Rhode Island College Magazine, Winter 2025 | Issue #7

AGA ZINE

RHODE ISL AND COLLEGE

2024 was a banner year for new students at Rhode Island College. An expected 10 percent increase in new students turned into a 25 percent increase!

The Office of New Student Programs had to run orientations throughout the summer to get more than 1,700 new students (both freshmen and transfers) ready for fall, bringing the total enrollment above 6,000 for the first time in more than five years!

Here are just a few of the new faces you might have seen around campus last semester.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

New leadership at the RIC Foundation and a turkey of a scholarship. ric foundation philanthropy: photo essay:

28 Scenes from the inauguration of RIC President Jack Warner. inauguration at ric

Q&A with Prof. Weinstein, whose work is concerned with ethics in research.

Rhode Island native brings her Hollywood savvy back home.

The flame in the Rhode Island College seal was originally intended to represent the quest for knowledge, but flames have long been a symbol of hope, as well. That’s why, when it came time to design a logo to represent the new Hope Scholarship, the college turned to the flame for inspiration – The Flame of ‘62, specifically. This metal sculpture, which stands in the space between Alger Hall, Roberts Hall and Alex and Ani Hall, was a gift to the college from the Class of 1962. It was designed by Ed Rondeau ‘62 and fabricated by Barrett Kern ‘11 at The Steel Yard, a community hub in the Valley District of Providence where artists, makers, and locals come together to explore and learn industrial arts. The sculpture was translated into an illustration by graphic designer Jennifer Bell-Cole for the Hope Scholarship logo. A detailed shot of that illustration appears on the cover of this issue. on the cover

in Alumni Relations, plus Class Notes.

RIC MAGAZINE

rhode island college magazine winter 2025, vol. 7

editor-in-chief

John Taraborelli ‘02

editor-at-large

Gita Brown

art director

Ashley Mercado

executive director of external relations and communications

Jeanette St. Pierre

photography

Gita Brown

Adam Kelly

Andrew Mega

Gene St. Pierre ’77

Justin Wilder ’10

contributors

Gita Brown

Jhon Cardona

Ella Lebel ’24

John Taraborelli ’02

Jeff Theodore

web communications

Carrie Miller

Karen Rubino

data management

Marcia Selinger

printer

DS Graphics | Universal Wilde Lowell, MA

about the magazine

Rhode Island College Magazine is published annually. News story suggestions, letters and high-resolution digital images (in black and white and/or color) can be emailed to: occm@ric.edu.

Selection and publication of entries are at the editor’s discretion.

The magazine is produced by the Office of College Communications and Marketing.

art director ’ s note :

“Hope” is a word that carries weight here at Rhode Island College. It’s in our state motto. It’s in the name of RIC’s flagship scholarship – the Hope Scholarship – which has already changed the lives of 200+ students. And in this case, hope is also embedded in the very identity of this magazine – an institution that reflects the achievements, resilience, and impact of the RIC community.

In the world of publishing, last-minute changes are rare. Yet, as we prepared to send this issue to press, we made a significant alteration to our cover design.

The original cover featured a flame, a detail of the new Hope Scholarship logo, and a striking image of energy and ambition. But given the current national crisis, with wildfires devastating communities, we had to ask: What would it feel like for our West Coast alumni to open their mailboxes – if they still have mailboxes – and find a magazine emblazoned with fire? Wouldn’t flames already be the front page of every screen, every newspaper, every moment of their day? For our students here, who have family and loved ones impacted by the fires – many of whom have been completely devastated – how would they feel?

With this in mind, we replaced the flame transforming the colors of fire into sunlight. This change reflects our commitment to empathy and awareness, acknowledging the hardships faced by many while inspiring optimism for the future.

Our magazine is more than a collection of stories; it’s a testament to the resilience and achievements of Rhode Island College students, alumni, faculty, staff and administration. We hope this issue not only informs but also uplifts, reminding us all of the enduring power of hope and community.

We hope you read them. We hope you celebrate them. We hope – always.

Ashley Mercado

featured contributor

Jhon Cardona is an adjunct instructor in RIC’s ESL Intensive Program and has been teaching ESL for almost 20 years both in the United States and in his native Colombia. He also teaches at RIC’s Workforce Development Hub, translates and writes for RIC’s Office of College Communications and Marketing, and teaches introductory Spanish at Salve Regina University. No field offers more opportunities to teach globally for a fluent English speaker than teaching ESL. Jhon Cardona is a testament to that. “When my students hear that I, too, was once an English language learner and that now I speak English fluently or that I left the United States to live in my country where English is not spoken, yet I speak fluently now, they know I’ve walked in their shoes. They look at me and think, ‘I can do that, too.’” Read Jhon Cardona’s contribution to this issue: “On The Frontlines” on page 16.

letter from the president

Welcome to another issue of the Rhode Island College Magazine!

This is my first opportunity to welcome you in these pages as the duly inaugurated 11th President of Rhode Island College. At my installation ceremony in November (see pg. 28), I outlined my vision for making this the most student-centered institution of higher education in the state. I articulated that vision further in an interview with the college’s senior writer/editor Gita Brown on page 26.

This issue also provides opportunities to see that vision in action. You can learn about our newest major in artificial intelligence (pg. 36), the first graduates of our recently added data science program (pg. 37) and the series of pathways we’re creating to provide early college experience – and the credits that come with it – to more high school students around Rhode Island (pg. 12).

As you may have heard, last year we launched the Hope Scholarship at Rhode Island College, a transformational opportunity for eligible Rhode Island students to earn a high-quality, four-year degree with the last two years tuition-free. On page 22, you can find the results from the first year of this pilot scholarship program, and hear from some of the students who received it about how it impacted their lives.

This issue also celebrates a golden age of women’s basketball at RIC. Turn to page 20 to read about how Head Coach Jenna Cosgrove and our Anchorwomen have leveled up to become a true national contender in NCAA Div. III athletics.

Speaking of celebrating, this magazine is always an opportunity to toast the accomplishments of our incredible alumni. In a thoughtful feature beginning on page 16, writer (and RIC ESL instructor) Jhon Cardona highlights several alumni who are emerging as leaders in the movement to provide compassionate care for LGBTQ+ communities. On page 44, we catch up with an alumnus who recently returned from Hollywood and plans to bring a bit of that razzle dazzle back to her home state. On page 35, you can meet the fifth RIC graduate in the past seven years to win an award known as “the Oscar of teaching.”

There are new and exciting things happening all throughout our campus community, from new art (pg. 8), to new construction (pg. 9), to new leadership in our School of Social Work (pg. 34) and the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies (pg. 8).

2025 will be another inspiring year at Rhode Island College. If you are able to join us on campus, I hope these pages inspire you to visit – and if you’re unable to visit, I hope this magazine can be the next best thing. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Jack Warner President Rhode Island College

college officers

rhode island college

president

Jack Warner

interim provost, vice president for academic affairs

Sheila Flemming

vice president, cfo, administration and finance

Sara Enright

senior advisor to the president, chief of staff

Clark Greene

vice president for student success

Cindy Kozil

vice president of corporate relations & professional studies

Jenifer Giroux

executive director of strategic initiatives

Kimberly Bright

general counsel, assistant vice president, human resources

Margaret Lynch-Gadaleta

college mission

As a leading regional public college, Rhode Island College personalizes higher education of the finest quality for undergraduate and graduate students. We offer vibrant programs in arts and sciences, business and professional disciplines within a supportive, respectful and diverse community. Dedicated faculty engage students in learning, research and career attainment, and our innovative curricula and cocurricula foster intellectual curiosity and prepare an educated citizenry for responsible leadership.

rhode island college today CAMPUS NEWS

New Art Blossoms

Rhode Island College unveiled a new mural in June called “Germination,” arguably the largest piece of public art on campus at 36 feet tall and 15 feet wide and almost certainly the most visible. It graces the exterior of Horace Mann Hall, home of the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, and looms on the horizon as visitors come up College Road from the Fruit Hill entrance to campus.

Designed and painted by Lena Mac, a western Massachusetts-based artist whose work also adorns the exterior of Tiny Bar in Providence’s Jewelry District, the mural serves as a tribute to education and future educators on campus. It seeks to celebrate growth, learning and transformation – the core elements of teaching.

As Mac explains, “The idea behind ‘Germination’ is to be a portal of light and joy, representing the act of teaching.”

The imagery suggests that growth is a shared (often never-ending) journey: students start as seeds and are nurtured by educators until they blossom into independent learners. The germinating seed at the base, blossoming into a lotus at the top, represents the wisdom and compassion one gains through education.

“Germination” invites passersby to reflect on their own journeys of growth. Commissioned by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, it was funded under the state law allocating one percent of capital construction and renovation funds for public art. This initiative not only uplifts the campus environment but also highlights the importance of public art in fostering community.

Editor’s Note: Each issue of this magazine includes at least one piece written by a student. This piece was written by Ella Lebel ’24, who majored in English, with a concentration in professional writing.

First Director of the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies

Douglas Alexander was named the first director of the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies at Rhode Island College in June 2024.

He brings more than three decades of experience in a variety of information technology and teaching roles. He is a certified information systems security professional and former director of community engagement and government relations at OSHEAN Inc. – an internet, cloud and security services provider.

As director, Alexander will lay the groundwork for an institute slated to become a national center of excellence in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and other emerging technologies.

“I’m honored to work with the institute’s distinguished chair, former U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin, and to join the existing leadership team to educate the next generation of talented students and working professionals who will tackle the most critical technological issues of today,” says Alexander.

“Our top priority is workforce development, particularly in the areas of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Our goal is to skill-up those professionals who are already working in IT [information technology] and to train new cybersecurity and AI workers who are entering the workforce from RIC,” he says. (Read more about the new AI major on pg. 36)

Bond Approved, Whipple Hall to Become Cyber Institute & Training Hub

On Nov. 5, 2024, Rhode Islanders approved a $160.5 million higher education bond –$73 million to transform Whipple Hall at RIC into a dedicated home for the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies and $87.5 million for a new biomedical sciences building at URI.

Launched in the Fall of 2023 by RIC alumnus and former Congressman James Langevin, the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies was established to meet the growing need for cybersecurity research, education and training.

This investment not only secures a stateof-the-art facility for students, it allows the college to be a resource for the state, providing security monitoring services and a command center that governments and companies can use for training, workforce development and cyber defense.

Langevin notes that in approving Question 2, Rhode Islanders have made “a strategic investment in our future. The newly renovated Whipple Hall will allow us to expertly train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, preparing them for high-paying, in-demand jobs available right here in Rhode Island.”

The new Whipple Hall will include state-ofthe-art AI and material science labs, a dedicated cyber range facility, a security operations center, classrooms equipped with the latest technology, faculty offices and collaborative workspaces. Additionally, upgrades will be made to the IT infrastructure and advanced security systems to protect sensitive data.

Meanwhile, plans are in development to create a cyber range classroom in Alger Hall, a specialized simulation space for cyberattacks, allowing participants to practice and refine their cyber defense skills.

RIC Named Military Friendly School

Rhode Island College was named a 2024-25 Military Friendly School with Gold status. This designation reflects the college’s success in creating supports for its veteran and military community.

“At Rhode Island College, we’re honored to serve and support military personnel, veterans, their spouses and dependents as well as ROTC cadets,” says Vice President for Student Success Cindy Kozil. “Being recognized as a Gold-level Military Friendly campus is an acknowledgement of the value we place on our military community and their families.”

Rhode Island College enrolls approximately 152 military (or military-affiliated) students, including veterans and active duty reservists, and another 31 military dependents. Among the programs, services and supports RIC provides are the Military Resource Center, the VetSuccess on Campus program and Student Veterans of America at Rhode Island College, a student-run organization.

“Earning the rank of Gold is an amazing welcome to military service members and confirmation of RIC’s commitment to them as an educational institution,” says Steven Pina ’22, M.S.W. ’23, assistant director of veteran affairs and military programs at the college.

RIC Collaborates with Local Schools on Two National Science Foundation-Funded Projects

RIC is part of two new consortia of local colleges and universities launching projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to increase research in Rhode Island.

The first project is called E-CORE RII: Rhode Island Inclusive Network for Excellence in Science and Technology. The NSF awarded $8 million to a URI-led team of researchers from Rhode Island College, Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design and Roger Williams University to develop and maintain a sustainable, broadly inclusive and competitive research ecosystem for the State of Rhode Island and the Narragansett Indian Tribe that supports science and technology and workforce development.

