I returned to Boston this evening after visiting my favorite connoisseurs of fine textiles, NY-based Michael and Stephen Maharam where they were celebrating the achievements of their top employees worldwide in Miami. During the festivities I learned that there are at least nine (9) RISD alums working at their prestigious firm. Among the five alums that I had the opportunity to actually meet, each of them expressed the strong sentiment that their RISD education enabled them to not just think differently, but gave them the ability to solve problems of any scale or level of challenge. Given the many prestigious awards that Maharam has garnered over the years like the National Design Award — I felt immense pride that in the many good things out there, you can usually find a little (or a lot of) RISD inside.

I am a earnest fan of coincidences, and when I opened my morning paper I found it important how the word “trust” sat at the top of the fold in bold type. I continually feel that my effectiveness as the incoming president at RISD will depend upon how far I can serve the RISD community in achieving an ongoing environment of complete trust. Perhaps we will get there by simply realizing that it is not about me or you — it’s about us and we — for this reason this site is not my.risd … it’s our.risd and I’m really glad that you’re here visiting with us.