Thanks and Acknowledgements

RISD will never exist as a printed and fixed doctrine of educational ideals or a set of board-appointed expectations; its true greatness stems from the commitment and excellence of individuals like Krzysztof, Maria, and Brian. I thank them sincerely for their work and the opportunity to learn from them in a truly unique way.

This exercise would have never been possible without the mentorship and guidance of David Bogen and his challenge introducing me to the concepts of ethnography and research over the past few months. The conversations I have had with David have pushed me to find a deeper understanding and appreciation for every situation I find myself in.

I must also thank Jessie Shefrin, the core group of the RISD Strategic Plan, notably Margot Nishimura, Rosanne Somerson, and Ken Horii, for their on-going commitment to  RISD’s excellence and their respect and inclusion of my ideas into conversations much larger than any one of us.

Finally, I could not create a list of this nature without thanking Tom Ockerse. Tom has been my most influential advisor during my tenure at RISD. His counter balance to my pragmatism and his ability to challenge me to look deeper to understand myself has literally changed the way I learn and appreciate what I do.