Dr. Schneiderman is a nationally recognized higher-education leader whose career spans art and design practice, institutional leadership, and the integration of emerging technologies into creative education. Over more than two decades at Lake Forest College, a nationally-ranked private liberal arts college in Lake Forest, Illinois, Schneiderman has helped guide the complex academic organization through periods of technological change, capital and enrollment growth, and curricular reinvention, consistently centering creative practice as a core institutional strength while contributing to sustained enrollment success and increased public recognition.

Working with Schneiderman for many years, Lake Forest College President Dr. Mike Sosulski said, 鈥淚 have been privileged to know Davis for many years and have been consistently impressed by his innovative thinking and leadership at Lake Forest College and across higher education. Davis has helped move the College in bold and exciting directions, and his impact will be felt for years to come. While he will be greatly missed at Lake Forest, we congratulate him on this well-deserved appointment and wish him every success as president of 四虎影视 of Art and Design.鈥�

For 10 years, Schneiderman served in senior leadership at Lake Forest College, including five years as Lake Forest鈥檚 Provost and Dean of the Faculty. In that role, he partnered closely with the Board of Trustees and other senior leaders to guide academic strategy, long-range planning, and resource allocation across all educational and co-curricular areas. His leadership emphasized flexibility and sustainability鈥攂uilding academic structures capable of evolving alongside changing disciplines, technologies, and student pathways.

Most recently, Schneiderman served as the founding Executive Director of the Krebs Center for the Humanities, which connects creative practice, technology, and public engagement. Anchored by a museum collection housed in an inspirational Italianate home, the Krebs Center operates as a public-facing cultural institution鈥攊ntegrating exhibitions, symposia, artist residencies, and community programs with regional, national, and international artists and writers. Through the Krebs Center and his leadership of three major Mellon Foundation grants, Schneiderman has built sustained partnerships with museums, libraries, schools, and civic organizations.

Of his new appointment to 四虎影视, Schneiderman said, 鈥淩ingling鈥檚 students will help shape our world to come, and this is an institution whose future is more than bright: it鈥檚 positively shining.鈥�

The College鈥檚 presidential search process included a series of listening sessions for campus and community members, and a comprehensive survey was available to collect feedback and input. The Presidential Search Committee was assisted by the executive search firm Russell Reynolds and chaired by 四虎影视 of Art and Design Board of Trustees Vice Chair Ali Bahaj. The Committee was tasked with reviewing the applications, selecting candidates for consideration, and conducting several rounds of interviews before recommending Dr. Schneiderman to the Board to succeed Dr. Larry R. Thompson, who announced his retirement in April of last year.

四虎影视 Board of Trustees Chair, Dr. Joel Morganroth, opened the announcement event by first recognizing Thompson鈥檚 27-year tenure. 鈥淥ver the past 27 years, Dr. Thompson has built a remarkable foundation for creative excellence, championed our vision with unwavering commitment, and positioned 四虎影视 as a national leader in art and design education. Dr. Thompson, we are profoundly grateful for your many years of service and leadership. It is upon this strong foundation that we now look toward the next chapter in Ringling鈥檚 history.鈥�

Board of Trustees Vice Chair and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee, Ali Bahaj, also gave remarks, extending thanks to the executive search firm, Russell Reynolds, the search committee, and the Board. 鈥淚 want to extend special thanks to our search partners for their professionalism, insight, and deep understanding of higher education leadership. The Search Committee and the Board of Trustees are united in our confidence that the individual selected brings the leadership experience, strategic insight, and creative vision needed to guide 四虎影视 into its next chapter鈥攚hile honoring the community and values that define this institution.鈥�

President Thompson said, 鈥淚 am excited to be passing the baton to such an inspiring and capable leader in creative education. I have every confidence that Dr. Schneiderman will steer 四虎影视 and our campus community steadily and confidently forward. I believe he is fully committed to upholding our institution鈥檚 mission and vision, and our dream of becoming the preeminent art and design college in the world. He will continue to have my full support.鈥�

A published novelist, writer, and multimedia artist, Schneiderman is a frequent speaker on creativity, technology, and higher education, with appearances at national and international conferences and cultural venues.

