The inauguration of John Maeda the 16th president of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) will take place this Friday.

Why do I think he is the kind of presidents we have all been dreaming of?

• First, just look at his inauguration online guest book, created for the campus community to add their thoughts, best wishes, or dreams for RISD. These entries will be projected on the façade of RISD’s Chace Center Friday night.
• Maeda also blogs, like a real blogger - which is a nice departure from most president blogs, no offense intended to the former - on a group blog called Our (and Your) RISD.
  

  Our (and Your) RISD

• RISD’s new president has also a fresh take on the traditional president video message. You can find it at the top of his president web page.

  

Want to read more about Maeda? Check out “Design for Learning: RISD Gets a New Type of President,” a recent article about him published by the Wall Street Journal (via the Kept-Up Academic Librarian)

So, how technology-friendly is your university/college president?
Are there other Maeda-like presidents out there?

Please share with us all by posting a comment.