Associate Professor of Biology Anabela Resende da Maia is the RIC institution lead and one of the co-principal investigators on the project. A new staff position at RIC has been created to develop partnerships within the community and strengthen existing programs.

The second project partners RIC with Roger Williams University, Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design and Salve Regina University to create the first-of-its-kind Rhode Island Research Administration Collaborative (RIRAC), for which $3 million was awarded.

RIRAC will be the centralized community where the colleges can share best practices and resources and identify opportunities for collaboration between researchers at the five institutions. The initiative is led through Roger Williams University, with each participating institution receiving an allotment to fund its own projects.

RIC will receive $701,797, with its efforts led by principal investigator Kimberly Bright, executive director of strategic initiatives. The funding will be used to develop a micro-credential program in research administration for undergraduates, using the evidence-based model from the Society of Research Administrators International.

“Rhode Island College is proud to partner with our neighbors in higher education to build a collaborative team that can push the whole state forward,” says RIC President Jack Warner. “With Rhode Island’s small size and high concentration of educational institutions, we have the opportunity to develop a highly effective research cluster that can compete at a national level.”

An architect’s rendering of the proposed cyber range in Alger Hall

Academic Advisor Wins Top Award

Rhode Island College Assistant Director of Academic Advising Lindsay Petrarca has been honored with the Doris Michilko Ching Award for Excellence as a Student Affairs Professional - State Award (Rhode Island). The award is an honor that comes from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), a student affairs professional organization.

Petrarca has been recognized for her outstanding commitment to the student affairs profession, including the development of programs that address the needs of students, the creation of a campus environment that promotes student learning and development, and her support of and active engagement in NASPA.

“Lindsay is constantly thinking of ways to ensure engagement, equity and positive experiences for everyone involved,” says RIC Director of Academic Advising Chris Da Costa. “She brings knowledge, genuine empathy and care to each of her student meetings and advocates for policy and practice changes to better the lives of our student population.”

Petrarca’s duties include working in close liaison with academic departments and advising a caseload of 150-200 students per semester. She was also credited with having a role in the creation of a new academic standing policy and overseeing New Student Orientation during a period of transition.

“I feel appreciative and honored to receive this award by my colleagues in student affairs, a field full of folks working to support students every day,” Petrarca says.

She was previously honored in 2022 with the prestigious Steven J. Bailey Advisor of the Year Award by the Rhode Island chapter of the National Academic Advising Association.

RIC Campus Achieves Arboretum Status

Rhode Island College has earned accreditation as a level one arboretum (an arboretum is a botanical collection of a variety of species of trees).

RIC was granted accreditation by the Morton Arboretum, an internationally recognized tree-focused botanical garden and research center whose mission is to collect, study, display and conserve trees around the world.

Rhode Island College has 58 species of trees on its campus, ranging from Norways, Maples and Japanese Oaks to Flowering Dogwoods and Honey Locusts.

Jim Murphy, assistant director of facilities and operations for sustainability and logistics at RIC, and his team worked for nearly a year on achieving arboretum accreditation.

Lindsay Petrarca (left) helped bring in new programming for New Student Orientation (on right), which includes educational and acitivity-based introductions to student life at RIC.

Scan this QR code to watch aerial footage of RIC’s arboretum and commentary from Murphy.

Elvy Reports for Duty as a RIC Campus Police Officer

Have no fear. Elvy, RIC’s first comfort dog, is here. In August 2024 the affable threeyear-old Labrador retriever was sworn in as a member of the campus police’s K-9 unit, which includes Elvy’s handler Officer Dustin Coleman.

Among Elvy’s duties is to provide comfort should a student be in distress. When Coleman is called to the scene, he’ll ask the student if they’d like to pet Elvy.

“I’ll let them sit there in silence,” he says, “until the student chooses to open up about whatever is going on. Elvy is the bridge that allows people to let down their guard.”

Elvy also opens the door to positive interactions between the campus community and its police force.

“When students or staff see me with Elvy, they immediately come over to pet her, which gives me an opportunity to talk to them and build positive relationships,” Coleman says.

Elvy got her start as a comfort dog through the Puppies Behind Bars program in which incarcerated individuals train service dogs to provide emotional support. After completing 10 months of training, Elvy now responds to more than 70 commands, including the ability to give a high five.

At her swearing-in ceremony, RIC Chief of Campus Police James Mendonca cited the

Scan this QR code to watch a video of Elvy taking her oath of office.

benefits of adding Elvy and Coleman to the RIC campus police force.

“In today’s fast-paced environment, students, faculty and staff often face considerable stress and anxiety,” he said.

“The pressures of academic life, personal challenges and the complexities of modern life can take a toll on mental health. That’s where K-9 Elvy and Officer Coleman can make a profound difference. This team humanizes our police department and makes officers more approachable. Positive interactions with the K-9 team will build trust and foster a sense of safety and security on campus.”

If you’d like to follow the paw print activity of Elvy, visit her Instagram account, @k9elvy_the_anchordog.

Coleman and Elvy

Community Partnerships

High School Students Get a Jumpstart on College

by jeff theodore

According to 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median earnings for bachelor’s degree recipients are 86 percent higher than those whose highest degree is a high school diploma. That is why Rhode Island College has been partnering with public schools across the state to build an accessible bridge from high school to college.

Currently, Rhode Island College offers pre-college opportunities through the Early Enrollment Program, the Anchor 2 Success Program, the PrepareRI Internship Program and a new dual enrollment program at the Mount Pleasant Early College and Career Academy.

New Dual

Enrollment Program

Launches at Mount Pleasant High School

When Wobberson Torchan, an alumnus of RIC, took over as Mount Pleasant High School principal in 2023, he says he noticed a bored look on the faces of some of the more than 1,100 students.

“As I walked the halls, I saw very smart students sitting in class and not putting forth much effort because they already knew the coursework with their eyes closed,” says Torchan ’94. “I knew we needed to get them in more rigorous courses that were worth their time.”

That marked the launch of the Mount Pleasant Early College and Career Academy. Among the academy’s offerings is a dual enrollment program in partnership with Rhode Island College. The pilot began last fall with a cohort of 23 Mount Pleasant High School seniors who spent part of their school day earning college credit in a psychology course at Rhode Island College.

“Being on campus will give me a better idea of what college life is like.”

– Bruni Bright, Mt. Pleasant High School Senior doing dual enrollment at RIC

RIC President Jack Warner calls the collaboration with Mount Pleasant High School “a good beginning.”

“We would like to deepen the connection with Mount Pleasant High School by extending this program to more students and by offering more courses going forward,” he says.

Warner enlisted RIC Director of Academic Operations and Policies Lexi Rogel ‘15 and Director of Strategic Initiatives Cheréva McMillan to coordinate with Mount Pleasant High School to establish the pilot.

“I want these high school students to know that they’re a part of RIC,” Rogel says, noting that these students also have access to wraparound services at RIC such as academic counseling and tutorial services.

“If we can create that sense of belonging before their freshman year, I consider that a win,” she says.

To qualify for the program, participants must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.2, meet standardized test benchmarks for English language arts and be in attendance for 90 percent of the school year. Additionally, they are interviewed by Mount Pleasant High School teachers and submit essays outlining why they want to be a part of this program.

“We also interact with their families so they know what to expect now that their child is not only a high school student but a college student,” McClellan says. “So far, there’s a lot of great energy around making this pilot a success.”

For 17-year-old Mount Pleasant senior Bruni Bright, this duel enrollment program is a step closer to her future career.

“Luckily, the course we’re starting with is psychology,” she says. “I want to become a therapist.”

How does she think college will differ from high school?

“I heard you can’t turn in papers late in college,” she says with a smile. “Everything seems more structured. But I’ve been learning time management in my advanced placement courses in high school. Being on campus will give me a better idea of what college life is like.”

Providence Public School District Superintendent Javier Montanéz M.Ed. ’03 says he’s excited about the collaborative partnership between Mount Pleasant High School and RIC.

“This allows Mount Pleasant students to be introduced to the college experience through RIC and see what is possible for their future,” he says. “There was a lot of intentional design and planning built in to ensure students would find an enriching academic experience.”

By the end of the academic year, this pilot will be reviewed and may extend to other high schools in Rhode Island.

“As much as I’d love to see every high school student have access to this program, we need to ensure we’re doing everything correctly first, with the students’ best interests in mind,” says Rogel.

RIC’s Early Enrollment Program: Four Decades of Success

“I want these high school students to know that they’re a part of RIC. If we can create that sense of belonging before their freshman year, I consider that a win.”

– Lexi Rogel ’15 director of academic operations and policies

Some of EEP’s advantages include rigorous content in a high school environment, focus on critical thinking and writing skills, and financial benefits. Students can earn up to a full year of college credit in EEP and thereby save as much as a year’s college tuition, along with saving on the cost of college textbooks.

Additionally, about 90 percent of the courses taken in EEP count toward General Education requirements and some major and minor requirements.

West Warwick High School graduate Nilsa Tashjian earned eight credits before she enrolled at RIC.

“My EEP courses were a bit more challenging than my regular high school courses,” says Tashjian, now a sophomore majoring in data science. “I also think the projects we completed in my EEP economics and Spanish courses gave me real-world experience.”

“My advice to any high school student is to seek out this program.”

– Nilsa Tashjian, West Warwick High School gradaute who earned eight early enrollment credits before coming to RIC

RIC hopes that Mount Pleasant High School’s dual enrollment program will reach the heights of the college’s Early Enrollment Program (EEP). Since 1980, Rhode Island College has operated the second largest EEP in the Northeast, with more than 3,000 students participating from 53 public and private high schools in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. (The largest program in the Northeast is at the University of Connecticut.) EEP differs from Mount Pleasant High School’s dual enrollment program in in that students take college-level courses from qualified teachers their high schools rather than on the RIC campus.

Tashjian’s older brother, Charlie, a 2021 RIC graduate in nursing, was also an EEP student.

“My advice to any high school student is to seek out this program,” Nilsa Tashjian says. “Having these credits takes a lot of stress off of meeting RIC’s graduation requirement of 120 credits because you’ve already earned credits in high school.”

Christine Bonas, one of four EEP directors at RIC, stressed that this initiative helps alleviate the financial burden for families.

“EEP credits can be earned for free [at public schools in Rhode Island]. Once you’ve enrolled at RIC, if you’ve earned up to 60 credits by your junior year, you could qualify to receive the Hope Scholarship and attend school here for free,” Bonas says. “I believe that’s one of the best deals around.”

For six weeks last summer, Ashley Murphy of Portsmouth High School and Eliza Saintilvert of The

PrepareRI Internship Program Offers Business Experience and Academic Credit

Greene School learned to cut deals as presidents of their own engineering companies. The two 17-year-old high school juniors were among 30 students selected by PrepareRI in partnership with Electric Boat and Rhode Island College’s School of Business.

Divided into two groups, the interns’ simulated running a company and were tasked with creating gaskets for submarines at Electric Boat, mentored by RIC Associate Professor of Business Susan Weiss and Assistant Professor of Business Joyce Perry.

This is the second consecutive year the School of Business has partnered with the PrepareRI Internship Program and it has been a resounding success, they said.

“These kids are really bright,” says Perry, “and they come in with so many skills. Our role was to keep them on track.”

Along the way, they pick up tips on strategic planning, management and financial planning, says Weiss.

“They also learn about the profitability of a business and what goes into a break-even analysis,” she says. “It’s great to come up with a product, like the gasket, and then ask, ‘Is it viable?’”

Outside of coursework, the interns easily adapted to life on a college campus.

Ashley Murphy, a Portsmouth High School junior, spent six weeks this summer working with her peer

Eliza Saintilvert (above), creating a business plan to sell submarine components to Electric Boat.

“We tried to give them a college experience by letting them have free reign,” says Perry. “Many of them had never been on a college campus before.”

Aside from it being a paid internship, the interns walked away with college

“This internship pushed me out of my shell. That’s why I pursed it. I knew I would have to do things I am not used to.”

– Eliza Saintilvert, a junior at The Greene School, who participated in the PrepareRI, Internship Program

credit and many lessons, which, they said, will inform their academic and professional futures.

“I’m a reserved type of person, but this internship pushed me out of my shell,” says Saintilvert, who is contemplating a nursing career. “That’s why I pursued it in the first place. I knew I’d have to do things I’m not used to, such as bring people together and guide them. I think I found my voice.”

Murphy, who wants to go into politics and plans to study international relations in college, says the internship taught her how to negotiate conflict and be versatile.

“That’s a good skill to have in any job, especially politics,” she says.