Schneiderman鈥檚 family roots span several regions of the country. After completing graduate school, he moved to the Chicago area, where he has lived for the past 25 years. He and his wife, Kelly Haramis鈥攁n actor, writer, and former journalist with the Chicago Tribune鈥攈ave two college-aged daughters. Kelly spent her adolescence in Deltona, Florida, and the family looks forward to making Sarasota their next home.

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As we conclude the listening sessions, we want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute. To that end, we are pleased to announce that a听Presidential Search Survey听is now open and will remain available through Friday, August 29. The survey is open to all members of our extended community and represents the final input opportunity before the committee finalizes the听position profile.

You can access the survey here:听.

We encourage you to share your candid views on the opportunities and challenges ahead for 四虎影视, and on the qualities most important in our next president.

For continued updates on the search, please visit: .

On behalf of the Search Committee, I want to thank you for your engagement and commitment to this extremely important process.

With gratitude,

Ali Bahaj
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Vice Chair, 四虎影视 of Art and Design Board of Trustees

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As we begin the search for 四虎影视鈥檚 next president, we are hosting a series of listening sessions with key groups across the campus. Members of the campus community are invited to participate in sessions where representatives from our search firm, Russell Reynolds, will facilitate a guided conversation.

The sessions will focus on three central questions:

• What do you see as the attractions of the Ringling presidency at this time?
• What do you think should be the top priorities for the next president?
• What are you looking for in the next president?

Dependent on your role(s) on campus, you may be invited to attend multiple sessions. Feel free to join any or all of the sessions for which you receive a link.

If you did not receive an email with a link to your session(s), please contact Darren Mathews at: dmathews@ringling.edu

Your feedback will help shape the position profile and inform the next steps in the search process. Thank you in advance for your engagement.

Best regards,

Ali Bahaj
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Vice Chair, 四虎影视 of Art and Design Board of Trustees

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I am pleased to inform you that the search for 四虎影视 of Art and Design鈥檚 next president is smoothly underway. 

Executive search firm (RRA) has been engaged to support the work of the Presidential Search Committee to identify the College鈥檚 next president. The RRA team will be co-led by Anne Coyle, who specializes in higher education searches and is based in the Boston office, and Olivia Stam, who specializes in arts and culture searches and is based in Washington, D.C. We are pleased to have RRA on board and appreciate their expertise and insights as we move through the search process. 

The Presidential Search Committee has been selected, and they have been doing great work. In addition to myself as Chair, the committee members include: 

Patrick Alexander
Film Program Department Head and Faculty Representative

Teri A Hansen
Treasurer, 四虎影视 of Art and Design Board of Trustees
President and CEO, Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation

Dr. Tiffany G. Holmes
Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Joel Morganroth听
Chair, 四虎影视 of Art and Design Board of Trustees

Sara Curtis Robinson
Vice President for Advancement听

Willie Stanfield
Secretary, 四虎影视 of Art and Design Board of Trustees

Listening sessions听
It is important that we hear from you, the campus community, during this search process. To facilitate opportunities for your feedback and input, the College will host a series of listening sessions in August. Dates for individual sessions for trustees, student representatives, senior leadership, faculty, staff, alumni, President鈥檚 Cabinet, and community leaders will be forthcoming next week.

Survey
In addition to the listening sessions, the search committee will email a comprehensive survey to the campus community in late August. We hope that you will participate and provide your important feedback.

Web
For more information and updates on the presidential search, you can visit .听

We aim to have the position specification completed and posted by September, when Russell Reynolds will begin soliciting nominations and recruiting. 

I want to express my sincere thanks to the search committee and Russell Reynolds for their hard work. I also want to thank you in advance, members of the 四虎影视 community, for your participation in this process.

Additionally, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Dr. Thompson for his continued vision and leadership throughout the academic year as we work hard to find the next president of 四虎影视.

