Passing of Arland Christ-Janer

Arland Christ-Janer, former president of New College and two-time president of Ringling College of Art & Design, passed away on Sunday, November 9, 2008.  A lifelong supporter of higher education, Christ-Janer remained devoted to New College even after his presidency at the school, serving many years on the New College Foundation Board.

A native of Garland, Nebraska, Arland Christ-Janer grew up in an academic environment. His father was a parochial school teacher. One of his brothers was a dean at Pratt Institute in New York, and another brother taught at Columbia and Yale.  Christ-Janer left high school after his sophomore year to take courses at the University of Missouri. Christ-Janer obtained his BA degree from Minnesota’s Carleton College. He then went on to obtain degrees from the Yale Divinity School and the University of Chicago Law School.

Christ-Janer was the last president of the private New College from 1973 to 1975 and helped to oversee its transition to a public institution.  Very active in Sarasota, Christ-Janer served on many boards, including the New College Foundation, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and the Ringling Museum of Art.  He served as president of the Ringling College of Art & Design (then known as the Ringling School of Design) from 1984 to 1996 and again as interim president in 1998-99.  He also served as chairman of the Sarasota Committee of 100 and on the economic development arm of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.

His late wife, the former Sally Johnson Grice, was a hospital administrator and cellist. She joined her husband in many community events. Their legacy is the Sally and Arland Christ-Janer Scholarship Fund for Ringling College of Art & Design students.

There are tentative plans for a memorial service in December.

For more information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at (941) 487-4150 or email [email protected].