Early College Admittance Offered Through RIC’s Anchor 2 Success Program

Like PrepareRI interns, many of the Central Falls High School participants in RIC’s Anchor 2 Success program have never been on a college campus.

“When they come and walk around our campus, they’re able to see racial and ethnic diversity among our deans, advisors, program coordinators and tour guides who look like them. It’s instant gratification for them to imagine themselves in those roles,” says Maya Suggs, RIC admission counselor and Anchor 2 Success coordinator.

Anchor 2 Success is an interinstitutional agreement between Rhode Island College and Central Falls High School wherein RIC will admit any Central Falls High School junior who throughout their past three years of high school has maintained a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a 90 percent attendance rate. Admittance is based on the condition that students maintain the minimum GPA and attendance rate throughout their senior year. In addition to automatic acceptance to RIC, the students’ Common Application, enrollment and housing deposit fees are waived.

Hiromi Flores, a 20-year-old political science major, was a part of the Anchor 2 Success program and is now a RIC sophomore. She was chosen to speak to the latest cohort of 57 Central Falls High School students in the Anchor 2 Success Program who visited RIC last semester.

“To other Central Falls students: this is a great opportunity. It will open doors for you. At the end of the day, it will pay off.”

– Hiromi Flores, RIC sophmore admitted through the Anchor 2 Success program

Flores recalled how her guidance counselor at Central Falls High School approached her about the Anchor 2 Success Program because she had a 3.7 GPA, good attendance and was an athlete on the girls’ soccer team.

“My main message to other Central Falls students is that this is a great opportunity. It will open doors for you,” she says. “I urge them to continue to work hard, because at the end of the day, it will pay off.”

Flores also advises students to take advantage of the supports at Rhode Island College.

“There are plenty of services and resources here at RIC, but professors aren’t going to call your parents if you’re not doing your homework,” she says.

In the future, Anchor 2 Success may expand to include other high schools, such as schools in Pawtucket where there is a high need among marginalized communities and attendance is an issue.

“Sometimes all students need is one good reason to go to school,” says Suggs. “Our program reflects how deeply we care about the challenges for students in high school and jump to fill that need.”

Scan this QR code to see a video about the dual enrollment program at Mount Pleasant High School, produced by Providence Public Schools.

PrepareRI interns at RIC last summer.

ON THE FRONTLINES

From providing shelter for the unhoused to assisting the elderly, these alumni are at the forefront of

by jhon cardona

Rhode Island is frequently referred to as one of the United States’ most LGBTQ+-friendly states (Out Leadership, 2024). Across the state, there are a range of nonprofit organizations and institutions dedicated to providing inclusive services – Rhode Island College being one of them.

RIC’s commitment to creating a safe, welcoming and supportive environment has empowered many students to make a difference in the LGBTQ+ community and to support LGBTQ+ causes. Some are leading and others are serving in supportive roles at institutions and organizations that focus on the specific needs of this vibrant community.

ELDER SUPPORT | Caroline Dillon ’21

Caroline Dillon ’21, who earned her M.S. degree at RIC in healthcare administration, is executive director of The Village Common of RI, a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization supporting older adults who desire to age in their own homes. One of the programs she oversees is Circle of Pride, dedicated to supporting the well-being of the LGBTQ+ elderly.

Circle of Pride staff and volunteers assist this demographic in a wide range of activities, including transportation to medical appointments; household tasks; errands; tech assistance for televisions, phones and computers; and companionship.

“It’s been a life calling of mine to work with older adults,” says Dillon. “I deeply appreciate everything they do and are, and I’ve aspired to establish a secure place for them, enabling them to fulfill their dream of aging in their own homes and within their own communities.”

For Dillon, Rhode Island College played a crucial role in her calling. As a graduate assistant, she worked with Age-Friendly Rhode Island and with Marianne Raimondo, RIC dean of the School of Business, and Tonya Glantz, executive director of the Institute for Education in Healthcare at RIC.

“Working as a grad assistant was an experience that launched me into my position here at the Village. I’m very grateful to RIC for the impact it had on me personally and professionally.”

Dillon’s goal is to expand Circle of Pride’s services to cover as many cities as possible across Rhode Island. It currently serves Providence, Westerly, Barrington and a few other localities.

“We couldn’t do this work without the help of our volunteers,” she says. “Many are from the LGBTQ+ community or allies. They play a crucial role in our efforts. ”

LGBTQ+ elder services are very much needed, she adds, “Shocking statistics reveal that a significant percentage of LGBTQ+ elders would rather contemplate suicide than endure living in a care facility where they have to hide their own identity. In my current role, witnessing our elder members age gracefully in the comfort of their own homes is truly a remarkable privilege.”

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND POLICY WORK | Andy Taubman ’19

Upon completion of an M.S.W. degree at Rhode Island College, Andy Taubman ’19 assumed the role of director of youth services at Youth Pride Inc.

A native Rhode Islander, Taubman earned a bachelor’s degree in multicultural psychology in 1995 at The Evergreen State College and has had over 20 years of experience at nonprofits that aid vulnerable populations, such as marginalized, at-risk youth and adults with cognitive disabilities. However, when Taubman enrolled at RIC, Taubman’s focus turned to systemic reform.

“I enrolled in RIC’s M.S.W. program in 2016 with the thought of taking the micro social work track, which focuses on clinical and direct service work. However, a political shift in the country that year made me shift course to systems change and policy work in the macro track. Youth Pride Inc. allows me to do both clinical work as well as policy work.”

Taubman has a particular love for working with LGBTQ+ youth, helping them navigate adolescence and young adulthood. At Youth Pride Inc., Taubman works with groups of LGBTQ+ kids and trans kids as young as five and up to age 24.

“It’s an honor to serve this amazing community that I am also a part of,” Taubman says.

“Through a grant, we now have rapid rehousing support and other housing services. We also continue to build our clinical and mental health services. In 2023 we were able to bring in advanced clinical psychology trainees to provide therapy for our clients. That’s unheard of in a small, community-based nonprofit. As with all of our services, therapy is free of charge,” says Taubman.

Youth Pride Inc. also collaborates with numerous nonprofit organizations, such as Sojourner House, Foster Forward, the Office of Rehabilitative Services and the Harbor Youth Center.

“We do our best to build collaborations across the state to get resources for our youth and to make sure they are getting the best care they possibly can,” Taubman says.

Taubman also works at the policy and legislative levels to help influence bills that impact LGBTQ+ youth, stating, “In Rhode Island and beyond, we want every place to be a safe and affirming space for LGBTQ+ youth.”

HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT |

Julio Berroa ’21

Julio Berroa ’21 holds a B.F.A. degree in fine arts, with dual concentrations in digital media design and photography. He serves as founder and executive director of Haus of Codec, a nonprofit organization he created in 2021 to build community through art and educational empowerment and to provide shelter for homeless individuals ages 18-24.

As part of the LGBTQ+ community myself, this is personal. I wish these types of services were around when I was experiencing homelessness. I know how it feels to lack a home and stability and to not have someone look after you and show you care.

Haus of Codec’s creation can be traced back to the years Berroa was a RIC student. He recalls, “At RIC I learned to be myself and experience my own freedom. My professors encouraged and challenged me to break the mold and develop my full potential. I often look back at my time there, and I’m very appreciative of what I did and who I met. RIC was home and it remains a special place for me.”

At age 19, Berroa was forced out of his home after revealing his sexual identity to his family. That transformative experience, he says, along with his foundational experiences at RIC, helped make him the community organizer he is today.

His fervor for the arts and for advocating for the LGBTQ+ community is channeled through Haus of Codec.

Haus of Codec operates with six staff members dedicated to supporting over 30 individuals through three diverse housing initiatives: an emergency shelter, transitional housing and a rapid re-housing program aimed at providing rental assistance.

Berroa emphasizes the importance of housing as a basic human need and right. “As part of the LGBTQ+ community myself, this is personal,” he says. “I wish these types of services were around when I was experiencing homelessness. I know how it feels to lack a home and stability and to not have someone look after you and show you care.”

The emergency shelter at Haus of Codec includes a food and clothing pantry, a self-service kitchen, a communal bathroom, access to vital services via partner providers “and a sense of community where there wasn’t one before,” he says. Berroa also ensures that individuals have access to medical care and medical insurance.

During their stay, each resident works on updating their resumé to facilitate job placement. They learn to write professional letters and emails and train for successful job interviews. “We try to connect them to jobs as fast as we can,” he says. “A temporary position could evolve into a semi-permanent job in the future.”

–

julio berroa ’21

“In essence, this is life-saving work for people experiencing homelessness,” he says. “It’s arduous work that I am very proud to be doing.”

PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE | Nicole Proulx ’13

Nicole Proulx ’13 embarked on a professional career in healthcare after earning her B.S.N. degree at Rhode Island College.

“During nursing school at RIC, I learned about the health disparities experienced by the LGBTQ+ community and their struggle to access healthcare and other essential services. It created a commitment in me to support this community,” she says. “As a queer woman, working for my community is very near to my heart.”

Proulx notes how Professor of Nursing Debra Servello “imparted invaluable lessons about how to treat patients with profound affection and consideration” and how Professor of Nursing Lynn Blanchette instilled in her “a passion for preventive healthcare.”

For eight years, she worked as a nurse in the emergency room and post-anesthesia care unit at Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River. Then four years ago, she was able to secure a nursing position at Open Door Health, an initiative of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute.

Open Door Health is a leading LGBTQ+ clinic in Rhode Island that provides affirming primary and gender care and promotes sexual health within the LGBTQ+ community. Services include collaborative hormone therapy, referrals for surgical interventions on behalf of the transgender and non-binary (gender-diverse) community in Rhode Island and nurse-led visits with patients.

“We provide sexually transmitted infection screenings, we prescribe prophylactic medications, such as PrEP, a highly effective medication in preventing HIV infection, and we educate patients about other primary care and gender care services, vaccinations and self-administered hormone injections that aid them in their gender transition journey,” says Proulx.

As far as advocacy, “Recently, our leadership team supported the PrEP advocacy bill, aimed at enhancing the availability of PrEP medication in Rhode Island.”

Proulx encourages allies of the LGBTQ+ community to stay informed about new legislation and healthcare initiatives that affect their community, for “it can significantly uplift the wellbeing of our community.”

These four alumni bravely and boldly illustrate the values of Rhode Island College, an institution that believes in bettering the lives of others. They are not only building a legacy of activism by maintaining the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, they are role models for the next generation.

During nursing school at RIC, I learned about the health disparities experienced by the LGBTQ+ community and their struggle to access healthcare and other essential services. It created a commitment in me to support this community. Working for my community is very near to my heart.

– nicole proulx ’13

Since 2017 the trajectory of the Rhode Island College Women’s Basketball team has been on the rise.

Before that time, the team had notched 20 wins only twice – in 2010 and 1997. Under the helm of Jenna Cosgrove, who is in her eighth year as head coach, the team has racked up four 20-plus win seasons, a Final Four appearance in the NCAA Women’s Div. III tournament and its first undefeated regular season in 2023-24.

It’s a remarkable run of success that Cosgrove says has exceeded her wildest expectations.

“This shows what can be accomplished when you bring the right people together,” Cosgrove says. “We’ve got a staff and a group of players who work hard. I didn’t imagine we would receive the kind of attention we’ve gotten on a national scale. But once you’re at the top, the goal is to stay there.”

Cosgrove, a native of Sharon, Massachusetts, has been at the top of her game for several years, earning Little East Conference (LEC) Coach of the Year honors four times and being named a finalist for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s National Coach of the Year in 2023 and 2024. She was also named the New England Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year in 2024.

In September, the Jewish Sports Heritage Association announced Cosgrove as

its 2025 recipient of the Marty Riger Outstanding Jewish Coach of the Year, an award the association presents to those who possess the qualities of Riger, a championship-winning basketball coach in New York.

During Cosgrove’s tenure, the team has produced two LEC Rookies of the Year, three LEC Defensive Players of the Year and two overall LEC Players of the Year.

And for good measure, the online news outlet GoLocalProv in April 2024 ran a story about Coach Cos with the headline, “Maybe No One in RI Is Better at Their Job Than This Woman.”

Accolades notwithstanding, Cosgrove says she has changed in innumerable ways since her arrival at RIC in 2017.

“I’m in a different place,” she says. “The community and administrative support I’ve received has been indescribable. I feel a different sense of pride not just for the college but for our Women’s Basketball Program.”

When the team reached the Final Four during the 2022-23 season, Cosgrove says that outcome surprised many onlookers.

“There’s a confidence that winning instills in you once you get a taste of success,” Cosgrove says.

