Dr. Larry R. Thompson is currently celebrating his 10th Anniversary year as president of Ringling College of Art and Design. An energetic, innovative, and visionary community leader, Larry is passionate about the arts and education and is on a mission to destroy the myth of the starving artist! Aside from his “full-time” job, Larry is involved in a myriad of volunteer endeavors. He is president for the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD) and the President’s Council of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF), where he serves as treasurer. Prior to joining Ringling College, Thompson was president and CEO of the Flint Cultural Center in Michigan – a 30-acre campus encompassing the nine leading cultural institutions of the Greater Flint Area. He served in that capacity from 1993-1999. Before crossing the lake to Michigan, he was founding director and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, where he served for four years. Thompson was responsible for making the Hall of Fame happen, including raising the money for it, working with architect I. M. Pei to design it, and getting it ready to be constructed. Larry Thompson is a lawyer and an educator. He received his Juris Doctorate summa cum laude from The Ohio State University and practiced law for a number of years with a large firm in Columbus. He has a Master of Science in educational administration and counseling from California State University Los Angeles. In April 2009 he was selected by Tampa Bay CEO magazine as one of Tampa Bay's 100 Most Influential Business Leaders. And, he accepted the 2009 Frank G. Berlin Cultural Organization of the Year award for Ringling College.