Hello, World, I’m Ready for You

“As a student, I felt that I had the genuine support of my professors, but also the backing of the University as a whole.”

–KATE LEBLANC ’22

The former editor of the Good Five Cent Cigar tells her own story

The highlights of my learning experiences at URI all came from professors that pushed us to think bigger. The classes that stand out to me now are the ones that took us outside of the classroom and asked us to contribute to something larger than URI—something that helped society. Whether that be volunteering on a local campaign or working for a newspaper, the times I learned the most were the ones where I did more than just read the textbook.

One of the greatest field opportunities I received came from being chosen as the first Summer Research Fellow at the Rhode Island Ethics Commission, supported by the John Hazen White Sr. Center for Ethics and Public Service. My time at the Ethics Commission gave me the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in a government entity. I worked side-by-side with the attorneys and professionals at the Commission to advance their goals, and by the end, I had learned so much.

As a student, I felt that I had the genuine support of my professors, but also the backing of the University as a whole. In my journalism classes, I knew my professors wholeheartedly believed that I could excel in my own endeavors and through my leadership at the student newspaper, the Good

Clear Career Paths

The College of Arts and Sciences has developed a career readiness program that provides more than 4,500 students with a clear path for career exploration, internships, and development of essential skills.

Peer mentors guide first-year students as they acclimate to the College. In the second year, students begin to explore their options, with opportunities to meet alumni and discuss specific areas of work. In the third and fourth years, students secure internships and take one-credit courses on practical skills like “Excel Data Analysis for Everyone.”

As students pursue knowledge that will help them to flourish and contribute in a rapidly evolving world, they also gain the skills that will land them in fulfilling jobs after graduation.

Five Cent Cigar. I was also honored to receive the Wilbur Doctor Endowment as a junior and the URI Journalism Student Scholarship as a senior. These awards provided me with financial support, but felt more meaningful because they reinforced that I was doing impactful work as a student.

Now that I’ve graduated, I feel confident in the skills I honed on campus and in the professional world to do great work in the fields of journalism and political science. While I’m still figuring out the next steps in my career, I know that my URI education prepared me well to take on anything. –Kate LeBlanc ’22

LeBlanc sits down to interview President Parlange.