After 26 years under Larry Thompson’s leadership, the art and design school welcomes Davis Schneiderman as his successor.
By Johannes Werner
Original Air Date: January 23, 2026
Host: The board of trustees of Ringling College of Art and Design picked a new president, after 26 years with Larry Thompson at the helm of the private campus in Sarasota. Through most of Thompson’s tenure, Ringling has seen fast growth, and expansion into new programs and technologies. But Thompson’s successor will also have to respond to an enrollment decline. We have the details.
Johannes Werner: The man to lead the campus is Davis Schneiderman. He comes from a small private liberal arts college in suburban Chicago. During more than two decades at Lake Forest College, he taught there as a professor of English. Most recently, he has been in charge of the Krebs Center, an institution for people thinking about the arts. He was also leading research about the use of artificial intelligence in the humanities.
Here’s how he describes his tenure at Lake Forest.
David Schneiderman (left) and Larry Thompson. Photos courtesy Ringling College
Davis Schneiderman: At Lake Forest College, where I’ve worked for—this is my 25th year—I’ve done many, many things. I was the provost and dean of faculty a few years ago. I stepped down from that position to become the founding executive director of the Krebs Center for the Humanities, which is an inspiring Italianate villa. Picture a structure from Tuscany but kind-of airlifted into the Chicago suburbs with a museum-grade, absolutely beautiful art collection—largely Italian Renaissance but other things as well. The Krebs Center is a place that people go to to think about art and to work with art. It’s also a sponsor of many activities in the Lake Forest College campus, and I’ve had the good fortune to be the principal investigator of a $1.2 million grant on AI ethics in the humanities, which is sort-of convened under the umbrella of the center.
JW: In an interview with WSLR, he said he wants to listen to all stakeholders and be an ambassador of the college.
A bird’s eye view of the campus in North Sarasota
Ali Bahaj is the vice chair of the Ringling board of trustees, and he headed the search committee. In a statement to WSLR, he cited Schneiderman’s leadership skills and his knowledge of technology.
“Schneiderman’s extensive experience integrating technology ethically and mindfully into creative education made him the ideal candidate to see Ringling College and its students thrive in the future.”
Asked about how to respond to an enrollment decline at Ringling that began in 2024, Schneiderman said it was too early to comment. But he did say this:
DS: Everyone paying attention to higher education, regardless of the sector, is aware of the challenging headwinds. There is no magic formula for colleges—like, one path to chart into the future. Each institution has its own strengths and its own position—its own challenges based upon its environment. What I look for when thinking about how to do well in those challenging headwinds are, “What are the building blocks? What’s the foundation?” And I would not have been interested in coming to Ringling if I didn’t see such an amazing, strong foundation. How to find new students and attract them to what is the only art and design college in Florida is going to be one of my primary objectives, working with an amazing staff here who are dedicated to that same goal.
JW: Schneiderman will take charge of Ringling on June 1, the start of the next academic year. In the meantime, he will be working with Larry Thompson on a transition plan.
DS: I will be working with the Board of trustees to think about how to strengthen the institution even more. But it’s already a very strong institution.
JW: Schneiderman is married, and a father of two adult children.
DS: My wife and I—Kelly Haramis, who’s an actor—are going to be relocating to the area. I have two college age daughters who are off at their institution, so they’ll certainly be visiting when they’re home for the holidays, but we are newly empty nesters after a long time of raising children, and I’m really looking forward to relocating here to the Sarasota area.
JW: Reporting for WSLR News, Johannes Werner.
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