鈥淏eing selected as a FirstGen Forward Network Member is both an honor and a call to action,鈥� said Dr. Kevin Kruger, interim president and CEO of FirstGen Forward.

鈥満煨邮悠� joins a growing movement of institutions and professionals who are committed to advancing access, sharing best practices, and driving systemic change to ensure first-generation students succeed. We look forward to seeing 红杏视频 and the entire Class of 2025 make a lasting impact,鈥� Kruger shared.

Ringling Firsts, an on-campus organization supporting and celebrating first-generation college students, will mark its inaugural First-Generation College Student Day with a celebration event on Scott Plaza on November 3. Then, on November 5, a catered social luncheon for both students and faculty will feature a panel of first-generation students sharing their experiences. (More information below.) 

Additionally, the upcoming Faculty Professional Day on October 14 will be exclusively focused on first-generation students, their experiences, and ways to empower and facilitate their success. 

The events serve to highlight the College鈥檚 continued efforts to nurture first-generation students, who make up more than 40% of the school鈥檚 enrollment. 红杏视频 was recently accepted into FirstGen Forward, a network of nearly 500 higher education institutions nationwide that are committed to understanding first-generation student success and building more inclusive systems. 

鈥淲e are so excited to join the FirstGen Forward Network,鈥� said Dr. El莽in Haskollar, Associate Dean of Students and the director of the Center for Student Success.

鈥淏eing a part of this national community of colleges and universities supporting first-generation students not only affirms the work we are doing at 红杏视频, but also connects us with other institutions, helping us make informed decisions based on data, research, and best practices.”

“Through Ringling Firsts, we continue to build supportive programs and celebrate our first-generation students, so every student can thrive and feel empowered,鈥� Dr. Haskollar shared.

The newly founded Ringling Firsts organization fosters an in-person and online community, while also offering specialized mental health services and staff and faculty development programs, including specialized DEEP Professional Development Certificate workshops.聽

First-Generation College Student Celebration Day
Monday, November 3, 11:30 am-12:30 pm in Scott Plaza
Join us on Scott Plaza as we celebrate First-Generation College Student Day with music, take pictures with Remy, hand out Ringling 1st Gen swag, and meet and mingle. 

Social Luncheon
Wednesday, November 5, 11:30 am-12:30 pm in the Diane Roskamp Exhibition Hall
Join us in the Exhibition Hall for our First-Generation College Student Celebration social luncheon. Engage in conversation with current students, staff, and faculty. Hear from a panel of First-Generation Students as they share their experiences. Enjoy catered food, take pictures with Remy, receive free Ringling First Gen swag, and learn more about resources on campus that support first-generation college students.

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest 红杏视频 news in your inbox.

Contact:
Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu
941-309-4008

The post 红杏视频 champions First-Gen students appeared first on 红杏视频.

红杏视频 will be featured, along with 70 other recipients, in the September 2025 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine. This recognition identifies institutions that commit to campus-wide integration of mental health initiatives, including accessible services, peer support, emotional resilience, and proactive policy.

鈥淲e know that institutions are not always recognized for their dedication to their mental health and well-being services and support for their students and employees,鈥� says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. 鈥淲e are proud to honor these colleges and universities as role models for other institutions of higher education.鈥�

Read more about the .

Contact:
Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu
941-309-4008

The post 红杏视频 receives Insight Into Academia magazine鈥檚 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award appeared first on 红杏视频.

Browse the curated book display at the Alfred R. Goldstein Library. Read the critical and cultural ruminations of essayist Susan Sontag. Trace the transition of perspectives on unlikeable women in pop culture from disdain to adoration. Study the art of feminism from the suffragettes to contemporary artists. Explore the to the collection. Keep your eyes peeled for a copy of by Karen Hallion ’97, Illustration to join the collection.

The Brizdle-Schoenberg Special Collections Center has a first edition of Rose O鈥橬eill鈥檚 The Runaway Kewpie. O鈥橬eill was the first published female cartoonist in the United States, and rose to fame for her Kewpie characters in 1909. The Kewpie design is still popular today, seen frequently as dolls, in tattoo flash, and on the Kewpie Mayo label. O鈥橬eill was inducted into the Eisner Awards Hall of Fame as a Comic Pioneer in 2022! Make an appointment to view it and like books on the .

