# Crystal Williams

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**Crystal Ann Williams** (born 1970)[1] is an American educator and poet serving as the 18th president of the [Rhode Island School of Design](/source/Rhode_Island_School_of_Design) (RISD) since 2022.[2][3][4]

## Career

Williams was raised in both [Detroit](/source/Detroit), Michigan and [Madrid](/source/Madrid), Spain.[2] She earned a BFA at [New York University](/source/New_York_University) and an MFA in Creative Writing at [Cornell University](/source/Cornell_University).[5][6]

### Education

Williams began teaching at [Reed College](/source/Reed_College) as a professor of English, becoming dean for institutional diversity from 2011 to 2013.[2] From 2013 to 2017, Williams worked at [Bates College](/source/Bates_College) as the associate vice president for strategic initiatives and as a professor of English.[2] In 2017, Williams came to [Boston University](/source/Boston_University), where she first worked as the inaugural associate provost for diversity and inclusion before transferring into a broader role as vice president and associate provost for community and inclusion.[7]

In 2021, it was announced that Williams was leaving her position as vice president and associate provost for community and inclusion at Boston University to become Rhode Island School of Design's 18th president.[2] Williams became its first Black president on April 1, 2022.[2]

On March 17, 2025, RISD students and alumni opened an exhibition at Carr Haus, a student-run café open to the public, in support of Palestine. Four days later, following an online post by [StopAntisemitism](/source/StopAntisemitism) and "perceived threat of harm," Williams shut down the exhibition.[8] A student with work removed from the show said it "felt like censorship."[9] The premature closure was condemned by the [National Coalition Against Censorship](/source/National_Coalition_Against_Censorship), among other community members.[10] Williams has previously threatened students with expulsion for pro-Palestine protest actions.[11]

The previous fall, Williams was profiled in the *[New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, saying of her own creative practice: "Poetry requires a kind of heart space and solitude I don't have."[12]

Williams has received grants and fellowships from the [Oregon Arts Commission](/source/Oregon_Arts_Commission), the [Money for Women](/source/Money_for_Women) (also known as the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, and the [MacDowell Colony](/source/MacDowell_(artists'_residency_and_workshop))).[13] She received $635,176 in compensation from RISD in 2024.[14]

## Bibliography

- *Kin,* Michigan State University Press, 2000.[15][16]
- *Lunatic,* Michigan State University Press, 2002.[16][17]
- *Troubled Tongues,* Lotus Press, 2009.[18]
- *Detroit as Barn,* University of Washington Press, 2014.[19]

## References

1. ["Williams, Crystal, 1970-"](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n99263313.html). *LC Name Authority File (LCNAF)*. The Library of Congress.

1. Borg, Linda (16 December 2021). ["'Art, education, and equity and justice': RISD picks Boston University VP as next president"](https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/education/2021/12/16/rhode-island-school-of-design-crystal-williams-president-boston-university-poet-essayist/8922602002/). *Dezeen*

1. ["Poet and advocate Crystal Williams named next RISD president"](https://www.wpri.com/news/education/poet-and-advocate-crystal-williams-named-next-risd-president/). *WPRI.com*. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2021-12-16.

1. Gagosz, Alexa (December 16, 2021). ["Rhode Island School of Design names 18th president"](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/16/metro/rhode-island-school-design-names-18th-president/). *BostonGlobe.com*. Retrieved 2021-12-16.

1. ["Crystal Williams Named 18th President of Rhode Island School of Design"](https://www.blackenterprise.com/crystal-williams-named-18th-president-of-rhode-island-school-of-design/). *Black Enterprise*. 2021-12-17. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211217193343/https://www.blackenterprise.com/crystal-williams-named-18th-president-of-rhode-island-school-of-design/) 2021-12-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-12-17.

1. ["About Crystal Williams"](https://poets.org/poet/crystal-williams). *poets.org*. Academy of American Poets. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200918143440/https://poets.org/poet/crystal-williams) 2020-09-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-12-21.

1. Murphy, Matthew (16 December 2021). ["Crystal Williams Leaving BU to Become President of Rhode Island School of Design"](https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/crystal-williams-leaving-bu-to-become-president-of-rhode-island-school-of-design/). *Boston University*. Retrieved 2021-12-16.

1. Rashid, Sanai (2 April 2025). ["RISD students rally against school's request to remove pro-Palestine art exhibit"](https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2025/04/risd-students-rally-against-schools-request-to-remove-pro-palestine-art-exhibit). *The Brown Daily Herald*. Retrieved 2025-12-07.

1. Kohli, Nish (16 April 2025). ["RISD students speak out after school removes art exhibition"](https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-providence-journal/20250416/281500757092851?srsltid=AfmBOoqcqGlP-C-X_OlUmHe275WoPOl4lCiGOh4NPFB7wfK4Fw3aPeCV). *The Providence Journal*. Retrieved 2025-12-07.

1. Larison, Elizabeth (28 March 2025). ["NCAC Condemns Rhode Island School of Design Decision to Shut Down Public Access to an Art Exhibit on Political Resistance, Citing Vague “safety concerns.”"](https://ncac.org/news/ncac-condemns-rhode-island-school-of-art-and-design-decision-to-shut-down-public-access-to-an-art-exhibit-on-political-resistance-citing-vague-safety-concerns). *National Coalition Against Censorship*. Retrieved 2025-12-06.

1. Nayyar, Rhea (9 May 2024). ["RISD Gaza Solidarity Encampment Dissolves Ahead of Expulsion Threats"](https://hyperallergic.com/risd-gaza-solidarity-encampment-dissolves-after-expulsion-threats/). *Hyperallergic*. Retrieved 2025-12-06.

1. Kahn, Eve (28 August 2024). ["What Has 25 Rooms and Comes With the Job?"](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/28/style/risd-president-house.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved 2025-12-06.

1. ["The Days of Yore"](http://thedaysofyore.com/2011/crystal-williams/www.thedaysofyore.com). *The Days of Yore*. 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2021-12-16.

1. Suozzo, Andrea; Glassford, Alec; Ngu, Ash; Roberts, Brandon (2013-05-09). ["Rhode Island School Of Design - Nonprofit Explorer"](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/50258956). *ProPublica*. Retrieved 2025-12-06.

1. Williams, Crystal (2000). *Kin: poems*. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press. ISBN 978-1-62896-195-9. [OCLC 1194440263](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1194440263)

1. ["Crystal Williams"](https://tinhouse.com/th_post_faculty/crystal-williams/). *Tin House*. Retrieved 2021-12-16.

1. ["Reed Magazine: News of the College"](https://www.reed.edu/reed_magazine/may2003/columns/NoC/NoC_faculty_news.html). *www.reed.edu*. Retrieved 2021-12-16.

1. ["Emerging Writers Win Oregon Book Awards"](https://www.pw.org/content/two_celebrated_emerging_writers_win_oregon_book_awards). *Poets & Writers*. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2021-12-16.

1. ["Lost Horse Press - an Independent Literary Publisher"](https://www.losthorsepress.org/catalog/detroit-as-barn/). *www.losthorsepress.org*. Retrieved 2021-12-16.

## External links

- [Crystal Williams - Interview & Poetry - April 2010](https://www.connotationpress.com/featured-guest-editor/april-2010/369-crystal-williams-interview-a-poetry)
- [Rhode Island School of Design names 18th president - *The Boston Globe* - December 16, 2021](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/16/metro/rhode-island-school-design-names-18th-president/)

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