RISD Alumni Relations

Make someone’s day a little brighter by signing up for our annual alumni art exchange. Whether it is a traditional or quirky valentine, a silly “only at RISD” memory or unique piece of mail-art crafted by you, whatever you are inspired to create is sure to make a fellow alum smile.

Participating is easy, just visit https://connect.risd.edu/e/annual-alumni-art-exchange/ and sign up by January 26, 2025.

Image courtesy of Jill McDonald 98 TX

Applications for RISD Craft: Spring 2025 close on January 7!

The RISD Craft spring sale is May 31 and is part of our campus-wide Commencement + Reunion Weekend festivities being held May 29–June 1, 2025. Attended by thousands of people from across New England, as well as reunion alumni, graduating students and their families and friends, RISD Craft is a highlight of the weekend. We would love to see your work there!

We invite applications from returning alumni vendors and welcome applications from alumni new to the sale. RISD will notify all applicants of the jury selections in early February.

Applying is free!

visit risdcraft.com for more details

Photo: Leah LaRiccia

The RISD Alumni Travel Program is thrilled to announce a brand-new travel partnership and destination for 2025. Insider's Travel, a leader in small group bespoke tours, offers RISD alumni and guests an unforgettable 7-night trip from Lisbon to Porto through their artfully curated Portugal, Through the Designer's Lens.

Led by New York-based product designer Dana D'Amico 99 ID (), explore Portugal's rich culture and design heritage. With stops in Sintra, Nazaré and Alcobaça you'll immerse yourself in the stunning architecture, breathtaking landscapes and culinary delights of the fabled cities and towns along the Portuguese coast.

Learn more at alumni.risd.edu/alumni-travel

Images:
The Cathedral of Saint Mary Major (the Sé), Lisbon, Portugal
Pena Palace, Sintra
Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra
Dana D'Amico 99 ID (travel host)
Joanne Wivell (travel host)
Nazaré, Portugal

All images courtesy of Insider's Travel

Don't miss out!

RISD Reads Virtual Book Discussion of "Art on My Mind: Visual Politics" by bell hooks.
November 18, 2024
7 pm

The club's co-chairs chose "Art on My Mind" based on recommendations from our alumni community. Our virtual book discussions are open to all, even if you didn’t have a chance to finish (or start!) the book. We welcome RISD alumni, students, families, friends, faculty and staff to join us in reading our selections and encourage open dialogue and the discussion of universal themes during our virtual discussions.

Register today at https://connect.risd.edu/e/risd-reads-art-on-my-mind-visual-politics-by-bell-hooks/

Remember the picnics, the gatherings, and the never-to-be-forgotten moments with friends?

Reunions are not just a fantastic time to "remember when," but also a time to make new memories. As a reunion class volunteer, you can help create moments that RISD alums will still talk about for years to come. If you graduated with one of our 0s and 5s classes, we'd love to have you join us as we plan for RISD Reunion 2025.

Interested? Want to know more? Email [email protected].

📸 RISD students at a picnic, spring 1994. Courtesy of Randy Cecil 94 PT.

This summer, the RISD Club of South Florida welcomed new co-chairs, Isabel Kim 91 IL () and Claudia Marquez 98 GD (). Isabel and Claudia are thrilled to continue building a supportive and collaborative community that is actively engaged in discovering the creative journeys of their fellow alumni in the Miami / Fort Lauderdale area.

For Isabel, volunteering is about being able to give back to RISD for the education that “exposed me to the most relevant and brightest professionals in the artistic and academic communities, allowing me to pursue the career goals that I set out to accomplish…[it] is meaningful to me to be able to share my professional and collegiate experiences and knowledge freely.”

Claudia is particularly excited to work with recent graduates, “helping them navigate their journey from students to professionals, and contributing to a supportive, vibrant alumni network. This role allows me to give back to the community that shaped me, and that’s deeply meaningful to me.”

Isabel and Claudia will work with other Club of South Florida volunteers on events and more this coming year. Keep an eye out for your invitation to join them!

Reconnecting with classmates at your reunion is one of the greatest feelings, and it was wonderful to see so many of you gathering together and sharing your memories of RISD.

Now, you can take a piece of Reunion Weekend home with you by visiting your class page on the alumni website to download your reunion class picture.

alumni.risd.edu/reunions

Reconnecting with classmates at your reunion is one of the greatest feelings, and it was wonderful to see so many of you gathering together and sharing your memories of RISD.

Now, you can take a piece of Reunion Weekend home with you by visiting your class page on the alumni website to download your reunion class picture.

Alumni Reunions | RISD Alumni In this section Connect with your class Who's attending Reunion 2024 RISD Black Alumni Reunion Community Events Hotels & Lodging RISD Archives: Yearbooks Collection Reunion Class Notes Class of 2024 Graduation Celebration Card Program Make a reunion gift Alumni Reunions Thank you for joining us! RIS...

2024 RISD Serves Award:
Gail Ahlers 85 JM

The RISD Alumni Association honors award-winning designer, artist, and educator Gail Ahlers 85 JM for her many years of service to her community with the 2024 RISD Serves Award.

A sculptor with expertise in precious metals, Ahlers crafts custom works of art through her company, Ahlers Designs, which she founded in 1989. In 2014, she founded The Empowerment Factory, which has served over 7000 urban youth, focusing on under-resourced and often marginalized communities in Rhode Island, through in school, afterschool and summer programs focusing on art, literacy, and social-emotional learning.

Learn more about Ahlers and her work at alumni.risd.edu/alumni-awards