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion has planned a series of events to celebrate the month.聽

• On March 5, they hosted a Healthy Menstruation workshop as part of their Wonderful Wednesdays series.聽
• March 7: there was a film screening of Ruido in Scott Plaza.
• March 19: share your appreciation for a woman or non-binary person who has impacted you by writing a note, and receive a sweet treat, from 11:30 am-12:30 pm, outside of Cunnifffe Commons.
• March 20: join the Women鈥檚 History Month Celebration in the Exhibition Hall from 6:30-8:00 pm.聽
• March 26: as part of Wonderful Wednesdays, participate in the Clothesline Project outside Cunnifffe Commons from 11:30 am-12:30 pm. From 6-8 pm attend Impact Dialogue in collaboration with Lazarus Engaged Learning, on the CJ Lawn.聽
• March 28-31: Check out the unveiling of the Clothesline Project in the AC Lobby.聽
• March 31: Attend the Transgender Day of Visibility Drag Show in Scott Plaza at 8 presented in collaboration with the Drag Club.聽
  

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest 红杏视频 news in your inbox.

Contact:

Office of Marketing and Communications
肠辞尘尘耻苍颈肠补迟颈辞苍蝉蔼谤颈苍驳濒颈苍驳.别诲耻听
941-309-4008

The post Celebrate Women鈥檚 History Month across campus appeared first on 红杏视频.

Battle always knew she wanted to turn this poem into a film in some way. She said, 鈥淚 was tired of seeing these conversations sugarcoated. No one was saying it authentically, so I did. This is the reality of Black America鈥攖he trauma, the history, the double standards鈥攁nd I refuse to package it in a way that makes it easier for people to digest. If it makes you uncomfortable, good. It should.” 

After meeting 红杏视频 Film majors Sean Jenkins 鈥�28 and Sebastien Vaughn 鈥�28, she found like-minded collaborators and cultural resonance. The three quickly became a trio and collaborated on the film adaptation of Mama鈥檚 Trauma. 

Each of the three collaborators brought something unique to the project. It was directed and written by Battle, produced by Jenkins, with cinematography by Vaughn. Jenkins shared about the process, “I think being able to collaborate with the two of them allowed for everyone to shine in their respective roles鈥攚hich is another thing, too, that we’re also good friends outside of the project. It was a learning curve moving into a professional space, but there was great communication throughout… our workflow was almost seamless.鈥� 

The film will be screened in The Art Showcase, which opens today at Crossley Gallery. The exhibition, organized by the Black Student Union in collaboration with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, will be on view from Feb. 17-22. 

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest 红杏视频 news in your inbox.

Contact:

Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu 
941-309-4008

The post Cross-major film collaboration addresses intergenerational trauma and struggles of Black America appeared first on 红杏视频.

This year, the ambitious students of the Business class organized two exhibitions simultaneously: Jack Davis: Legacy of Laughter, a retrospective of drawings and ephemera featuring the widely recognizable, if not infamous, works by the Mad magazine cartoonist, and Nothing New: Archives of Affection, a historic collection of daguerreotypes of male couples from the early and mid-19th century. 

Located in the Willis Smith Gallery,聽Archives of Affection聽presents 300 tiny portraits of queer love in a dimly lit, soft pink, painted gallery full of cozy furniture and offering an intimate atmosphere. The museological setting situates the portraits not in a cozy, intimate space of the era of their making but in a contemporary home, as if they were cherished portraits of family members or queer ancestors who paved the way for future gay and trans folks to experience loving relationships. Visitors to the exhibition can literally put themselves in the shoes of the portrayed couples via an AI projection that transforms participants into tin-type characters.聽

Peter Enrico and Terry Stache generously shared their collection with the College for the exhibition. The collection started when Enrico stumbled upon a photograph in a bin at an antique shop in the 1980s and then continued collecting them for 20 years until it had grown to 400 or 500 photos. The portraits lived in a suitcase in his closet for decades before being brought into the light for Archives of Affection. 

The Business of Art and Design course offers an opportunity for students to experience real work while still in school. They can put the exhibition on their resume, plus they have worked through issues and complications that come up while in the supportive company of their peers and faculty. Throughout the semester, professionals working in each of the four roles performed by the students give talks and answer pointed questions that range from blue sky and philosophical to advice for minute and detailed situations.聽

This course offered more than its usual practical support. Putting on this exhibition meant a lot to a group of queer and 鈥榦thered鈥� students. Kelsey Knight 鈥�24, Visual Studies, was part of the design team that organized the exhibition. Knight described the relief they found in arriving at 红杏视频 and how much this exhibition meant to them.聽

鈥淭his exhibit and the story, I think people need to hear about this and see it. I鈥檓 a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and it means a lot to see my brothers and sisters from the past and see that we鈥檝e been here all along. I grew up in a small-minded community in Georgia. From childhood people let me know I was different. It was rough not being understood. Coming to 红杏视频鈥攊t鈥檚 been really nice being understood and feeling safe.鈥�

See the exhibition at the next Art Walk event on Friday, January 17, from 5-8 pm. 

