Pictured: Emily Walsh and Dr. Larry Thompson

As part its ongoing commitment of support, the Ringling College Library Association (RCLA) presented a gift of $600,000 to Ringling College President Dr. Larry Thompson. RCLA President Emily Walsh stated the funds are part of RCLA’s most recent gift commitment of $3 million supporting the Alfred R. Goldstein Library and student scholarships. “RCLA’s ongoing support of Ringling College of Art and Design is crucial to our ability to provide our students not only a state-of-the-art library to enhance their learning and collaboration, but also much-needed financial assistance through scholarship funding,” said Larry R. Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design. “We are so very thankful to RCLA for its long-time partnership with Ringling College, and we look forward to many more years of serving Ringling College students together.”

The challenging times of COVID-19 curtailed the 2020 season of the popular, often sold-out RCLA Town Hall Lecture Series last spring. The two remaining lectures were suspended due to coronavirus precautions.  Those two remaining 2020 speakers have been rescheduled to the spring of 2021: Neuroscientist Lisa Genova will present her talk on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, while renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz is scheduled to speak on Monday, April 19, 2021. Further, the entire 2021 Town Hall Lecture Series will be rescheduled for 2022, out of consideration for the health and safety of our patrons, volunteers, staff, and speakers.

“The RCLA board is pleased to honor our gift commitment to Ringling College of Art and Design, just as we have done since 1981,” said RCLA Executive Director Stephanie Grosskreutz. “With commitments of over $11 million, RCLA is one of the largest donors to Ringling College.” 

Pictured: Emily Walsh and Dr. Larry Thompson