People on the Move: RISD Adds New Trustees; RICAGV Names New Executive Director

People on the Move: RISD Adds New Trustees; RICAGV Names New Executive Director

GoLocal's People on the Move is an update on new hires and promotions across southern New England. If your organization has an announcement, email it to us at [email protected].

 

Rhode Island School of Design’s Board of Trustees Elects New Members - Ryan Cunningham and Geetanjali Kirloskar to serve as Term Trustees; Sonja O’Donnell named Ex Officio

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

The Board of Trustees at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is proud to announce the election of Ryan Cunningham (BFA 02 Film/Animation/Video) and Geetanjali Kirloskar as its newest term trustees. They will each serve a three-year term through May 2026.

“RISD’s newest trustees, Ryan Cunningham and Geetanjali Kirloskar, bring invaluable skills and perspective to our board. Each has a meaningful connection to RISD and a conviction to seeing the institution continue to thrive and evolve into the future,” said RISD Board Co-Chairs Hillary Blumberg (BFA 92 Film/Animation/Video) and Ilene Chaiken (BFA 79 Graphic Design/Parent 18). “As RISD gears up to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2027, we are extremely fortunate and grateful to add Ryan’s deep understanding of the school and Geetanjali’s global presence in the world to our trusteeship. We thank both of these exceptional individuals for undertaking their dedicated service to RISD and for their support of President Crystal Williams and her vision for the future of our beloved institution.”

The experiences and accomplishments of RISD’s new term trustees include:

Ryan Elizabeth Cunningham is a queer writer/director and Emmy and Peabody award-winning producer. She recently launched the development company Running Woman with the goal of telling stories that haven’t been heard before. She is passionate about promoting women’s issues, LGBTQ+ stories and neurodiversity in her work. Recent projects include Expecting Amy (HBO Max) about Amy Schumer’s pregnancy, and the standup specials Ilana Glazer: The Planet Is Burning (Amazon) and Club Cumming Presents a Queer Comedy Extravaganza! (Showtime), hosted by Alan Cumming. She also directed Sam Morrison’s critically acclaimed Sugar Daddy for its off-Broadway run at SoHo Playhouse in early 2023. A RISD alum, Cunningham is co-chair of the RISD Fund and is currently teaching in RISD’s Film/Animation/Video department. She lives in Brooklyn with her daughter who is on the autism spectrum and likes to build large art installations in their apartment.

Geetanjali Kirloskar is chair and managing director of Kirloskar Systems, chair of Toyota Tsusho Insurance Brokers India, director of Kirloskar Proprietary and an honorary consul of Finland. She has a deep passion for social development and has been actively engaged in socially conscious healthcare initiatives for many years. She also promotes dialogue in the arts and culture via such enterprises as the nonprofit India-Japan Initiative, which she founded in 2000. Prior to the passing of her late husband Vikram Kirloskar in 2022, she ran Pratibha Advertising for 10 years and served as president of Quadrant Communications. She currently serves on the boards of the India Brand Equity Fund, India’s Ministry of Industries and Government and the India Japan Business Council run by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). She lives in Bangalore.

Also new to the Board this year is Sonja O’Donnell (Parent 22), chair, Families Association Leadership Council, who joins the Board as an Ex Officio trustee.

Officers of RISD’s Board of Trustees include Co-Chairs Blumberg and Chaiken, as well as Karen Hammond, Jon Kamen (Parent 09) and Tavares Strachan (BFA 03 Glass).

 

 

 

RI Coalition Against Gun Violence Hires New Executive Director

The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the hiring of Melissa Carden as their new Executive Director. A Pawtucket native and graduate of Villanova University, Melissa is a highly skilled communications strategist with extensive expertise in policy, communications, and relationship building. She served as the Co-Legislative Lead for Moms Demand Action Rhode Island and the Legislative Lead and Communications Lead for Moms Demand Action Pennsylvania. Prior to becoming RICAGV’s Executive Director, she was the Chief Public Affairs Officer for the State of Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency. She currently sits on the boards of the Roger Williams Park Conservancy and the Edgewood Waterfront Preservation Association.

RICAGV Board Chair Sydney Montstream-Quas states, “We are very excited to welcome Melissa aboard as our Executive Director. She brings much expertise in legislative affairs, partnership development, and public policy, as well as a passion for decreasing gun violence. Melissa is a driven advocate who has been a leader in the gun violence prevention movement for many years. We are fortunate to welcome her into this critical role as we continue to help make our communities and families safer from gun violence.”

“As a native Rhode Islander and longtime gun violence prevention advocate, I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence. Our loved ones deserve to live free from gun violence and we must do all we can to end this preventable public health epidemic. I’m looking forward to bringing stakeholders together to pass legislation, to educate the public, to center survivors and to focus on those communities disproportionately affected by gun violence, while strengthening and growing our grassroots movement,” said Carden.

Carden will start her position with RI Coalition Against Gun Violence on September 7.