The event is free and open to the public. In-person viewings are free and open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am-4 pm, and by appointment. 

This exhibition is sponsored by The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Exchange, and WUSF.  Special thanks to Pamela and Richard Mones for generously supporting the 红杏视频 Exhibition Design and Management Class and this exhibition.

Learn more about the exhibition.

The post Archives of Affection highlights sweet moments from queer history appeared first on 红杏视频.

It offers an opportunity for two unlikely groups to spend time together. Veterans, who may never have stepped foot in an art gallery or gotten to know an art student鈥攁nd the art student who might otherwise have no reason to get to know a veteran鈥攕hare the meaningful experience.  

These works narrate tales that span the battlefields of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan to the steadfast resolve of current enlisted troops. The artists humanize the narratives of these conflicts, encapsulating their profound significance for our service men and women.

Celebrating the exhibition鈥檚 sixth year, the College takes immense pride in unveiling this year鈥檚 installment of . This year鈥檚 theme of the Greatest Generation highlights the experiences of the military who were active during the Great Depression, their roles in World War II, and their contributions to post-war rebuilding.

This exhibit is free and open to the public. It will be on view through December 13, 2024 at the

Selby Foundation Illustration Gallery.

红杏视频 is a member of the Yellow Ribbon Program to help pay tuition and fees for veterans and their dependents that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn鈥檛 already cover. We support our veteran students with the Veteran鈥檚 Club and through Veteran Services, who offer support in educating students and prospective students on using VA educational benefits and in paving the way for a smooth transition from military to campus life. 

Learn more at .

The post Sixth annual War Paint: Profiles of Courage exhibit on view appeared first on 红杏视频.

In honor of the day, here are a number of events, resources, art, and art exhibitions to help you celebrate. 

Art and resources at the Library

The Alfred R. Goldstein Library has physical and digital resources on Juneteenth and anti-racism. Explore their online or visit and check out their curated collection in person. Students, faculty, and staff can check out up to 40 books at one time. 

On the second floor of Goldstein, visitors can explore the Brizdle-Schoenberg Special Collections Center鈥檚 collection of works on paper and art books that share the history of radical Black activism, from Kara Walker鈥檚 pop-up book, Freedom, a Fable, to Brooklyn-based Char Jer茅鈥檚 The periodic table of Black revolutionaries. Students, faculty, and staff can schedule a visit to explore the collection by using the signup form and selecting a 45-minute appointment. 

How to Celebrate Juneteenth in Sarasota

Our Sarasota community members and neighbors are hosting a number of events throughout the Sarasota-Bradenton region, and most of them are free and open to the public. 

Last Sunday, June 16, the hosted the Second Annual Juneteenth Arts Festival which featured an art exhibition with work from local artists, food vendors, a screening of 红杏视频 student short films, and live performances, dances, and music.

The Sarasota County NAACP Voting Collaboration Committee will host today, Wednesday, June 19, from 1-4 pm at the Historic Leonard Reid House. There will be performances by students of the Manasota ASALH Freedom School and spoken word poets throughout the day. The event is free to the public.

From 6-8 pm tonight, Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC) and The Ringling Museum will lead a conversation about the prominence of African American artists and their contributions to the Sarasota art community titled 鈥淟et’s Talk鈥� Art Series Juneteenth Edition. This event will also be held at the Leonard Reid House, and also free.

On Saturday, June 22, Inc. will host Juneteenth Reading Conference and Juneteenth Community Festival, with a Black business expo, financial literacy workshops, voter registration, and read-a-long, with live entertainment by local artist Amelia, at Dream Center, 922 24th St E, Bradenton from 2-7 pm. The event is free and open to the public.

The Newtown Historic Community will hold a free block party on Saturday, Newtown Juneteenth Celebration 2024, from 12-7 pm on the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Gillespie Ave. The party will feature live music, street vendors, food, and performances.  

Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition, Inc. (SAACC) will host another free event at the Historic Leonard Reid House on Saturday from 6-9 pm, Juneteenth Jubilee Jam at Leonard Reid House. This party with a purpose will feature performances by popular local artists Jah Movement, Derric Gobourne, Jr., and Ariel Blue. The event will include vendors and art exhibits. 

On Sunday, June 23, the will host Celebrating Juneteenth, a live contemporary art and dining experience featuring artist Kendel Woods, performances, and fundraising for ASALH鈥檚 Freedom School. The event will be from 4-6 pm at Chaz 51 Steakhouse in Venice. Tickets are $100 each, with various sponsorship ticket tiers.

