Message from the President

A New Season of Meaningful Work at NBSS

Dear NBSS Community,

As New England moves into my favorite season, I am excited to welcome both new and returning faces to North Bennet Street School. Whether you are just beginning your journey or are one of our supportive alumni, partners, donors, or friends—thank you for being part of this vibrant and unique place.

To our new students: welcome! You’ve chosen a path with both meaning and impact. The transformative experience you will have at NBSS will shape you in ways that go beyond honing your skills. You are joining a long line of individuals dedicated to excellence, and the time-honored traditions of making and building. From the first project you complete to the day you walk at graduation, you will not only sharpen your skills but also become part of a legacy of meaningful work. 

Speaking of our alumni, whether you graduated last year or decades ago: the work you do is a testament to the impact NBSS has on the world. You help to build, preserve, and repair our culture in tangible ways. We’re seeing the power of this work in North Carolina, Florida, and other hurricane-affected areas, where our colleagues-in-craft are working to provide hands-on assistance to devastated communities. This work, and alumni activity across the country, inspires me. Your continued connection to the School—whether by serving the community, mentoring current students, sharing your knowledge, or simply representing NBSS in your professional work—is invaluable.

In this time of change, our sense of community and shared purpose is more important than ever. The world may be shifting, but the values that guide us—commitment to craft, the pursuit of meaningful work, and the belief that making things with care matters—remain constant. 

Our School has made tremendous strides over the last few years toward the ambitious goals that we set for ourselves. We’re reaching and welcoming a more diverse group of students, fostering broader access to our unique training and resources. Our commitment to learning is also evident in our expanded Teaching Assistant program, which enriches an already vibrant training environment for our faculty and students. And to honor our legacy while adapting to our evolving needs, we’ve created a Values Statement that will guide our path forward. 

None of these achievements would be possible without the generosity and support of our donors. Your contributions allow us to maintain the high standards that have always defined NBSS, while also making it possible for more students to access this exceptional education. It also allows us to continue investing in our future: through upgraded facilities, cutting-edge tools, and expanded programs that reflect the demands of today’s industries. Your support empowers us to contribute to something much larger than any single person or project. Simply stated, the meaningful work of our school would not happen without your belief in our mission.

As we look to the months ahead, I encourage each of you to take pride in the work we do here, and to reflect on the ways that you are part of something much greater than a single class, a single trade, or even a single school. You are part of a resilient extended community—one that values skill, artistry, and ingenuity as ways to make a lasting difference. Together, we uphold an unwavering commitment to shaping the world around us for the better.


With gratitude,

Sarah Turner, President

About Sarah

As an educator, leading from both the office and the studio, Sarah has worked at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, the Rhode Island School of Design, the State University of New York at New Paltz and the Oregon College of Art and Craft. As the Dean at Cranbrook, she directed the Academic Programs of the Academy, including a ‘public-lecture-as-variety-show’ series, and a Critical Studies + Humanities residential teaching fellowship, which she established in 2009. Sarah has also worked extensively in the areas of student success, from enrollment and admissions to developing opportunities for students and alumni. She has lectured widely, regularly serves as a guest critic to studio programs, and has organized exhibitions on contemporary craft and design in the US and abroad. In 2005, Sarah was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to the Netherlands to research Dutch contemporary applied art.

In addition to her work in education, Sarah has maintained a studio practice rooted in craft. Trained initially in metalsmithing and jewelry, her work has ranged from woodworking to weaving to printmaking—always with a focus on the meanings inherent to objects and materials. Her artwork has been included in exhibitions nationally and internationally, including the Museum of Art and Design in New York, the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis, Galerie Noel Guymarc’h in Montreal, and The Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston.

Sarah has been a volunteer and advisor for a variety of organizations, including the Southeast Michigan Fulbright Association, the Vermont YWCA, and the Society of North American Goldsmiths. She currently serves on the Boards of the Art Jewelry Forum and The Furniture Society.

Born and raised in Ohio, Sarah received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Smith College and a Certificate in Metalsmithing from the Oregon College of Art & Craft. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art.

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For interview requests, speaking engagements, or other inquiries, please contact Kevin Derrick at kderrick@nbss.edu or 617-227-0155 x180.