bethany Johns
CIT/Mason Building bjohns@risd.edu
Illustration: Calef Brown
Illustration Studies Building cbrown02@risd.edu
Industrial Design: Ayako Takase
CIT Building/Mason Building atakase@risd.edu
Interior Architecture: Eduardo Duarte
CIT Building/Mason Building eduarte@risd.edu
Jewelry + Metalsmithing: Seth Papac
Metcalf Building spapac@risd.edu
Landscape Architecture: Suzanne Mathew
159 Weybosset Street smathew@risd.edu
Painting: Duane Slick
Memorial Hall dslick@risd.edu
Photography: Laine Rettmer
Design Center lrettmer@risd.edu
Printmaking: Megan Foster
Benson Hall mfoste01@risd.edu
Sculpture: Taylor Baldwin
Metcalf Building tbaldwin@risd.edu
Teaching + Learning in Art + Design: Nancy Friese (department head)
345 South Main Street nfriese@risd.edu
Textiles: Anais Missakian
College Building amissaki@risd.edu
Resources
Graduate Student Alliance
The Grad Student Alliance (GSA) is committed to fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue among RISD graduate students. The GSA aims to strengthen the larger graduate student community by hosting events and providing a platform for student-led initiatives. The GSA celebrates the diversity of studio cultures on campus by creating opportunities for students to meet and engage across departments, and serves as a liaison between the graduate student body and the RISD administration.
Center for Arts & Language
Offering academic support and advocacy for communication in academic, professional and creative contexts, the Center for Arts & Language (A&L) fosters student development and efficacy in three areas—written, spoken and visual communication; multilingual learning; and student publications. A&L offers peer tutoring, staff advising, workshops, online and print resources, and a community where all forms of language are welcome.
Fleet Library, 15 Westminster, 2nd floor 401 454-6486
artsandlanguage@risd.edu
Co-Works Research Lab
The Co-Works Research Lab serves as an interdisciplinary fabrication lab and curricula incubator. Working with faculty and students to develop experimental courses and research, it offers a unique selection of digital and traditional making technologies and supports cross-departmental collaboration. Co-Works is committed to innovating strategies and building community for sharing ideas and resources across disciplines.
Fletcher Building, ground floor 401 709-8645
risdcoworks@risd.edu
Fleet Library at RISD
The RISD Library is a place for inquiry, inspiration and research, occupying the first and second floors of 15 West. There are collections of more than 150,000 books, exhibition catalogues and periodicals, as well as institutional archives, material samples, posters and clippings arranged by subject. The library provides access to a wide range of digital resources along with professional expertise and guidance.
15 West, 1st and 2nd Floor 401 709-5900
library@risd.edu
RISD Global
Through online and on- and off-campus events and learning opportunities, RISD Global is a hub for discourse around global issues and the development and support of global learning. The office facilitates Wintersession travel/study courses and access to international exchange options in dozens of countries, as well as in the US.
20 Washington Place, 3rd Floor 401 454-6725
global@risd.edu
RISD Research
RISD Research sustains the school’s culture of inquiry by offering a platform for research initiatives; by providing opportunities for programming, training and publication; and by encouraging collaboration among students and faculty.
20 Washington Place, 3rd Floor 401 454-4972
research@risd.edu
RISD Careers
RISD’s Career Center offers a comprehensive program of one-on-one counseling, portfolio reviews, seminars and other targeted events aimed at helping undergraduates, graduate students and alumni translate their creativity into meaningful and rewarding careers.
Career counselors also offer support in entrepreneurial education and in the areas of grants, fellowships and residencies. Among its many helpful online resources, the Center manages ArtWorks, which connects employers with students and alumni for jobs, internships and other career opportunities. Reference careercenter.risd.edu for a full overview of online resources and available programming.
20 Washington Place, 1st floor 401 454-6614
risdcareers@risd.edu