Recognizing Excellence
The RISD Alumni Association honored outstanding alumni with new awards established to celebrate its 125th anniversary.
Deborah Berke BArch 77
Berke is the founder of the New York-based architecture firm Deborah Berke Partners and dean of the School of Architecture at Yale University. She is deeply committed to advancing women in the profession and serves on the boards of the James Howell Foundation and the Yaddo Artist’s Residency and is an honorary Trustee of the Norman Foster Foundation.
Berke received the Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf Award, the highest award offered by the RISD Alumni Association, honors Helen Metcalf, the founder of RISD, her visionary spirit and civic generosity. The award recognizes alumni who have achieved outstanding distinction in their life’s work in a professional field, or in community, public or humanitarian service.
Grace Jun 09 GD
Jun is assistant professor of Fashion at Parsons School of Design and executive director of Open Style Lab, a nonprofit team of designers, engineers and occupational therapists dedicated to making style accessible to people of all abilities.
Jun received the Emerging Leader Award, presented to alumni who have graduated within the past ten years, made significant achievements and contributions to their profession and/or community, think boldly, mindfully and creatively, and act with honor and moral courage.
Todd Bartel 85 PT
Bartel teaches drawing, painting, collage and conceptual art at the Cambridge School of Weston and is founder and director of the school’s Thompson Gallery dedicated to establishing strong relationships between professional artists and the school community. He also serves as guest critic at New Hampshire Institute of the Arts and Vermont College of the Arts.
Bartel received the Art and Design Educator Award that recognizes alumni who have demonstrated exceptional skill as an educator or a clear commitment to the field of art education, and are recognized by their peers and students as having shown those qualities that most encourage students to learn and thrive creatively.
