Meet the Chair of Metcalf Society

Jill Groeber 96 GD celebrates community and shared purpose through planned giving.

Brooklyn, New York-based Jill Groeber 96 GD is a creative director and strategic thinker whose firm, Studio A2, helps million-dollar brands tell their stories and connect with audiences. RISD, she says, is the place where she honed the traits she needs to be a success in her field: problem solving, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. Groeber’s appreciation for her experiences led her to stay involved with the college over the years as an active volunteer leader and, as of July 1, 2024, chair of the Metcalf Society.

“Our first-year foundation was all about presenting work, supporting each other, and making our deadlines,” Groeber says. “I think that the nature of being at RISD is sharing knowledge and solving problems. I can’t say I went into RISD with that sort of mindset; but now I see a problem, and I think ‘Let me solve it.’ I have a deep gratitude for my education at RISD and my time there.”

Groeber, who also studied Eastern religions at Brown University, has maintained close ties to RISD, in her friendships and by working alongside many alums at her firm and at previous creative industry roles in New York City. She has helped build a robust community of alumni who support thoughtful dialogue and connection as a volunteer with the alumni affinity group RISD Founders and Entrepreneurs and the RISD Alumni Club of New York City.

Now, as chair of the Metcalf Society, Groeber is eager to help provide people who know they want to support RISD in perpetuity with community and a shared purpose. Estate planning can be a strange topic to broach, Groeber says, because it asks people to think about their end-of-life plans and the legacy they want to leave. For her, the Metcalf Society provided a clear pathway to making her values clear via a specific plan of action: a bequest in support of a scholarship through the Jill Groeber (96 GD) Fund.

“I wanted to leave a legacy gift,” Groeber says. “I can’t necessarily give now, but I definitely could give later—and the Metcalf Society allows me to do that.”

Looking ahead, Groeber is eager to think about broad goals, use her graphic design and communications expertise to reach the RISD community where they are, and ask the classic RISD question: “how can I innovate?”