{"id":253860,"date":"2025-04-04T13:10:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T17:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/?post_type=id_news&p=253860"},"modified":"2025-04-04T15:47:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T19:47:21","slug":"pratt-institute-president-emeritus-thomas-f-schutte-dies","status":"publish","type":"id_news","link":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/designwire\/pratt-institute-president-emeritus-thomas-f-schutte-dies\/","title":{"rendered":"Pratt President Emeritus Thomas F. Schutte Dies At 89"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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April 4, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n

Words: <\/span>Interior Design Staff<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Pratt President Emeritus Thomas F. Schutte Dies At 89<\/h1>\n\n\n
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Thomas F. Schutte, known for his longstanding role as the 11th president of Pratt Institute<\/a>, recently passed away on March 26, 2025, in New York, at the age of 89. During his 24-year tenure as president, after which he was\u00a0named president emeritus,\u00a0Schutte overhauled the Institute, eliminating its deficit, revitalizing the campus, and doubling enrollment. Bolstering the Institute\u2019s reputation as a leading school of art, design, and architecture, Schutte insisted on a holistic approach to learning. Many programs were inspired by Schutte\u2019s lead, continuing on even after his retirement, like students working with Walzworkinc founder Kevin Walz<\/a> to reinvent shipping containers as social minded residential communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTom transformed the Institute into a world leader among art and design colleges,\u201d says Pratt president Frances Bronet in a statement. \u201cWe mourn the loss of an enthusiastic leader and community giant who was Pratt\u2019s strongest champion for a significant period of the Institute\u2019s prestigious history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Academic Life Of Thomas F. Schutte<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Born on December 19, 1935, in Rochester, New York, Schutte earned his BA degree from Valparaiso University, an MBA from Indiana University, and a PhD in management from the University of Colorado. Fully devoting his career to academia, Schutte had a long 42-year run leading prominent art schools, serving as the assistant dean at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and president at the Philadelphia College of Art and RISD before joining Pratt in 1993, where he remained until his retirement in 2017.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Thomas F. Schutte. Photography courtesy of Pratt Institute.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Despite his busy career, Schutte always found time for other pursuits. A champion of civic engagement, he founded the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership and established initiatives like the Center for Equity and Inclusion and the Design Incubator for Sustainable Innovation. He also had a playful side with his love of dogs, being appointed to the American Kennel Club\u2019s Museum of the Dog<\/a> Board of Directors, and even serving as the emcee with Food Network\u2019s Chopped<\/em> host Ted Allen to kick off the LEGENDS gala honoring David Easton<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bronet concludes, \u201cHis incredible passion for education, dedication to innovation, and care for and commitment to the Pratt community, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, and New York City are a tremendous legacy that will continue to resonate for years to come, inspiring all of us at Pratt as we work together to forge the future of the Institute he loved so much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Tess Lansing Schutte; sons Douglas and David; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister, Caroline Chandler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honoring The Legacy Of Thomas F. Schutte\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Pratt President Emeritus Dr. Thomas F. Schutte. Photography by Daniel Terna and courtesy of Pratt Institute. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Thomas F. Schutte reading to children. Photography courtesy of Pratt Institute.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pratt Institute President Emeritus Thomas F. Schutte speaking at an event. Photography by Daniel Terna and courtesy of Pratt Institute. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n