Two season-ending polls validated her team’s rise, ranking them fifth in the D3hoops.com poll and seventh in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association poll.

Due to that success, Cosgrove says expectations grew exponentially for the team’s 2023-24 season.

“Before, we were upsetting teams. Now we were favored to win,” she says.

The team’s winning spirit soared as they defeated every opponent during last year’s regular season.

“When I reflect on that, it was a remarkable accomplishment,” Cosgrove says. “It was a huge deal for the college, and we’ve now set the bar very high. It doesn’t mean we’ve failed if we don’t get back to that point. However, that is now the standard we want to reach.”

The team was peaking before falling to Washington and Lee University in an emotionally charged playoff game hosted by RIC. The very next day, Cosgrove gave birth to her son, Casey John Cosgrove.

“Giving birth so soon after our last game didn’t give me much time to process the Sweet 16 [regional semifinal] loss,”

above: Madison Medbury (seated) and Angelina Nardolillo

above center: (back row from left) Izzy Booth, Neleesha Meunier, Angelina Nardolillo, Jayda Bing; (front row, from left) Jeniyah Jones, Coach

Jenna Cosgrove and Madison Medbury

Coach credits women’s basketball staff and players for an extraordinary track record.

written by jeff theodore |

she says. “It was hard to face that loss, especially since we had high hopes of advancing further. That game taught us a lesson. We experienced our lowest shooting percentage of the season. It was a reminder that any team can come out on top on any given night.”

Nonetheless, Cosgrove says being pregnant during the team’s first undefeated season was a special experience.

“It was wonderful for my team to share in my pregnancy journey,” she says. “Throughout the season, there were moments when I became so focused on our goal of winning games and enjoying the camaraderie of such a fantastic group, that I forgot I was pregnant.”

mega

That’s eight newcomers and six returnees. I’m confident we have a very talented group.”

She says the birth of her son will undoubtedly influence the way she coaches.

“It’s a new look for our roster,” she says. “The team is a lot younger, with six freshmen and two sophomore transfers.

That group includes guard Jaina Yekelchik, the 2023-24 Gatorade Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year. As a player at Ponaganset High School, Yekelchik averaged 16 points, 4.7 rebounds and three steals per game. She led Ponaganset to a 15-3 record and a quarterfinal spot in the state tournament.

Yekelchik and her fellow freshmen teammates will be guided by Angelina Nardolillo and Madison Medbury, seasoned veterans who are serving as captains for a second consecutive year.

“Having those two on the court and in the locker room provides a sense of stability that’s needed,” Cosgrove says. Other returnees include Jayda Bing, Claire Green and the team’s two Maggies: Schwab and McKitchen.

“I feel a sense of excitement thinking about this new identity for us this season,” Cosgrove says. “While we have several new faces, our returning core is strong, and that

means our culture is stable and even more contagious. When you have players who have been to a Final Four and a Sweet 16, they’re not going to settle for anything less.”

However, Cosgrove anticipates that the team will have stiff competition, particularly from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.

“Everybody on that team is returning and they are loaded with talent,” she says. “They’re like our team was last season when we were a heavy favorite. Nonetheless, our goal is to win the Little East Conference championship and move on to the NCAA tournament.”

Sophia Guerrier, a key leader on last season’s team who graduated with her master’s degree, says she believes the squad will remain a force to be reckoned with under Cosgrove’s leadership.

“I don’t see this team being anything but successful,” Guerrier says. “Coach Cosgrove definitely has a vision in place for RIC to be among the best women’s teams nationally.”

Izabelle “Izzy” Booth, another senior who graduated last year, agrees: “As long as everyone shares their love and passion for the game, this team will still be a powerhouse.”

RIC Women’s Basketball continues Little East Conference play through Feb. 22. Visit goanchormen.com for schedules and more information.

photos by andrew

left: Neleesha Meunier, Izzy Booth and Jeniyah Jones

Sophia Guerrier left: Olivia Middleton far left: Jayda Bing above center: (from left) Madison Medbury and Angelina Nardolillo

HOPE CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR 200+ STUDENTS

Year One of the Hope Scholarship showed promise for boosting enrollment, retention and for producing positive outcomes for students.

by gita brown

When the State of Rhode Island launched the Hope Scholarship at Rhode Island College in the Fall of 2023, which fully covers tuition and mandatory fees for eligible in-state students during their junior and senior years, there were two broad goals: to increase the number of students enrolling at RIC and to increase the number of students completing their four-year degrees on time.

On both counts, Year One of the Hope Scholarship has provided positive indicators that the program is working as designed. Hope scholars completed more courses (98.2 percent passed all their fall courses in 2023), Hope scholars are staying in school (97.8 percent retained last fall-tospring enrollment) and 91of them received their degrees in May 2024.

“I’d say I was more fortunate than most in that my parents had savings for my education. Still, I didn’t want to put that financial burden on them. When the Hope Scholarship came around, I was worried there’d be some kind of financial cap on it. I was glad there wasn’t. It’s more merit-based. For me, the Hope Scholarship has been a game-changer. My parents no longer have to carry that financial burden for me, and that means a lot to me.”

– Tytain Sun, computer science major

“The Hope Scholarship is an important tool in building the highly educated workforce to drive Rhode Island’s economic future,” says RIC President Jack Warner. “We know that a high-quality degree from Rhode Island College is the pathway to social mobility for so many Rhode Islanders. This scholarship opens that pathway for many more people. It’s not just the scholarship recipients who benefit, but the entire state as we strengthen public higher education.”

The first cohort of Hope-eligible students totaled 357 juniors and seniors. Of those, 245 received the Hope Scholarship. (The remaining 112 received other forms of grants and scholarships that covered their college costs.)

As a last-dollar scholarship, the Hope Scholarship will make up the difference when other forms of funding are not enough to cover tuition and fees and it eliminates the need to take out a student loan. It is also merit based, meaning that even if you have no financial need, you can still receive the scholarship.

The impact of this scholarship on the state has been immense. “There’s an energy around the scholarship throughout Rhode Island,” says former Dean of Enrollment Management Jim Tweed. “You hear teachers, students and guidance counselors talking about the scholarship and the opportunity it provides students who may not have considered going to a four-year college directly from high school.”

And it’s driving more in-state high school seniors to consider Rhode Island College. Two years tuition-free has proven to be a powerful incentive for high school graduates to make RIC their first-choice school.

Attendance at Accepted Students Day increased by 49 percent. In-state gross deposits increased by 74.3 percent. And the number of first-year, in-state students also rose significantly.

An influx of more than 1,700 new undergraduate students (a figure which includes transfers, who are not Hope eligible) has pushed overall enrollment (including undergraduate and graduate) to nearly 6,200, the highest it’s been since before the pandemic.

“We set a goal to increase new students by 10 percent,” Tweed says. “We’re up 25 percent over last year.”

“RIC recruitment officers are driving home the point that not only are students getting a tremendous educational opportunity at one of the finest colleges in the state with wonderful faculty and in-demand programs, they’re getting a bachelor’s degree for under $25,000. That’s unheard of nowadays,” says Tweed.

For most Hope Scholars, it will actually be considerably less than $25,000. That number is frequently cited because it’s an easy to understand reference point – but it’s based on the assumption that students would pay the full cost of tuition and fees in their first two years. The reality is that with the level of financial aid available to most RIC students, the cost of a fouryear degree for a successful Hope Scholar will likely be much lower than $25,000.

The scholarship has also led to a change in full-time versus part-time status of enrolled students.

“It used to be that students enrolled part time because they couldn’t afford to go full time,” Tweed says. “But there’s been a shift. Ninety percent of students enrolled full time in the fall so that they could benefit from the Hope Scholarship, which requires full-time enrollment.”

“I grew up in Nigeria and came to the U.S. when I was 16. Back in Nigeria, everyone says I’m their hope because I’m in America. They say, ‘You have to do something great. You have to keep up your grades. You have to be the best at what you are doing.’ I do feel the pressure, but it’s okay. It’s pressure that makes diamonds. I wanted to go to college but I knew I couldn’t afford it. I knew I would have to rely on grants and scholarships. That is why I am very grateful for the Hope Scholarship. If I didn’t have the financial support from Rhode Island College, I would be drowning in debt right now. It’s one thing to have the drive to succeed, but without the resources, there’s nothing you can do.”

– Remi Salako, nursing major

Once enrolled, RIC makes sure Hope eligible students stay on track.

Interim Director of the Hope Scholarship Program Jennifer Boulay reaches out to Hope eligible students throughout the course of a semester.

“I might email them and say, ‘Keep up the good work. You look like you’re on track. Here is a reminder of the Hope Scholarship criteria for staying on track.’

“If a student seems to be off track, I’ll email them and say, ‘Consider doing early spring or summer courses to ensure you reach 30 credits by the end of the year. You need at least 120 credits to graduate in four years.

“If their GPA has fallen, I might suggest doing an early spring course to bring it up. A GPA below 2.5 is one of the conditions that will remove you from the Hope Scholarship Program, but it is also one of the few conditions that, if you correct it, will allow you to return to the program.

“Both my parents are high school teachers with three dependent children, so they made it clear from the start that paying for college would be fully my responsibility. I don’t qualify for federal grants nor work study, so I took out federal loans for my first two years at RIC. That’s why I was so grateful when I heard I had gotten the Hope Scholarship. It was huge. I like the name ‘Hope.’ Maybe it was named that way because this scholarship is not just the hope of students but the hope of those who created the scholarship to help students have an easier time of it, to help us find a way out of debt.”

– Miguel Hoyos, double major in economics and global studies

“I come from a single-parent household. I paid for my tuition through school loans,

small scholarships and work study. Every semester, I always worried about how I was going to come up with the money for school. When I heard I had received the Hope Scholarship, I was on the floor because – my God, my tuition and fees are being waived. I encourage all eligible students to look into the Hope Scholarship. Just work hard, keep your nose to the grindstone and get the best grades you can. That’s what I did.”

– Marissa North, studio art/painting and art history major

“Ultimately, our goal is not to take money away from students. It’s to award as many eligible students with scholarships as possible and to make sure they graduate on time.”

According to Boulay, RIC’s graduation rates have historically fallen below peer institutions. It’s still too early to determine the impact of the scholarship on RIC’s four-year graduation rate. The college won’t begin to see true measurable results until this year’s freshmen, who entered Fall Semester 2024, complete their bachelor’s degree in Spring Semester 2028.

The pilot program is slated to run until 2030, after Gov. McKee submitted and the General Assembly approved a budget amendment last year to fund an additional two years on top of the original five-year pilot.

Needless to say, the governor is a believer.

“The Hope Scholarship makes earning a four-year degree an achievable goal for many Rhode Islanders,” says McKee. “I’m excited to see the impact the scholarship has had on the Ocean State and its workforce as we prioritize the affordability of higher education.”

To learn more, visit ric.edu/hope.

Year One: Hope Scholarship BY THE NUMBERS

+49%

In-state student attendance at Accepted Students Day recruitment

+46.8%

In-state undergraduate applications for Fall 2024 admission

+25%

New student enrollment, Fall 2024

>6,200

Overall enrollment, Fall 2024*, +6% from Fall 2023

+5,662

Total credits taken by students, Fall 2024*, +7.8% from Fall 2003

*Includes new and returning students, undergraduate and graduate

83% retention

Freshmen students taking 15+ credits, Fall 2023 (vs. 72%, Fall 2022)

14.5

Average credits taken by Hope Scholars in junior year, Fall 2023

(vs. 13.3 for nonHope juniors)

Hope Scholars who remained enrolled from fall to spring (vs. 86.6% for nonHope students) .97 8% +

Qualifications Check List

To be eligible for the Hope Scholarship, candidates need to:

Live in Rhode Island

Start at RIC as a first-time, first-year student

Enroll and remain enrolled as a full-time student

Complete the FAFSA annually

Maintain a 2.5 GPA

Declare a major by their junior year

Stay on track to graduate in four years

Commit to live, work or continue their education in Rhode Island after graduation

A STUDENTCENTRIC VISION

After his official installation as 11th President of Rhode Island College, Dr. Jack R. Warner sees opportunity on the horizon

by gita brown

After two years at the helm as interim president of Rhode Island College, Jack Warner shed the interim title on Nov. 15 to become RIC’s 11th president. In this Q&A, he discusses the advances he’s made over the last two years and the course he has set for the future.

What have you learned in those years as interim president?