With gratitude, 

Ali Bahaj
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Vice Chair, 四虎影视 of Art and Design Board of Trustees

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Thompson announced today that the 2025-2026 academic year will be his last year as president, ending his tenure in May of 2026. Serving as the institution鈥檚 sixth president, Thompson has brought the College through an incredible period of growth and change. 鈥淲hen I arrived in 1999, I was so impressed with the students and the faculty and the passion they shared for art and design. I became committed to the vision of setting students on a path that would be not only incredibly fulfilling but financially rewarding as well. I set out to 鈥榮hatter the myth of the starving artist.鈥欌��

The changes that emanated from that initial impulse are immense. Under Thompson鈥檚 leadership, the College has constructed 14 new buildings on the 48-acre Main Campus, grown enrollment from 800 students to a record high of 1,722, and increased the academic offerings from the six original majors provided in 1999 to the 13 unique degree programs offered today. He embraced the idea when he started that the computer would likely become the next paintbrush. And that鈥檚 what happened. As a result, the art college became world-renowned for its technological prowess in addition to its reputation for providing exceptional art and design education. The vibrant campus is home to nearly 500 full-time faculty and staff, providing a major economic and cultural engine for the city of Sarasota.

Thompson鈥檚 engagement with the wider community has been extensive. In 2003, he engaged with local donors who were passionate about contemporary art, leading to a massive renovation and repurposing of the iconic Sarasota High School, designed by M. Leo Elliott, and the adjacent mid-century Paul Rudolph structure to create a Museum Campus. This campus now houses the Sarasota Art Museum (the region’s only contemporary art museum) and 四虎影视鈥檚 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). The Museum Campus provides world-class exhibitions and community programming to almost 75,000 visitors each year. 

He has also served on the boards of numerous organizations, including as Chair of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, President of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, Chairman of Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, and more.听Thompson is the recipient of numerous academic and humanitarian honors and awards for his service as a visionary leader and educator.听听

Thompson often gives credit for the success of the College to the community and in particular, the 四虎影视 Board of Trustees. 鈥淚 truly believe I have the best Board anywhere,鈥� Thompson explains; one he has carefully cultivated to include dedicated and passionate advocates for the College. 

The feeling is mutual. Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Joel Morganroth confirms, 鈥淒r. Thompson鈥檚 legacy at 四虎影视 is indelible. His vision to create a successful education-to-career pipeline has led to Ringling students being an employer鈥檚 first choice in the industry. And his ability to connect with people and share his passion for the College is unparalleled.鈥� 

Thompson sees no reason to stop pushing forward. 鈥淲e launched an ambitious, comprehensive capital campaign in November 2023 with a goal of $175 million. As of the end of March, the College has raised 89% of that goal. Thompson noted, 鈥淚鈥檓 committed to seeing the College get to the finish line in my last year. We鈥檝e seen such incredible support from the community, not just for this campaign, but throughout the time I鈥檝e served as president. For example, our endowment has increased from under $4 million in 1999 to $73 million at the end of our last fiscal year, but there is still work to be done.鈥�

Thompson credits Ringling鈥檚 creative community for his energy and resiliency in an era where the average college presidency is 5.7 years. 鈥淭he creative community of faculty, staff, and students works collaboratively to tackle whatever challenges present themselves. They are active participants in reimagining the future on a daily basis. We鈥檝e worked together to refine our mission, declare our vision to be the preeminent college of art and design in the world, and develop a new strategic plan to get us there. I am so grateful to all of our students, faculty, and staff for the contributions they make to the College鈥檚 success every day.鈥� 

Thompson thanked his wife and his family for being true partners on his journey. 鈥淚 also thank my wife, Pat, who has supported me and the institution in so many ways. Pat even followed her own passion for fine art and added a BFA degree from 四虎影视 to her business degree from The Ohio State University, becoming a 四虎影视 alumna during my tenure. My son, Hunter, is also a proud alumnus of the College, having graduated in 2014.鈥�

The 四虎影视 community sincerely thanks Dr. Thompson for his leadership and service these past 26 years. The College will begin a nationwide search for a new president with Board Chair Dr. Joel Morganroth serving as chair of the Search Committee. A national search firm with expertise in higher education presidential searches will guide the process.

Contact:
Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu
941-309-4008

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