RISD Names BU VP as New Prez, Leshan Leaving Northeastern for National Org
Posted December 21, 2021
By John O. Harney
Comings and Goings …
CRYSTAL WILLIAMS
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) appointed Crystal Williams, a former professor at Reed and Bates colleges and Boston University’s inaugural vice president and associate provost for community & inclusion, as the Providence college’s 18th president, starting April 1, 2022.
She succeeds Rosanne Somerson, who now serves as the institution’s first president emerita, and RISD Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration Dave Proulx who has been serving as interim president since Somerson’s retirement in June 2021.
Albertus Magnus College named Lauri Strimkovsky to be vice president for finance and administration, a position she recently held at a sister Catholic institution, John Carroll University in Ohio.
Bennington College appointed Shelton Walker to the new role of chief of staff and vice president for strategic initiatives at the college—a position she held at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Middlebury College named Dan Courcey, currently chief development officer at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut and a former major gifts officer at the University of Vermont, as Middlebury’s next vice president for advancement, succeeding Colleen Fitzpatrick, who will retire.
Tim Leshan is leaving his post as vice provost for research, government affairs & strategic partnership at Northeastern University after 11 years to become chief external relations & advocacy officer at the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, effective Jan. 15, 2022.
Leshan is familiar to many NEJHE readers for his key role in higher education efforts at the New England Council.