It’s a combination of what I found and what I learned. I certainly learned that we have an incredibly dedicated faculty, who are wonderfully accomplished in their fields and who are deeply committed to their scholarship and the success of our students. We also have staff who are highly skilled and dedicated to supporting students to be successful and graduate.

At the same time, I found that our operational systems don’t always function as well as they should. We had serious budget problems and our enrollment was dropping rapidly. We took action right away. When I came to office at the end of fiscal year 2022, the budget was in a deficit. By the next fiscal year and in the most recent fiscal year 2024, we have ended with a balanced budget.

We also turned a corner on enrollment. We’re now up more than 390 students in our overall enrollment over last year. We needed an incentive for students to choose Rhode Island College and we were able to get that in the form of the Hope Scholarship. This scholarship provides free tuition and fees for eligible students in their junior and senior years. Much of the enrollment growth that we can claim this year is due to the impact of the Hope Scholarship.

What are our opportunities and how do we capitalize on them?

The Hope Scholarship is our single greatest opportunity. It is a state-funded pilot program that ends in 2030, and people are going to be looking at our performance before making it a permanent feature of the college. What policy-makers will be looking for is significant improvement in our rate of graduating students in four years. That’s something we haven’t been very good at in the past. To that end, we have streamlined our General Education requirements and brought all degree programs down to 120 credit hours, which will help students finish in four years. If an in-state student maintains a 2.5 grade point average and takes 15 credits a semester,

they will qualify for the Hope Scholarship and be on track to graduate in four years. Already the scholarship has had positive impacts (See page 22 for Hope Scholarship impact.)

What other opportunities do you see for RIC?

Another big opportunity for us is the renovation of Whipple Hall into a dedicated home for our computer science programs and the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies (see more on page 9). This will include two state-of-the-art cyber ranges and a security operations center that will train our students and business clients to defend against cyberattacks. That center will not only help train our students who are majoring or taking courses in cybersecurity, it will fill a need for local businesses, hospitals, city governments and others who want cybersecurity training. It will also be a magnet for new students. This semester we have 100 students majoring in cybersecurity and 26 minoring in the program. The demand for graduates in this major is very high. Nationwide, there are about 700,000 jobs in cybersecurity that are not being filled. For graduates of this program, jobs are virtually guaranteed that will pay six figures.

What is one of the greatest challenges for RIC?

It’s been projected that in the next few years, the country will see not only smaller high school graduating classes but a decline in the percentage of high school seniors going on to college. Those declines will be particularly steep in the Northeast and Midwest. This is a challenge for all higher education institutions. Over the last few years, quite a few private colleges have closed and many are projected to do so. Each week on average about one-and-a-half colleges are closing or merging around the country. To address that challenge, our job will be to get more than our fair share of high school graduates who do want to go on to college and to convince those who do not enroll right away that a college degree is a good way to improve their lives. The Hope Scholarship will allow us to gain a higher percentage of high school graduates in Rhode Island.

What role do you see RIC playing in the state?

The new Rhode Island College is responsive, innovative and collaborative. Our fundamental mission is to serve the people of Rhode Island. I meet monthly with the governor to learn about the needs of the state. For instance, our new biotechnology degree program was a major initiative to support the state’s commitment to become a leader in the biomedical sciences. I also spend a lot of time in the state legislature during sessions to listen to public policymakers and their interests. That is essential. They appropriate our budget. They need to know that their public investment is worth it, that we’re leading this institution in ways that they can be proud of so that they will keep investing in us. And it’s

essential to continuously educate them about what we do. We maintain a presence in the building throughout the session. We also meet with them outside of session. We go to their events and fundraisers, because that is a way of staying connected.

What do people not know about Rhode Island College that they should know?

When I came here, there was an expression people used about Rhode Island College. They called us the best kept secret in Rhode Island. It is an ongoing challenge and opportunity for us to keep the name of this institution in front of the public. We are on billboards, we have put up signs in many places, we have paid advertising in magazines and newspapers. We want people to know that we are here to serve them in a wide variety of ways. We do not want to be a secret, whether it’s best kept or not.

What is your long-range vision for RIC?

To be the most student-centric institution in Rhode Island if not the Northeast.

What are some of the things we can do to achieve that?

Many of our students come to us needing deeper academic preparation due to COVID learning loss. I would like to see a more comprehensive approach to student success, where we look at how we can meet student needs at each step in their journey. That means designing a better student support system. Academic advising is an important component of that. Four of our five schools are incorporating professional advisors with faculty advisors for their students. We also want to invest more in our career services operation. I would like Rhode Island College to be known as a place where you can link your academic studies with a career right from day one. We need more professional advisors and more career counselors.

So, being the most student-centric institution in the state is the vision and our North Star. Our recently approved Strategic Compass outlines goals that point to that North Star, to be a high-performing institution in helping students succeed, graduate and be prepared to thrive. That’s the vision.

The North Star was the compass Harriet Tubman used to lead slaves to freedom.

That’s a wonderful metaphor for Rhode Island College – the North Star that leads to a better life. Of course, the way to a better life is to be free. At RIC, it is to be free to seize the opportunities that freedom gives you.

A NEW PRESIDENCY BEGINS IN EARNEST

essay On Nov. 15, 2024, Dr. Jack R. Warner was officially installed as the 11th President of Rhode Island College, shedding the interim title after more than two years.

During the installation ceremony in Roberts Hall Auditorium, President Warner delivered an inaugural address in which he outlined his vision for RIC as the “college of opportunity for Rhode Island” and his goal to become the state’s “most student-centered institution of higher education.”

The gala, which followed in the evening at the Recreation Center, was attended by more than 400 people, including dignitaries such as R.I. Gov. Daniel McKee, Sen. Jack Reed, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and R.I. Treasurer James Diossa. The event raised $130,000 for the President’s Discretionary Fund at the Rhode Island College Foundation.

President Warner put students at the center of his inauguration. The installation ceremony featured performances by the RIC Chorus and Musical Theatre Company, accompanied by the RIC Wind Ensemble.

photo

Faculty wore full regalia to the official installation ceremony.

“On

President Warner’s friend and colleague Dana Mohler-Faria, President Emeritus of Bridgewater State University, paid tribute to Warner during the installation ceremony.

Mohler-Faria (left) and R.I. Commissioner of Postsecondary Education Shannon Gilkey (right) presided over the hooding of Jack Warner, which completed his official installation as the 11th president of Rhode Island College. David Caprio, chair of the R.I. Council on Postsecondary Education, stood at the podium.

Sen. Jack Reed and R.I. Gov. Daniel McKee also offered praise for his leadership. “President Jack Warner is a forward-thinking leader and respected voice in higher education,” McKee said.

behalf of the Ocean State, I wish President Warner, his family and RIC continued growth and success.”

Sen. Jack Reed

clockwise from above: President Warner addresses gala attendees.

above right: The official inauguration program, along with an anchor-shaped wine-stopper, were given as gifts to all attendees.

right: President Warner’s favorite band – Grammy-winning, Rhode Island institution Roomful of Blues – entertained guests.

above: R.I. Gov. Daniel McKee, former congressman James Langevin ’90 (now distinguished chair of the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies at RIC) and former chair of the R.I. Council on Postsecondary Education Tim DelGiudice showed off their matching RIC ties.

left: Tradition calls for the deans of the college’s five schools to each present a gift to the incoming president on behalf of their school. Here, Dr. Quenby Hughes, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, presented President Warner with an illustrated, RIC-centric map of the state.

WPRI 12 News anchor and RIC alumnus Mike Montecalvo ’84 hosted the gala.

President Warner celebrated with his sisters and brothers-in-law (L-R) Johnny and Diane Famolare and Sally and William Connolly.

left: Hayley Jamroz Baccaire and Christina Messina, both Office of the President assistants, celebrated his inauguration.

right: President Warner’s son, Eric, raised a glass and led the crowd in a toast to his father.

AROUND CAMPUS

REGISTERED NURSES CAN NOW EARN THEIR B.S.N. DEGREE COMPLETELY ONLINE

Students can balance their work and education without sacrifice, thanks to the flexibility of online nursing classes.

Rhode Island College now offers a fully online RN-to-B.S.N. degree program designed around the needs of busy, working registered nurses.

Not only will they be able to continue working while earning their bachelor’s degree, they will be able to complete the program in as little as one year.

Candidates enroll as transfer students to receive credit for previous nursing courses and to earn credit for work experiences. Up to 90 transfer credits can be transferred into the program.

And credits are never considered too “old.”

Once the Admissions Office has reviewed a candidate’s transcript, the RN-to-B.S.N. program director – Associate Professor Linda Mendonca – will give the transcript a second review, focusing on courses relevant to the RN-to-B.S.N. program.

Accepted students enroll in either the Fall Semester or Spring Semester. Those who begin in the fall complete the program the following summer, and those who begin in the spring complete the program at the end of the Fall Semester. (No traditional clinical rotations are required.)

A minimum of 30 semester hours – 22 nursing credits and eight elective credits – are required to complete the program. In addition, students must meet all the general education requirements. Gen ed courses are taken in traditional in-person classrooms or students may transfer approved credits from another institution.

With a B.S.N. degree, RNs not only increase their earning potential, according to Mendonca, “they obtain the knowledge they need to pursue

The R.N.-toB.S.N program offers nurses looking to advance their career access to materials and assignments from anywhere with internet connection.

opportunities that enhance their practice and that position them as leaders who have a positive impact on healthcare outcomes.”

“Moreover, this program is very important to the state,” says Justin DiLibero, interim dean of RIC’s Zvart Onanian School of Nursing. “A higher percentage of B.S.N.-prepared nurses have been consistently associated with improved outcomes at the patient and system levels.”

RIC’s School of Nursing is a nationally recognized leader in nursing education. It has been

ranked among the top 15 nursing programs across the region by the 2024 U.S. World News & Report; it has some of the most dedicated, passionate and driven faculty and staff anywhere; and the student pass rate on the NCLEX licensing exam consistently exceeds state and national average.

“As a nationally recognized leader, we take pride in delivering an outstanding online RN-toB.S.N. experience that upholds the high standards and quality that RIC is known for,” says DiLibero.

zvart onanian school of nursing

school of social work

NEW DEAN TAKES THE HELM AT RIC’S SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

As a Mexican American teen growing up in Florida in the 1970s, Sam Terrazas says he couldn’t see a future beyond living in a lowincome community and doing farm and landscaping work with his father. It was a course at the former Palm Beach Community College (now Palm Beach State College) that opened his eyes to career possibilities.

“I enrolled in an introduction to social work course that covered things I’d never heard about,” Terrazas recalls. “You typically don’t learn about discrimination, racism and reasons why people are poor in regular liberal arts courses. So, that social work course resonated with me.”

Terrazas went on to earn his bachelor’s of social work degree at Florida Atlantic University in 1991. He obtained his master’s and Ph.D. in social work from Barry University in Miami. Since then, he’s operated his own private practice as a psychotherapist (practicing primarily in community mental health agencies in rural and urban settings) and has worked as a professor at universities in Florida, New Mexico and Texas before being named RIC’s dean of social work in July 2024.

“What I see here in RIC’s School of Social Work is talented faculty, a long tradition and plenty

of opportunities,” Terrazas says. “It was also important to me that RIC is a Hispanic Serving Institution. Historically, in the field of social work, voices have not been overly diverse in writing and research. I think it’s important to bring not only Hispanic but African American, Native American and others into what we do in practice. RIC’s HSI designation allows me to use what I know about higher education to help students who come from similar pathways as mine to be successful.”

Terrazas says there are many pathways students can take in social work, and he intends to expand the opportunities at RIC.

“Everywhere I go, I try to have conversations –at the institution and community level – about what a social worker does,” he says. “Social workers can be in clinical and hospital settings and even political settings. I’ve had students who worked in mayor’s and senator’s offices. There’s such a wide range of opportunities which many students don’t realize are there.”

That is why interdisciplinary relationships on campus are vital, he says.

“The more our social work students can work with students in other schools on campus, the

Sam Terrazas operates a private psychotherapy practice and has been a professor at institutions in the South and Southwest.

better,” says Terrazas. “In my past, I’ve worked closely with nursing and athletics and have found many connections and similarities. Social workers are now being sought out in professional sports for their skill set. We’re working toward having social workers trained in sports injuries and what that may mean to a student athlete or professional athlete, particularly when it’s a career-ending injury.”

And regarding careers, Terrazas will place more emphasis on field placements, which is the “signature pedagogy” in social work.

“Ours is an applied degree like nursing,” he says. “When students leave our program, they’re trained and ready to go into the workforce as entry-level social workers. That’s why field placements are so important.”

