Dr. Schneiderman (left) and Dr. Thompson. Photo courtesy of Ringling College.

On January 23, the Ringling College of Art and Design announced its seventh president, Davis Schneiderman, Ph.D. Dr. Schneiderman, who was appointed unanimously by the Ringling College Board on January 15, will assume office on June 1, 2026. Dr. Schneiderman comes to Ringling College from Lake Forest College, a nationally-ranked private liberal arts college in Lake Forest, Illinois, where he served in senior leadership for 10 years, including as Provost and Dean of Faculty from 2018 to 2023.

Since arriving at Lake Forest College in 2001, Dr. Schneiderman has built an identity as a nationally-recognized leader in higher education, working in the forefront of interdisciplinary innovation, artificial intelligence and technology ethics in creative education. Starting in 2023, Dr. Schneiderman has served as the founding executive director of Lake Forest College’s Krebs Center for Humanities, a public-facing cultural institution that connects creative practice and technology with public engagement. While leading the Krebs Center, Dr. Schneiderman secured multiple Mellon-Foundation grants, including the development of the HUMAN Initiative (Humanities Understanding and Managing AI Nexus). In addition to his work in education, Dr. Schneiderman is a novelist, essayist and multimedia artist—creating audio, video and performance works as a part of The Muttering Sickness Collective.

“My journey here involves decades of service to higher education, but everything I've done has led me to Ringling College in this moment,” said Dr. Schneiderman. “I am, at heart, a creative writer, an artist and a performer, and I see in Ringling a powerful creative incubator. The dedication of Ringling's faculty and staff to this project is nothing short of inspirational. The passion I see in Ringling students is exactly what we need more of now, more than ever.”

Dr. Schneiderman will succeed Dr. Larry S. Thompson as president, who announced his retirement in April 2025. During Dr. Thompson's 27-year tenure, Ringling College has grown exponentially, transforming the institution from a locally-revered arts school into an internationally recognized college of art and design.

“Over the past 27 years, Dr. Thompson has built a remarkable foundation for creative excellence, championed our vision with unwavering commitment and positioned Ringling College as a national leader in art and design education,” said Dr. Joel Morganroth, Ringling College Board of Trustees Chair. “Ringling, in 1999 was a school, and now it's a college with twice the enrollment. The operating budget then was $15 million and is now 10 times that amount. The endowment was under $4 million and is now 20 times that amount. There were six majors then and now there are 13.”

Dr. Thompson also welcomed Dr. Schneiderman during the announcement event at the college. “This is a meaningful and deeply personal moment for me,” said Dr. Thompson. “Ringling College is not just a place of education, it's a place of imagination, experimentation, where determination and courage are needed daily, and where boundless creativity thrives. It’s a community defined by both creative and academic excellence and by a shared belief in the transformative power of art and design. To lead such a place for nearly three decades has truly been a privilege and a profound responsibility. In June, we will welcome Dr. Schneiderman, a leader whose vision, integrity and commitment to creative education give me great confidence in the future of this institution.”

Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

Dr. Schneiderman (left) and Dr. Thompson. Photo courtesy of Ringling College.

To learn more click here