Commencement 2021
Commencement 2021 began with the surprise appearance of musical genius and onetime RISD student David Byrne, one of five guest speakers to earn an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts this year. Byrne offered graduating students a handy list of tips for making the most of their creative lives: “Be true to your medium,” he advised. “Never be boring. The world isn’t always fair… but there are surprises and beauty in the everyday.”
Byrne was part of a June 5 event that allowed the international RISD community to celebrate the Class of 2021 together. A robust speaking program and virtual conferral of honorary degrees took place in the morning, and then 400-plus undergrads and more than 200 graduate students were awarded their degrees in an in-person afternoon ceremony that was also livestreamed.
“I bet you never imagined your time at RISD concluding with all the challenges and upsets of the past year,” President Rosanne Somerson noted in her welcoming address.“But in spite of all this tumult, you have triumphed.”
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| 2021 | ||
| Saturday, June 5th | ||
| 12:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 Lynn Nottage | Honorary Degree Recipient Lynn Nottage Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 12:00 AM |
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| 12:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 Virgil Abloh | Honorary Degree Recipient Virgil Abloh Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 12:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 Alla Alsahli, Undergraduate Student Speaker Alla Alsahli, Rhode Island School of Design Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 10:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 Amy Huang Presentation of Student Awards Amy Huang, Rhode Island School of Design Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 10:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 Cathy Park, Undergraduate Student Speaker Cathy Park, Rhode Island School of Design Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 10:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 David Byrne and President Rosanne Somerson Intro and Opening Remarks David Byrne, Rhode Island School of Design Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 10:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 David Byrne | Honorary Degree Recipient David Byrne, Rhode Island School of Design Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 10:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 Elizabeth Diller | Honorary Degree Recipient Elizabeth Diller Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 10:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 Kent Klienman Provost's Address and John R. Frazier Awaards Presentation Kent Klienman, Rhode Island School of Design Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 10:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 Shepard Fairey | Honorary Degree Recipient Shepard Fairey, Rhode Island School of Design Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 10:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 Sophie Weston Chien, Undergraduate Student Speaker Sophie Weston Chien, Rhode Island School of Design Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 10:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
Commencement 2021 Teisha Bradley, Graduate Student Speaker Teisha Bradley, Rhode Island School of Design Limited in person event outdoors on RISD campus and live streamed for virtual attendees. 10:00 AM |
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