Terrazas notes that he wants the School of Social Work to produce students who appreciate gradual growth and development.

“Social work is a lifelong process,” he says. “Sometimes, students want to be great social workers right away, but it takes years to get there, like any other profession.”

ALUMNA RECEIVES THE “OSCAR OF TEACHING”

Cranston kindergarten teacher receives the 2024-25 Milken Educator Award for Rhode Island

Maria Santonastaso, a two-time Rhode Island College graduate, received the 2024-25 Milken Educator Award, a national honor often referred to as the “Oscar of the teaching profession.” The award comes with a $25,000 cash prize she can use for any purpose.

A kindergarten teacher at Glen Hills Elementary School in Cranston, Santonastaso was caught unawares when Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley and Rhode Island Education Commissioner Angélica InfanteGreen presented the award at a school-wide assembly before cheering students, appreciative colleagues, dignitaries and media.

Santonastaso earned a B.A. in early childhood education and a B.S. in special education, with a concentration in severe intellectual disabilities, in 2014. She earned an M.Ed. in reading in 2019.

Through a multifaceted approach of mindfulness, collaborative teaching and project-based learning, Santonastaso has created a nurturing classroom environment for her kindergartners. She pairs her students with fourth grade “buddies” and leads Socratic seminars.

Using student data, she prioritizes early literacy skills and works to ensure that all students receive individualized instruction. Incorporating interdisciplinary, inquiry-based curriculum through the state-sponsored Kindergarten Curriculum Project, Santonastaso engages students in hands-on assignments, like a wild animal research project concluding with student-led presentations and a showcase for parents and families. This exciting unit has garnered visits from district and state officials, as well as a live owl visit from the Audubon Society.

Santonastaso is also an adjunct professor of early childhood education at RIC, an active member of the early childhood advisory committee and a contributor to the college’s early childhood STEAM curriculum.

Additionally, she served as an Educator Preparation Program reviewer for the Rhode Island Department of Education, where she assisted with evaluations and ensured that aspiring teachers received high-quality training.

“We are tremendously grateful for her contributions to Rhode Island education and look forward to the continued positive impact she will make on her students and the profession as a Milken Educator,” said Infante-Green.

Along with the $25,000 financial prize, Santonastaso joins the national Milken Educator Network, a group working to shape the future of education.

In the last seven years, five RIC grads have been honored with the Milken Educator Award: Santonastaso; John Rosenbaum ’08, ’11 M.A. (2021), Nancie Lawrence ’06, M.Ed. ’12 (2020), Jennifer Paolantonio ’06 (2019) and Michelle Johnson ’06, M.Ed. ’14 (2018).

“We are proud to have a legacy of award-winning educators who have graduated from the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development,” says Interim Dean Carol Cummings. “Our graduates are prepared to be highly effective educators who are reflective, engaged and deeply committed to the values of equity, diversity and social advocacy.”

Maria Santonastaso ’14, M.Ed. ’19, answers questions from reporters after her big surprise.

photo courtesy milken family foundation school

ONE OF FIRST IN REGION TO OFFER A B.S. IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The Age of AI is shaping our future. Are you ready?

Rapid technological advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are shaping every aspect of our society. Businesses in every sector are integrating AI into their workflow, and with this has come an accelerated demand for AI-literate professionals. That is why RIC’s Department of Computer Science and Information Systems is expanded its offerings to include a B.S. degree in AI.

According to AI Program Director and Associate Professor Timothy Henry, “Few peer colleges and universities in the region offer a similar program that prepares students to be leaders in AI.”

“We worked with Rhode Island businesses and national organizations to design a practical AI program that prepares our students to fill the widening AI skill gap and to contribute to local businesses and the Rhode Island economy,” he says. “Our program balances the technical knowledge needed to innovate with the business understanding necessary to effectively integrate AI into an organization.”

In this program, students are given a strong foundation in AI and machine learning, followed by hands-on courses in natural language processing, computer vision, robotics and more.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to create and evaluate AI models; develop innovative AI solutions for complex, multifaceted problems; and critically assess the ethical, legal and societal impacts of AI technology. Each of these skills is integral to a successful career in the AI-enhanced workplace.

RIC is also offering two new minors – one in AI and a unique minor in the application of AI, which is designed to prepare students from any major to responsibly and ethically use AI in their careers. Both minors provide students with a foundational understanding of AI principles, machine learning algorithms, data analysis and ethics, enabling them to apply these skills in their major field of study or future career paths.

Ultimately, each of RIC’s AI programs will not only enhance students’ employability but also foster their critical-thinking, problem-solving and ethical decision-making skills in whatever career path they choose.

Given that Rhode Island College educates so many of the college graduates who live and work in the state, RIC is uniquely qualified to create and offer this new business-focused degree to serve the current and future needs of Rhode Island businesses.

right: AI Program Director and Associate Professor Timothy Henry is also on the state’s new AI Task Force charged with exploring how to integrate AI responsibly across industries and government. | above: image by pch.vector on Freepik

faculty of arts & sciences

Associate Professor of Mathematics

Leonardo Pinheiro (checkered shirt) is proud of his protégés

clockwise from top right: Laura Valderrama, Kathryn Faria, Ash Wolski, Marcel Lemery, Geoff Sargent and Professor Pinheiro

DATA SCIENCE STUDENTS TAKE ON DATA-CENTRIC WORLD

Last year the Rhode Island College Department of Mathematics graduated its first group of data science majors. They entered one of the most in-demand careers in the country, with one of the highest median salaries – $108,020 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Associate Professor of Mathematics Leonardo Pinheiro was instrumental in the creation of RIC’s B.S. degree in data science five years ago.

Data science, he explains, is a mixture of computer science, statistics and math. With the explosion of “big data,” data scientists are at a premium. They’re able to process vast quantities of data and utilize advanced algorithms to help companies make data-driven decisions.

At RIC, data science majors start off with courses in statistics, calculus and computer programming. Along the way, they study linear algebra, advanced statistical methods and machine learning, all while deepening their proficiency in the use of a wide range of computer software.

Their study culminates in a senior seminar, the capstone course for the program, taught by Pinheiro (affectionately called “Dr. P’ by his students). In seminar, students tackle real-world, big data problems – each picks a data set that is of interest to them and applies techniques they’ve learned.

Geoff Sargent is big into sports stats, so he applied R programming language on an NFL data set. Kathryn Faria is a psych and data science double major. She collected her data set from a psych research study she did on student work/life balance. The data set Laura Valderrama worked with was college tuitions. And Ash Wolski’s data set consisted of tens of thousands of websites to find out whether or not they’re legitimate or phishing sites.

Though Marcel Lemery is not a data science major but a graduate student in mathematics, he’s taken almost every data science course required by the major, including the seminar. “I recommend that students in all majors take a data science class or double major or minor in data science,” he says, “because it’s useful to pretty much everyone.”

“Any career that has data in the title, we’re able to work in it,” adds Valderrama.

“And our professors at RIC have done a really good job of preparing us for a future career,” says Faria. “They’re as passionate about this program as the students are, and they’re always available. They care about you and your education. If we were at a bigger school, I don’t think we would get that level of care and attention.”

Pinheiro acknowledges that RIC’s program is small, being only five years old. “But with our low student-to-teacher ratio, we’re able to give our students personalized attention,” he says. “My office door is always open. Students can stop by any time. I can’t wait to see them go out into the world and come back and share their experiences.”

From startups to Fortune 500s, from universities to government agencies, organizations are capitalizing on big data, and they’ll need data scientists to help them make informed decisions. Pinherio has no doubt that his protégés are equipped with the essential skills they need to excel in an increasingly data-centric world.

Several of them are already putting those skills to work. Faria returned to RIC this year as a graduate assistant in the Psychology Department, using her data science skills to work on quantitative research on the stress and well-being of first-generation college students. Sargent’s knowledge of data landed him a job at Technology Representatives, an Attleborobased distributor of security and surveillance technology. And Lemery, the math student who wanted to add data science to his toolbox, is currently finishing his MA in math at RIC and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in the field.

visual & performing arts

DIGITAL MEDIA MAJOR PLIES HER TRADE @ RISD MUSEUM

“Ji is definitely one of the most talented people I’ve ever worked with,” says Jeremy Radtke, director of digital initiatives at the RISD Museum.

Radtke is referring to 29-year-old Jiyeon Johnston (pictured above), a native of South Korea, who earned her B.F.A. in studio art last year, with a concentration in digital media.

For those who don’t know what digital media designers do, basically they use the same tools as graphic designers only they apply them to digital spaces and include in their toolkit a variety of media, such as audio, video, animation and interactivity, creating a more dynamic experience for the viewer.

At RIC, the digital media curriculum is fine arts-based. Students use advanced digital visual tools to create artwork. The curriculum includes 2D animation, 2D video editing and video production, 3D modeling, 3D animation, 3D rapid prototype printing, virtual reality environments and interactive art.

A multi-tooled and multi-talented artist, Johnston’s B.F.A. in digital media isn’t her first arts degree. She earned her associate degree in culinary, bakery and pastry arts in New York at the age of 23. Burnt out from baking and shut out of restaurants by the Covid pandemic, she enrolled at RIC in 2021 at age 26.

“As soon as I arrived on campus, I began actively looking for a graphic design internship,” Johnston says.

She wound up with two – a graphic design internship at Del’s Lemonade, headquartered in Cranston; and a creative production assistant internship at the RISD Museum.

At the museum, they had just launched a new website, she says. Her job was to create a clear identity for the website. Along with pointing out issues with the current website, she generated ideas for improving it and implemented them.

Both Del’s and the museum ended up hiring her when her internship ended.

“She’s so talented it’s hard to let her go,” Radtke says.

Johnston was made a part-time employee at Del’s and a work-study student at the RISD Museum. Her first project was to re-envision the museum’s lobby space. Johnston created motion graphics for the large video screen that welcomes visitors into the museum.

“I had so much fun on that project and I learned so much,” she says.

Her work is now a prominent and permanent part of the museum’s lobby design.

Since graduation, Johnston has relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where her husband’s family has roots. Still, she continues to work part time for Del’s and is completing a digital publication project for the RISD Museum. Her aspiration is to continue to work for museums in Minnesota.

Of course, Radtke is sure Johnston will excel no matter what she does. “This is the first time my team has worked with a RIC student,” he says. “Everything Ji did for us was above and beyond.”

Jiyeon Johnston ’24 scored two graphic design internships, one at Del’s Lemonade, headquartered in Cranston and a creative production assistant internship at the RISD Museum.

THEATRE ALUM RECEIVES SIR JOHN GIELGUD BURSARY AWARD

Olivia Merritt ’22, an M.F.A. student in professional acting at the Drama Studio London, has been awarded the Sir John Gielgud Bursary Award for “demonstrating exceptional talent and an exceptional attitude to training.” (Sir John Gielgud is the EGOT-winning British actor, who dominated the British stage for much of the 20th century.)

Merritt has been studying and performing extensively in England since September 2023 as well as traveling outside the country. She hopes to remain in London at the end of graduate school and audition while working at the front of the house or backstage of a theater. What’s important to her, she says, is that she be near theatre no matter what work she’s doing.

FORMER MARKETING MAJOR FINDS HER CALLING IN ART HISTORY

In her junior year, Myra Lendrum left her marketing major at the altar to marry the things she loves most – researching and writing about art. “I took my first art history class with Associate Professor Sara Picard and was immediately enthralled,” Lendrum says. The rest is ... well ... history.

Lendrum graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in art history in May 2024, earning departmental honors and winning the Mary Ball Howkins Art History Award for overall excellence. She put her education to work over the summer as a Mellon curatorial intern at the RISD Museum. Her work entails researching and writing about objects, artists and art movements for upcoming exhibitions. In the future, Lendrum hopes to gain permanent employment as a curatorial assistant in a museum and then earn her Ph.D. so she can teach art history at the college level.

5 RIC ALUMNI IN TRINITY REP’S “LA CAGE AUX FOLLES”

Five graduates of RIC’s theatre program were cast members of Trinity Rep’s “La Cage Aux Folles” – Alexander Crespo Rosario ’21 (pictured above), Dylan Michael Bowden ’22, Alex LeBlanc ’24, Kevin Patrick Martin ’09 and Jennifer Mischley ’97.

The production ran from May 30-June 30, 2024. Based on a French play of the same name, “La Cage Aux Folles” tells the story of Renato, the proprietor of a drag nightclub in Saint-Tropez, and his long-term lover and drag star, Albin. The Tony Award-winning musical comedy is perhaps best known in the U.S. for the 1996 movie adaptation, “The Birdcage,” starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. “I can’t think of a finer or more talented group to represent Rhode Island College,” says Professor of Theatre Bill Wilson.