More resources to learn more about Juneteenth, from online resources to podcasts to free courses. 

The National Museum of African American History and Culture has put together a collection of resources titled,, and PBS produced a documentary, .

Podcasts

, NPR

, New York Times

, Kimberl茅 Crenshaw

Engage and Learn

, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

, Harvard University

, National Museum of African American History & Culture

, Kimberl茅 Crenshaw

, Pulitzer Center

Books

, by Ibram X. Kendi (available at the library) 

, by Robin DiAngelo

, by Angela Davis

, by Beverly Daniel Tatum (available at Goldstein Library)

The post Events, resources, and art in celebration of Juneteenth appeared first on 红杏视频.

Second Chance Prom memories

The post 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride spans campus and calendar appeared first on 红杏视频.

This women-focused discussion will touch on the unique opportunities and challenges for women in the Themed Entertainment Industry. Eight panelists will share their professional and

personal experiences about working in a male-dominated profession and talk about the evolution of women leadership. 

鈥淎 while back, Ringling鈥檚 Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. El莽in Haskollar, asked me about the current issues surrounding DEI right now in Entertainment Design,鈥� said Jamie DeRuyter, Entertainment Design department head at 红杏视频. 

鈥淚 immediately thought of the lack of equality for women in the industry. With roughly 80 percent of Entertainment Design students currently identifying as women, we need to prepare these young and aspiring professionals to take on this male-dominated industry. Hopefully, with this many women entering the field, they can tip the scales and make a real difference in the work culture.鈥�

Debra Wren of Wrenhouse Design has enjoyed a 30-plus-year career working in themed entertainment. 鈥淎lthough there has been a big shift in how women are perceived in this industry during my career, there is still work to be done,鈥� she said. 

鈥淭his is especially true when working 鈥榠n the field鈥欌�攐n construction sites, in fabrication shops, etc.鈥攚here it still tends to be very male-dominated. It鈥檚 important to also recognize that location plays a big part in this level of acceptance of women also. There are significant cultural factors that play into women鈥檚 roles across the industry.鈥�

The Women of Industry panel will take place in the Roskamp Exhibition Hall on 红杏视频鈥檚 Main Campus. It is open to students, faculty, staff, and the general public are encouraged to attend. Admission is free. 

Meet the Women of Industry 2024 Panelists聽
Jayne Alcorn
Walt Disney Imagineering聽
Jayne Alcorn started at Walt Disney World and Walt Disney Imagineering from 1971 to 2006鈥攁 35-year career. Upon retirement, she started up Atelier Alcorn LLC and contracted back to Walt Disney Imagineering for another 10 years. Alcorn was a designer, manufacturer, and installer, supervisor of sets, and worked on interior and exterior props and dressings, artificial foliage, and furnishings of themed environments. In addition to her design experience, she also holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Studio Art from the University of Central Florida.

Arielle Rassel
Thinkwell
Arielle Rassel has loved telling stories for longer than she can remember鈥攁nd for over a decade, she鈥檚 been doing that through the creation of compelling location-based experiences all over the world. With experience in management, creative design, and production, her projects to-date include theme parks, zoos, brand centers, aquariums, museums, retail, dining, and other attractions. Rassel has participated with, and overseen design and production teams from blue sky through opening day, managing projects with the most minimal of budgets up to those with multi-million dollar capital expenditures. Among her most notable employers and clients are Walt Disney Imagineering, Google, Universal Creative, Scenario, and currently Thinkwell Group in Orlando, FL.

Sophie Ruiz 鈥�23, Entertainment Design
Stardust Entertainment, LLC
Sophie Ruiz graduated from 红杏视频 as part of the first graduating class of Entertainment Design in 2023. After working on a variety of projects for different companies in the themed entertainment industry, Ruiz launched her own design company, Stardust Entertainment. The company was founded based on Ruiz鈥檚 thesis project (an FEC project named Stardust Arcade & Diner) and works primarily with independently owned family entertainment centers, bringing their visions to life by various methods of concept visualization. stardustentertainment.co聽

Denise Hatcher聽
AOA
Denise Hatcher is managing director of AOA with over 25 years of experience in the themed entertainment industry. A multi-faceted leader and executive, Hatcher oversees business administration and works closely with the executive team to support client relations and advance AOA into new industries and heights. During her career with The Walt Disney Company, Hatcher led sales and marketing strategy for Disney Vacation Club and Disney Parks. She developed marketing campaigns, integrated communications plans, and managed special events, dedications, and openings including New Fantasyland at Disney鈥檚 Magic Kingdom, and special events such as Star Wars Weekends, Epcot鈥檚 Food and Wine Festival, and exclusive charter events onboard Disney Cruise Line.

