"President"

Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, undergraduate, independent higher education success story.

Founded in Sarasota, Florida in 1931, Ringling College has raised its academic and public profiles to that of one of the most decorated and successful art and design colleges in the nation. To build on this success, the College is seeking a creative, experienced, and strategic leader. The new president will join a forward-thinking and collaborative leadership team in guiding a highly engaged and artistic community in achieving its vision of becoming the preeminent art and design college in the world.

Ringling College’s picturesque 54-acre main campus includes more than 110 buildings and enrolls approximately 1,600 students from more than 50 countries, nearly every state, and multiple territories—three-fourths of whom reside on the pedestrian-friendly residential campus. Its faculty members are all professional artists, designers, and scholars who actively pursue their own work outside the classroom. The College’s rigorous curriculum engages innovation and tradition through a strong, well- rounded, first-year program specific to the major of study, with a deep focus on the liberal arts.

Ringling College believes in cultivating the creative spirit of students in a supportive environment with professional resources, inspiring faculty, and world-class facilities and technology. The College is the only institution in Florida dedicated exclusively to teaching art and design. Many of its programs have been ranked among the best in the nation and the world, including #1 in the world for Computer Animation and Motion Graphics for several consecutive years.

Ringling College’s primary mission is to prepare students to be discerning visual thinkers and ethical practitioners in their chosen area of art and design and to provide an intensive professional education in the visual arts with an emphasis on professional practice. Ringling College has taken a leadership role in the integration of new technology within art and design curricula over the past three decades. The institution’s strategic plan positions the College for continued growth and development, and to responsibly integrate creative technologies, including artificial intelligence, in all areas of study. It is authorized to award the BFA in 10 visual arts disciplines and the BA in two degrees—Business of Art and Design and Visual Studies.

Serving the creative, entertainment, and technology industries, our academic programs are based on a structured studio model of teaching, infused with a robust liberal arts curriculum. The College’s commitment to academic excellence and relevancy is reflected in its ability to adapt and adopt cutting-edge programs.

Ringling College highly values the blend of academic rigor with technical art and design practice and professional industry experience; our 180 faculty members are practicing artists, designers, industry leaders, and educators at the cutting edge of their fields.

Ringling College boasts a thriving alumni network, with graduates making significant contributions to the creative industries worldwide. Alumni awards and accolades have included Oscars, Emmys, Student Academy Awards, prestigious book awards, and recognition at festivals worldwide.

Ringling College serves as a vital leader in the Sarasota community. Alongside the College’s active and engaged Board members, many of whom live locally or seasonally, the institution champions the arts, culture, and lifelong learning. Through a dynamic array of innovative programs, the College engages more than 100,000 visitors annually.

Ringling College seeks an inspirational and transformational leader. Nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest should be sent to ringling@russellreynolds.com.

*Ringling College of Art and Design is committed to providing equal employment and educational opportunities for all qualified persons without regard to sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or citizenship status.*