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Crystal Williams

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Crystal Ann Williams
18th President of the Rhode Island School of Design
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 April 2022
Preceded byRosanne Somerson
Personal details
Born1970 (age 55–56)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.[1]
EducationNew York University
Cornell University
ProfessionEducator, poet
Websitewww.crystalannwilliams.com

Crystal Ann Williams (born 1970)[1] is an American educator and poet serving as the 18th president of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) since 2022.[2][3][4] She was raised in both Detroit, Michigan and Madrid, Spain.[2] She has earned degrees at New York University (BFA), and Cornell University (MFA, Creative Writing).[5][6]

Career

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Williams has received grants and fellowships from the Oregon Arts Commission, the Money for Women also known as the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, and the MacDowell Colony.[7]

Education

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Williams began teaching at Reed College as a professor of English, becoming dean for institutional diversity from 2011 to 2013.[2] From 2013 to 2017, Williams worked at Bates College as the associate vice president for strategic initiatives and as a professor of English.[2] In 2017, Williams came to Boston University where she first worked as the inaugural associate provost for diversity and inclusion before transferring into a broader role as vice president and associate provost for community and inclusion.[8]

In 2021, it was announced that Williams was leaving her position as vice president and associate provost for community and inclusion at Boston University to become Rhode Island School of Design's 18th president.[2] Williams became its first Black president on April 1, 2022.[2]

On March 17, 2025, RISD students and alumni opened an exhibition at Carr Haus, a student-run café open to the public, in support of Palestine. Four days later, following an online post by StopAntisemitism and "perceived threat of harm," Williams shut down the exhibition.[9] A student with work removed from the show said it "felt like censorship."[10] The premature closure was condemned by the National Coalition Against Censorship, among other community members.[11] Williams has previously threatened students with expulsion for pro-Palestine protest actions.[12]

The previous fall, Williams was profiled in the New York Times, saying of her own creative practice: "Poetry requires a kind of heart space and solitude I don't have."[13]

Williams received $635,176 in compensation in 2024.[14]

Bibliography

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  • Kin, Michigan State University Press, 2000.[15][16]
  • Lunatic, Michigan State University Press, 2002.[16][17]
  • Troubled Tongues, Lotus Press, 2009.[18]
  • Detroit as Barn, University of Washington Press, 2014.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Williams, Crystal, 1970-". LC Name Authority File (LCNAF). The Library of Congress.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Borg, Linda (16 December 2021). "'Art, education, and equity and justice': RISD picks Boston University VP as next president". Dezeen.
  3. ^ "Poet and advocate Crystal Williams named next RISD president". WPRI.com. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  4. ^ Gagosz, Alexa (December 16, 2021). "Rhode Island School of Design names 18th president". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  5. ^ "Crystal Williams Named 18th President of Rhode Island School of Design". Black Enterprise. 2021-12-17. Archived from the original on 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  6. ^ "About Crystal Williams". poets.org. Academy of American Poets. Archived from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  7. ^ "The Days of Yore". The Days of Yore. 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  8. ^ Murphy, Matthew (16 December 2021). "Crystal Williams Leaving BU to Become President of Rhode Island School of Design". Boston University. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  9. ^ Rashid, Sanai (2 April 2025). "RISD students rally against school's request to remove pro-Palestine art exhibit". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  10. ^ Kohli, Nish (16 April 2025). "RISD students speak out after school removes art exhibition". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  11. ^ Larison, Elizabeth (28 March 2025). "NCAC Condemns Rhode Island School of Design Decision to Shut Down Public Access to an Art Exhibit on Political Resistance, Citing Vague "safety concerns."". National Coalition Against Censorship. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  12. ^ Nayyar, Rhea (9 May 2024). "RISD Gaza Solidarity Encampment Dissolves Ahead of Expulsion Threats". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  13. ^ Kahn, Eve (28 August 2024). "What Has 25 Rooms and Comes With the Job?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  14. ^ Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Rhode Island School Of Design - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2025-12-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Williams, Crystal (2000). Kin: poems. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press. ISBN 978-1-62896-195-9. OCLC 1194440263.
  16. ^ a b "Crystal Williams". Tin House. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  17. ^ "Reed Magazine: News of the College". www.reed.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  18. ^ "Emerging Writers Win Oregon Book Awards". Poets & Writers. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  19. ^ "Lost Horse Press - an Independent Literary Publisher". www.losthorsepress.org. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
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