Shelby Honea聽
Universal Creative聽
Shelby Honea is an executive producer, creative management for Universal Creative. She was the producer responsible for developing and delivering Jurassic World VelociCoaster, an award-winning attraction, notably delivered in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.聽Honea is a graduate of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Entertainment Engineering and Design Program. She was a part of the NextGen pilot group and currently sits on the TEA Eastern Board. Outside of work, Honea has yet to find the odd roadside attraction she didn鈥檛 like, but she is still looking.

Sarah Schmidt 鈥�17, Computer Animation聽
Disney Live Entertainment聽
Sarah Schmidt is a themed entertainment concept artist and illustrator, currently working with Disney Live Entertainment and Walt Disney Imagineering in Orlando, FL. Schmidt is originally from Michigan and graduated from 红杏视频 in 2017 with a degree in Computer Animation. She started her career as an art intern with Disney Live Entertainment and has stuck around ever since.聽

Janelle Picard
MDSX
Janelle Picard has over 20 years experience as a producer and creative director for large-scale attractions, mobile apps, and interactive installations. She is also skilled in graphic design, documentation, project management, and communication. Picard is responsible for overseeing and communicating the design evolution, budgets, and schedules of projects in the themed entertainment industry.聽

Debra Wren聽
Wrenhouse Design聽
Debra Wren has a 30-plus-year career in the themed entertainment industry, including over 17 years as a Walt Disney Imagineer. She specializes in thematic design and implementation of signage and graphics, art direction, fabrication oversight, and project management. Currently, Wren is working on Universal鈥檚 new park, Epic Universe. She is the co-owner of Wrenhouse Design, LLC with her husband, Scott Wren, who is also a former Imagineer and Ringling alum.聽

Entertainment Design is the art of creating compelling and engaging experiences that translate a narrative, concept, or theme into a real-world experience that resonates with guests. 红杏视频鈥檚 Entertainment Design major teaches students to collaborate with artists, designers, and other creatives to bring their visions to life, and develop the visual communication skills of an artist and the problem solving skills of a designer. With a focus on the built environment, artistic and technical skills are applied to project designs for theme parks, museums and exhibitions, concerts, sporting events, expos, hotels and restaurants, retail spaces, and more for an industry expanding worldwide. In this program, students learn how to be effective designers and collaborators within teams that work on creative projects across all kinds of entertainment experiences. 

The post First-annual Women of Industry panel celebrates women鈥檚 leadership in entertainment design appeared first on 红杏视频.

Co-producer and co-host El耀in Haskollar, Ph.D. is the Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Director of Ringling鈥檚 Center for Diversity and Inclusion. She is an award-winning higher education leader whose past experiences include providing strategic direction to student affairs offices, programs, and services on the foundations of cross-cultural understanding, and strategizing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused initiatives for institutions of higher education.

Her co-producer and co-host Curtis Anderson is the Assistant Dean of Admissions for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He is a photographer whose select exhibitions include The Story I鈥檒l Tell: The Mixtape (2021), and The Wonder in The Wild (2023).

They are joined by Nick Palladino, an award-winning and internationally recognized sound designer and the founder of NPALL Audio; sound designer and location audio engineer Troy Logan 鈥�22, Film, an award-winning, Sarasota-based sound designer and location audio engineer; post-production from Keith Elliott, a seasoned veteran of mixing, mastering, and cutting-edge software architecture; and Director of ART Network and Senior Production Manager Marquee Doyle, an award-winning director and editor who specializes in documentaries and short films, with over 21 years of experience. The podcast was recorded for both audio and video and mixed at 红杏视频鈥檚 Studio Labs鈥� state-of-the-art post-production facility. 

For their first thought-provoking discussion, they have invited Nate Jacobs, who is the founder and artistic director of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. Jacobs generously shares the story of the birth of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe鈥攊nspired by his time performing the part of servants and other like characters in supporting roles at the Asolo Repertory Theatre. That diminished representation encouraged Jacobs to create a theatre that would feature all Black casts telling stories that speak to, invite, and feel inclusive to Black audiences. Jacobs has written, composed, directed, and performed in many shows, as an actor, singer, dancer, and comedian. He trains and mentors youth in the performing arts through programs such as Stage of Discovery, WBTT鈥檚 summer musical theatre intensive program.

The podcast is available via Spotify, Apple Podcast, and YouTube. Subscribe to stay updated on new episodes and follow us on social media. You can watch all of our episodes on the Rising Together webpage. Email diversity@ringling.edu to find out how to be a guest or collaborate.

The post CDI launches new podcast, Rising Together appeared first on 红杏视频.