RIC ANNOUNCES ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME 2024

Rhode Island College inducted eight new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame and one former Anchorman entered the Little East Conference Hall of Fame at the annual Athletic Recognition and Hall of Fame Dinner as part of Homecoming. The 2024 inductees include:

TIMOTHY BROWN ’02

Men’s Soccer (1997-00)

•Had 41 goals and eight assists for 90 career points in 72 games

•Three-time All-Little East Conference (LEC) selection •First Team All-LEC in 1997

CHRISTOPHER BURTON ’15

Men’s Basketball (2011-15)

•Three NCAA Tournament appearances, two LEC Tournament Championships, one regular season championship •Two-time All-LEC selection •1,111 career points and 632 career rebounds

SADIE CAMPANELLA ’17

Women’s Tennis (2012-15)

•2015 USTA Jill Craybas Award for top collegiate player in the state

•Two-time All-LEC selection at No.1 singles and doubles

•100th Anniversary Team selection

ELENI GRAMMAS ’20

Women’s Track & Field (2015-19)

•Two LEC outdoor championships and one indoor title

•Three All-American honors, twice with 4x1000 relay and in the 100m •Helen M. Murphy Award recipient, honoring a senior female athlete

TIMOTHY LEIGH ’14

Men’s Golf (2011-14)

•First Team All Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC)

•GNAC Player of the Year in 2014 •Competed in three NCAA Div. III National Men’s Golf Championships

MARGARET MCCAFFREY ’19

Women’s Cross Country (2016-18), Track & Field (2016-19)

•100th Anniversary Team selection •Helen M. Murphy Award recipient

•Two LEC outdoor championships and one indoor title

CONOR MCCLOSKEY ’14

Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field (2010-13)

•LEC individual cross country champion

•2013 LEC Outdoor Track & Field Championship

•100th Anniversary Team selection

CHELSI PARNARELLI ’11 Softball (2008-11)

•Three-time All-LEC selection at first base

•Two-time NCAA AllRegion team

•Two LEC regular season and tournament championships

LITTLE EAST HALL OF FAME: EDWARD CUMMINS ’17 Men’s Track & Field (2012-16)

•RIC Athletics Hall of Fame 2022 inductee

•John E. Hetherman Award recipient, honoring an outstanding senior male athlete

Graham Butziger ’26 Receives Inaugural Bob ’66 and Lucy ’67 Mantia Award

Junior Graham Butziger is the inaugural recipient of RIC’s Bob ’66 and Lucy ’67 Mantia Award. Butziger received the award from RIC President Jack Warner and benefactors Nat and Ellen Calamis at a ceremony held in Donovan Dining Center’s President’s Dining Room on July 24, 2024.

The award is named after the late Bob Mantia, who served as the men’s basketball team’s public address announcer and statistician during his undergraduate days before embarking on a distinguished military and business career, and his late wife.

It will be given to a student who works in the athletics department as either a manager or student worker on an annual basis. The recipient receives a scholarship toward their tuition.

•NCAA National Champion in hammer throw

Butziger, a communication major, has worked in athletics’ media relations department since his freshman year and has been instrumental in the success of RIC’s athletic webcasts as a producer.

from left: RIC President Jack Warner, Graham Butziger ’26, with benefactors Nat and Ellen Calamis

THE QUINTESSENTIAL STUDENT-ATHLETE:

SWIMMER ANNA VYGODER

Next month, Anna Vygoder, arguably the greatest swimmer in Rhode Island College history, will complete her final year on the team.

The 22-year-old who earned her bachelor’s degree in justice studies last year and is currently pursuing a master’s in the same field, says she couldn’t have anticipated being a champion swimmer while growing up in Russia.

“I didn’t see many pools,” she recalls. “My dad had a passion for swimming but didn’t do it competitively. When we moved to the states, he would show me techniques. Coaches from the YMCA in Lincoln saw me swim and encouraged me to sign up for lessons. That’s when I fell in love with the sport.”

Vygoder’s passion has yielded many awards. She was named the Little East Conference (LEC) Swimmer of the Year as she swept the 50-, 100- and 200-yard breaststroke to earn First Team All-LEC honors at the conference championship. For two consecutive years she has been named the Anchorwomen’s most valuable swimmer and received All-LEC academic honors three times.

Vygoder says she excels in swimming because, once she hits the pool, “nothing else matters. It’s just me and the pool. I zone everything else out.”

As a student at Lincoln High School, she was intensely competitive and would often train too hard. That changed once she got to RIC and met swim coach Barry Fontaine ’82.

“Coach Fontaine showed me a different side of swimming,” she says. “He would talk to me about other aspects of life to take my mind off the pressures of competitive swimming.”

“I could use many adjectives to describe Anna,” Fontaine says, “but the best one is dependable. She’s dependable in the pool, during practice or a meet; dependable in the classroom, with a perfect 4.0 for four straight years; and dependable as a team leader who helps out when teammates need her most. She is a fierce competitor with a warm heart and undoubtedly one of RIC’s all-time best student-athletes.”

During her senior year, Vygoder received the Helen Murphy Award, which honors an outstanding female student athlete not only for athletic prowess but also for community and campus involvement.

Aside from swimming, this high achiever is devoted to the military.

“After moving here from Russia. I wanted to give back to a country that welcomed me,” she says. “I enlisted in the Rhode Island Army National Guard in 2021 and served until 2023. I was also a member of ROTC.”

After obtaining her master’s degree, Vygoder will be a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. She would like to specialize in military intelligence or field artillery.

Looking back, Vygoder says, the minute she stepped onto campus she knew that enrolling at RIC was a good decision.

“I love the smaller class sizes and the more personable relationships I was able to develop with professors,” she says. “I grew and became a better version of myself. RIC feels like home because of all the memories and close connections. I will always think of this college as an anchor point and a really strong support system for me.”

Prof. Nimmagadda

Honored by Adoption Rhode Island

Professor of Social Work Jayashree Nimmagadda was publicly awarded by Adoption Rhode Island’s Center for Advanced Practice for more than a decade of leadership as former interim dean of RIC’s School of Social Work and “for the immeasurable impact she has made on the lives of countless children, youth and families in Rhode Island.”

As interim dean, Nimmagadda brought innovation to the School of Social Work through numerous grant-funded and interprofessional initiatives and partnerships. Most recently, she secured a grant to establish the Atrévete Center of Excellence for Latinx/Hispanic Social Work Practice at RIC. For more than a decade, her leadership helped ensure that RIC social work students are prepared to meet the growing and changing needs of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable families.

“Her partnerships, her development of new initiatives, her commitment to addressing inequities, her focus on accessibility and her constant willingness to identify new strategies to achieve the best outcomes for students and the clients they serve is genuinely appreciated,” says CEO and Executive Director of Adoption Rhode Island Darlene Allen. “Here at Adoption Rhode Island, we have enormous respect for Dr. Nimmagadda and her work.”

Both Adoption Rhode Island and Rhode Island College join in thanking Nimmagadda for her many years of dedicated service.

To Forget is Human, to Remember Takes Practice

In a new book called “The Psychology of Memory” (2024), cognitive psychologists and memory experts Megan Sumeracki and Althea Need Kaminske provide a unique insight into a fundamental part of being human – forgetting.

If you’re like most human beings who are always forgetting where they left their phone or their keys, don’t worry. A degree of forgetting is natural, say the authors. It allows the brain to remember more general information. Besides, our memories aren’t designed to remember where we put our phones or our keys. Memory is often survival-based, say the authors. For instance, if you were driving to a remote location in the deepest, darkest neck of the woods, you’d be much more aware of where you left your phone and your keys.

Sumeracki is associate professor of psychology at Rhode Island College and Althea Need Kaminske is senior director of Student Academic Support and Achievement at Indiana University School of Medicine.

In their book, the authors debunk many common misconceptions about what memory is, how memory works and the accuracy of our memories. They explain how we create, store and retrieve memories, and they outline simple techniques to boost our powers of recall.

Assist. Prof. Erin Papa Earns Advocacy Award and

Gov’t Citation

Erin Papa, assistant professor of world languages education, was awarded the 2024 Rhode Island for Languages Association (RIFLA) Norma Garnett Advocacy Award for advocating for the development and betterment of world language study.

She also received a citation in 2024 at the R.I. State House from Rep. David Morales on Multilingual Education Advocacy Day for intensely working on policies to expand support for multilingual education in the state.

Papa is described by RIFLA as a “tireless advocate for language programs, students and teachers in Rhode Island. She has worked closely with policy makers and educators to implement early language programs and has been instrumental in multiple legislative initiatives, including the Seal of Biliteracy, World Languages Standards adoption and immersion program expansion.”

Professor of Modern Languages Silvia Oliveira notes that six years ago when Papa was hired to teach at Rhode Island College, “she was asked to build a world languages education program from the ashes. Today, that program is thriving.”

In the community she has also been engaged in transformative work through the Coalition for a Multilingual Rhode Island, an organization she co-founded and directs, involving policy, advocacy and education. For all of this, and more, Rhode Island College and the State of Rhode Island thank Erin Papa.

MY AREA OF EXPERTISE

FACULTY Q&A WITH COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGIST TRACI WEINSTEIN

Psych is one of RIC’s most popular majors, but what exactly does a community psychologist do?

Except for nursing, more students graduate with psychology degrees than any other degree at Rhode Island College. Associate Professor Traci Weinstein explains why and talks about her own area of expertise – community psychology.

Why is the psychology major so popular?

The curriculum is incredibly diverse as well as the job opportunities. We have graduates who work anywhere from hospitals to community centers. Their specialties range from clinical psychology to social and community psychology. A lot of students come in thinking they want to become clinical psychologists and then as they start taking classes they begin to gain interest in other areas, which we encourage.

Why did you go into psychology?

I had my first psychology class in high school and memorized the textbook. I fell in love instantly. And I always studied languages – Hebrew, Spanish and Russian. When you study languages, it’s not just the language you’re studying but a people’s culture, history and experiences. And that is what intrigues me the most about psychology. It allows me to explore the history and culture of other people.

Could you explain what community psychologists do?

Traditionally, a psychologist spends their career studying a particular subject, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Community psychologists may also study a particular subject, but our expertise and focus is on the method of data collection. We’re concerned with how researchers enter a community, how we collect data, how sensitive and respectful we are and how we disseminate what we find back to that community.

Why is the method so important?

Because, historically, researchers have gone into underrepresented communities with their own agenda and done a lot of harm. In the early 1900s they experimented on Black men with latent syphilis by withholding treatment from them in order to track the full progression of the disease. Called the Tuskegee experiment, they allowed the men to die, go blind or insane and to infect others.

During WWII in Nazi Germany, researchers performed experiments on Jewish prisoners. For instance, injecting them with gasoline to see what would happen.

And there have been many experiments on Native American communities. For instance, the government kidnapped indigenous children from reservations and put them into boarding schools as an education experiment. Severe mental health repercussions for the children and their communities followed.

Many of these communities now have a deep mistrust of researchers. The American Psychological Association’s new branding and mandate for all who work in the field of psychology is to “Do No Harm.” It’s important to be as thoughtful as possible when entering a community, to take into account the history and culture of that community and to put our findings back into the hands of that community. I’ve made presentations of my research results at community centers, public events and via fact sheets distributed to community members.

What are some of the career opportunities for community psychologists?

Many are grant writers, program directors or community researchers at community organizations. One of my students is now working at the diversity, equity and inclusion office of a university. I have a student who went into law. The career opportunities are incredibly diverse.

HOLLYWOOD SUPERNOVA COMES HOME

For over 10 years, this alumna has been hustling her way to opportunities in Hollywood. Now she’s back, sharing her knowledge.

by gita brown

You could call Ericka Atwell-Cardona a supernova. Astronomers describe them as stars that create an explosion billions of times brighter than our sun with enough energy to outshine its own galaxy for weeks. That’s the kind of impact she has on people in the first five minutes of meeting her.

The 38-year-old vibrates at a breath-takingly high frequency. It’s no wonder she’s been able to run the gamut in Hollywood for more than 10 years – from acting, casting, producing, consulting, media coaching, writing, PR, social media, marketing and red carpet reporting.

Among her TV and film credits are production assistant on “Bullet Train” (2022); associate line producer and actress on “Miss Arizona” (2018); and stand-in for Wendi McClendon-Covey on the TV sitcom “The Goldbergs” (Seasons 7-10, 2018).

