Commencement 2023

Honorary Doctorate Recipients Kate Kelly Smith and Newell Turner Encouraged Emerging Designers to Create Beauty and Improve Lives

On Wednesday, May 24, 2023, the New York School of Interior Design honored the class of 2023 with a graduation ceremony at 92Y’s Kaufmann Concert Hall in New York City. One hundred sixteen interior designers obtained their degrees after much hard work and tenacity. Eighty five graduates walked the stage. The College’s abundant, accredited online degree programs have made this NYSID’s most geographically diverse graduating class in the history of the College, with students hailing from 22 countries. Some of the students who studied online also graduated virtually, joining from afar via a live broadcast.

There were 61 graduate students and 55 undergraduates in the class of 2023. The BFA graduates in this class had their first year of studies interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet they persevered, along with the College, adapting to online studies and helping NYSID usher in a new era of hybrid flexible learning. Observed NYSID president David Sprouls, “This graduating class’ voices and actions were among the catalysts of a seismic shift in how the college operates.”

The chairman of NYSID’s Board of Trustees, Ellen Kravet, opened the ceremonies.“This year’s graduates are very well positioned for success,” she said. “As you enter the job market, keep in mind that 95% of our graduates from the undergraduate programs and 98% of graduates with a master’s degree are employed or pursuing further education within twelve months of their commencement.”

President Sprouls thanked the Class of 2023 for helping NYSID cultivate a culture of belonging; for succeeding beyond his high expectations and garnering a haul of industry awards this year; and for upholding a 107-year old tradition of excellence, which was apparent in their thesis projects, now on exhibition at the NYSID Gallery and Graduate Center. “You are innovators and agents of change who demand inclusion for all and embrace the responsibility of prioritizing the health of the planet, as well as our own well-being, at every turn,” said Sprouls. “We and the world are so very ready for you.”

Kate Kelly Smith

Newell Turner

Wisdom from the Commencement Speakers

NYSID president David Sprouls presented Kate Kelly Smith and Newell Turner, both giants in the field of design media, with the New York School of Interior Design’s highest accolade, the Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts in Interior Design.

Kate Kelly Smith is Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Luxe Interiors + Design and Chief Sales Officer of the Sandow Design Group. Before joining Sandow Design Group, Smith was Senior Vice President of the Hearst Design Group, leading the publishing side of House Beautiful, Veranda, and Elle Decor. Folio recognized her as a “corporate visionary,” naming her one of the Top Women in Media 2015. She’s the daughter of an interior designer, and her deep understanding of design has driven her publishing career.

It’s not surprising that this powerhouse of a media executive used her speech to empower NYSID’s graduates. “Design is about solving deeply personal and complex problems by making a positive impact on people’s lives," Smith said. “You have the power to shape our environment, influence our behavior, and improve our well-being while defining style, form, and taste…I urge you to use your education and skills to make a difference.”

It was meaningful to have Smith speak in tandem with the great design journalist Newell Turner, because they spent 12 years running the Hearst Design Group together. Turner was founding editorial director of the Hearst division that produced Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and Veranda. He is an author, editor, photographer, and design consultant with over 35 years of experience in design and lifestyle magazine publishing. His new book is Mexican: A Journey Through Design (Vendome Press, May 2023). He is also a former New York School of Interior Design trustee who is deeply invested in design education. Turner used the metaphor of a sky full of constellations to describe his approach to design. “Beauty is not merely an aesthetic concept: it is a profound expression of the human experience… . Just as the constellations evoke wonder and awe, the pursuit of beauty can be a guiding star throughout your careers,” he said. “See beauty not only in the grandeur of high-profile or big projects, but also in the seemingly mundane and everyday spaces that shape our lives. Let beauty be your compass, a new North Star.” 

Paulina Castillon Gomez

Antonio Harris II

Student Speakers

NYSID allows its graduating students to vote to determine who will speak on their behalf at commencement. This year, the undergraduates selected Paulina Castillon Gomez, ‘23 (BFA).  Castillon Gomez has served as the president of NYSID’s Undergraduate Student Association and was part of the NYSID team for HousingWorks’ Design on a Dime benefit. “Strive to show up as your authentic selves every single day,” she said. “Your work as an interior designer is not only about acquired knowledge, but also about how you connect and create for the people around you.” 

The graduate students selected Antonio Harris II ‘23 (MFA1) as their speaker. Harris is former president of IIDA at NYSID (2021 - 2022). He is also a U.S. Air Force veteran. He is already working as a junior design strategist at the LAB at Rockwell Group. Harris said, “We must remain committed to making intentional choices. . .to imagining the unimaginable; to providing solutions and solving important problems; to uplifting and thoroughly inspiring.”

2023 Student & Faculty Award Winners

NYSID’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, Dr. Ellen Fisher, beamed as she congratulated the class of 2023 and announced this year’s faculty and student award winners.

Chairman’s Awards for Academic Excellence
Vincenza Lampon (BFA)
Charlotte Doody (MFA1)
Nivedhitha Ravi (MFA2)

The Ana Blanc Verna Award for Excellence in Interior Design
Motomo “Lucia” Sakakibara (BFA)

The Alumni Award for Service to the College
Paulina Castillon Gomez (BFA)
Antonio Harris II (MFA1)

The Robert Herring Travel Prize
Diana Lawson (BFA)
Shurouq “CeCe” Al Jammal (MFA1)

The Office of Academic Affairs Dean’s Award for Extraordinary Service
Luz Garcia

The William Breger Faculty Achievement Award
Joseph Goldstein

Newell Turner, Kate Kelly Smith, NYSID board chairman Ellen Kravet, Paulina Castillon Gomez, Antonio Harris II, NYSID president David Sprouls

President Sprouls congratulated the Class of 2023 and sent the new alumni off with these words, “The role of the designer in the welfare of society is paramount...I know that, as you leave here, you leave us to go on to do amazing things with your education.”