She compares herself to a Swiss army knife – “You name it, I’ve done it.”

Atwell-Cardona earned her B.A. in communication, with a concentration in mass media, at RIC in 2009. Two years later, she left for L.A. and practically wrote the playbook on what it means to hustle in Hollywood.

In 2023 she returned to Rhode Island and one of the first things she did was visit her alma mater. She guest taught a class by Professor of Theatre Bill Wilson, who allowed her to critique the monologues of his graduating seniors. She would later help cast nine RIC students as extras in two Lifetime movies.

In 2024 she founded EJOYA Productions, which provides services to aspiring actors and other creatives. “It’s the culmination of all the lessons, hard work and skill sets I acquired in Hollywood,” she says. “Now I get to take the fire inside me and pass it on to other people and inspire them to chase their dreams.”

Last year the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) appointed her director of community engagement and development. The RIIFF is one of only 10 festivals in the world that is an Academy Awards, BAFTA and Canadian Screen Awards qualifier. RIIFF showcases new voices in independent filmmaking and serves as a platform to launch their careers. Thirteen films that premiered at RIIFF have won Academy Awards, and over 85 have been Oscar nominees. Many have gained distribution with the likes of HBO, Showtime, PBS and Netflix.

Atwell-Cardona’s job is to get RIIFF media coverage and lift the festival’s visibility to a global level. To that end, she was able to land RIIFF a coveted write up in The Hollywood Reporter, read by the most powerful people in the entertainment industry and the most influential consumers who follow it. Her vision, she says, is for Rhode Island’s festival to become the Sundance of the east coast.

Let’s start from the beginning. What was your goal in going to L.A.?

I wanted to be a red carpet host in Hollywood. I didn’t know how to get to that goal, but I was committed to figuring it out. And that’s what I did for 13 years. I figured it out. When I arrived in LA., I rented someone’s couch for $200 a month and had only $800 left to my name, but I was free. For the first time in my 20s, I was free. I wanted to learn who I was, what made me happy and what lit my soul on fire.

What was your big break once you got to L.A.?

I started out taking any job I could get. For the first eight weeks, I worked at a yogurt shop and Starbucks – very humble beginnings. Then I was offered a job as a cocktail waitress at a starstudded restaurant in Beverly Hills. It was for only one night but it was a great opportunity. I bought a $15 dress on clearance and earned $16 in tips the entire night. As far as tips, the night was a bust, but I wound up befriending the manager and begged him to hire me full time. He started me as a hostess. But when he realized I had a college degree, he made me PR manager.

My job was to pack the restaurant with customers. I had to wheel and deal with concierges from the fanciest hotels in the world. Each night, the atmosphere at the restaurant was electric. If you were in the entertainment industry, it was a place to have your meetings, and many famous actors were regulars – Jamie Foxx would roll in and play the piano, Carol Burnett would dine with her

longtime manager and friend. Every night there would be someone from the business.

One day I got a call from a writer for The Hollywood Reporter who wanted to do a write up about the restaurant. I invited him to lunch and told him my dream job is to be a red-carpet reporter for The Hollywood Reporter. The following week the editor calls and I start freelancing, doing a lot of different carpets around town. It was awesome because it was getting me in front of people and my network was growing.

What was your first experience on a movie set?

Twentieth Century Fox came to the restaurant to shoot an episode of “New Girl” and, as site representative, I met the whole crew. Through that connection, I landed a gig as a regular, nonunion, background extra on “The Crazy Ones,” a TV sitcom starring Robin Williams, which opened the door for continuous union work on various networks.

How did you get into casting?

I wanted to know what people behind the camera were thinking when they hired an actor. I ended up getting a job as a casting associate. Again, this is something I lobbied for. But once they let me in the room, I started talking to all the other casting directors who were in need of associates. I wound up working at two of the hottest casting offices in L.A. That was when my network blew up. I had direct access to actors, to casting directors, to agents, to every facet of the business.

Of all the hats you’ve worn, what is your favorite?

There’s two. My most invaluable experience was the work I did on “The Goldbergs.” It was like earning your master’s degree in filmmaking. My second most invaluable experience was the consulting work I did for film producers Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Tyler Mitchell. They’re co-founders of a tech startup. They had created a platform that was a cross between LinkedIn and IMDbPro. It gives you the ability to hire a film crew. They needed someone who could pitch their platform to people in the industry – from studio executives to production assistants. I had to be able to explain the platform, gain their interest and have them join it. I went through four rounds of interviews before I was hired. On the fourth interview, I got a call from the head of operations. He says, “There’s one thing we all agree upon. You’re a hustler and we want you on our team.”

What drew you back to Rhode Island?

I came back because my husband and I wanted to be closer to our families. Time is the one thing you can’t buy. I never want to live with the regret that I didn’t get to have enough coffees with my mom or didn’t give my dad enough hugs. The irony is I had to go almost 3,000 miles away to learn that.

After I married in 2023, we bought a 100-year-old house on over two acres that we’re renovating in West Warwick. We share a rock wall with my parents. I could literally zipline to my mom’s back door. I cherish and love my family, and I feel blessed that I get to work from home, from Rhode Island.

In 2024 you formed EJOYA Productions. What service does your company provide?

I provide many services for clients throughout the U.S. For actors, I teach a range of classes and help them create a demo reel, which you have to have if you want a job in the film industry. I write, produce, cast and direct their reel for them. They’re able to study the business side of acting with me. I’ll show them what to do with their reel.

In addition, I cast projects, I’m a locations liaison and I’m a producer, so I’m continually searching for ideas and reading scripts. My goal is to make movies in Rhode Island with my amazing Hollywood network and bring productions right here in our own backyard.

What advice can you give aspiring actors and other creatives?

The journey to becoming is often a dance with fear because there’s so much that’s unknown when you’re chasing a passion, chasing a dream. There’s no guarantees. But that old saying is true: if it’s for you, it can’t miss you.

It’s also important to remember that you aren’t just your pursuit. You’re someone’s child. You’re someone’s sibling. You’re someone’s friend. You’re more than that pursuit. I’ve journaled during the 13 years I was in Hollywood. I’ll re-read my journal when I’m going through a really dark time. I’ll go, “Pfff, this is just another date on the books. I got through that. I can get through this. Yeah. I got this.”

See Ericka Atwell-Cardona’s IMDb and demo reel.

ALUMNI ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1963

Bennie Fleming, a Rhode Island nurse and pioneer in her field who served during World War II, recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

1966

Frank Gromling, owner and director of the Ocean Art Gallery in Ormond Beach, Florida, has been appointed to Florida’s Council on Arts and Culture.

1974

Maureen Maigret was elected to the 202324 board of directors for CareLink, a statewide nonprofit healthcare organization.

1975

Janice Newman had her newest collection of art displayed in December 2023 and January 2024 at the gallery at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church in Longboat Key, Florida.

1977

Denise Charron-Prochownik was inducted into the Sigma International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

1979

John McNiff portrayed Rhode Island’s founding father Roger Williams at an event at the Scituate Preservation Society, where he answered questions about Williams’ life.

1980

Dante Bellini received the Producers Circle Award at the 2024 Rhode Island International Film Festival.

1982

After a 41-year career, Jim Rose retired from his position as sports director and TV anchor for ABC 7 in Chicago.

1983

Carol Costa was named executive director of the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island. Frank Flynn was appointed to the United Way of Rhode Island’s Community Advisory Board.

1985

Roberta Merkle was elected to the 2023-24 board of directors for CareLink, a statewide nonprofit healthcare organization.

1986

Elisabeth Galligan, founder and president of Newberry Public Relations and Marketing, Inc., was named one of the 2023 Remarkable Women! by East Providence Mayor Roberto DaSilva. She was honored for her service and leadership in numerous nonprofit organizations and for being a positive role model for the next generation of East Providence women.

Sandra McManus published a new book entitled “Boldly Encouraged: A Personal Journey of Faith and Hope” (Christian Faith Publishing, 2023).

1987

R.I. Gov. Daniel McKee appointed RIC Assistant Professor of Social Work Mary Archibald to the State of Rhode Island’s Cannabis Advisory Board.

Rosemary Costigan was named interim president of the Community College of Rhode Island.

1988

President Biden appointed Viola Davis to the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement. She also received an honorary Doctorate of Letters degree from the University of Rhode Island.

1989

Lora Calise, M.A.T., a Spanish teacher and department chair at Smithfield High School, was named the 2023-24 Rhode Island for Languages Association Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for the NECTFL Teacher of the Year.

1990

During the month of October 2023, Erased Landscapes, an exhibition of drawings and paintings by Ernest Jolicoeur, was on display at Salve Regina University’s Dorrance H. Hamilton Gallery.

R.I. Gov. Daniel McKee appointed former Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langevin as chair of the state’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force.

Margaret McDuff was recently honored as one of Rhode Island’s Women of the Year by GoLocalProv.

Gary Whitehead was selected as the 2023-24 Bergen County Teacher of the Year by the New Jersey Department of Education.

1991

Gregory McLaughlin has self-published the fourth book in his Matunuck Beach Series, titled “Blackberry,” all set in the South County beach community of Matunuck, Rhode Island.

William Muto has been promoted to the first vice president/senior business intelligence officer for Bristol County Savings Bank.

1992

Scott Crozier was named the new vice president of product management and personal lines for Orion180 Insurance.

Gaetano LaRoche, an artist and teacher at an elementary school in New York City, is author of “The Mentor-Disciple Relationship in the Visual Arts and Beyond” (Routledge, 2024).

Christopher Reddy is the 2024 recipient of the James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public.

1994

Kristen Noonan was recognized by the Rhode Island Department of Education and the RI STEAM Center with the 2023 RI STEAM Educator Award.

1996

Brian Allen was elected to the National Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2023.

Jane Freitas, a family nurse practitioner, received the Outstanding Contributions Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Award by ScottoPelle®.

Melanie Moe was recently named Outstanding Art Educator of the Year by the Rhode Island Art Education Association.

1997

Nate DiMeo authored “The Memory Palace: True Short Stories of the Past” (Penguin Random House, 2024), a book based on his long-running podcast of the same name. DiMeo is also an

artist in residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Joan Warren has been named editor and production manager of Anchor News for the Diocese of Fall River.

1998

Thomas Bain was appointed to the Company Advisory Board for Wiser Solutions Inc.

Yanaiza Gallant is one of six Cranston residents chosen to participate in the Equity Leadership Initiative to build a pipeline of leaders of color for positions of influence throughout the state.

Jarso Maley Jallah was appointed minister of education for Liberia, her native country.

1999

Thomas Fitzgerald has been promoted to executive vice president of Bank Rhode Island.

Cara McDermott-Fasy received this year’s Decoding Dyslexia Educator Ally Award for her dedication to raising dyslexia awareness.

2000

Christine Gadbois was appointed CEO of CareLink and a member of CareLink’s 2023-24 board of directors. She was also honored with the 2023 Leaders & Achievers Award by Providence Business News.

2001

Jacob Stott and his band The Hope Collective for Early Music performed a concert at the Grace Episcopal Church in Providence, which featured pieces by early 17th-century Italian composers.

2002

Maria Cimini is a recipient of NASW-RI’s 2023 Social Worker of the Year Award.

Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies was recognized for her achievements by the Rhode Island Black Business Association at their 2023 Annual Awards Gala. She was also appointed to the Community Advisory Board by the United Way of Rhode Island.

Thomas Ohanian has won his fourth Emmy Award for technical innovation in media.

2003

Amy McCarthy, co-responder team clinical coordinator for Gateway Emergency Services, was named CIT Mental Health Partner of the Year for the Urban Core area.

2004

With the help of his acting coach Howard Fine, actor Austin Butler was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the 2022 biopic “Elvis.”

2006

Timothy Chase published “Dionysus Refined: Book 1 The Grapevine Trilogy,” (Page Publishing, 2023).

Charles Hewes was appointed deputy commissioner for academics and innovation for the Connecticut State Department of Education.

Melissa Medenciy was honored with the 2023 International Latino Book Award in the Fantasy Category for her debut novel “Island Eight” (Atmosphere Press, 2022).

2007

Melissa Bouchard, cofounder of Fusion3 Consulting, is a 2024 recipient of the 40 Under Forty Award by Providence Business News, which recognizes members under the age of 40 for their achievements and leadership in Rhode Island.

Jason Cabral was appointed the new executive director of the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre.

Haigouhi Vartanian-Corriveau was elected to the 2023-24 board of directors for CareLink, a statewide nonprofit healthcare organization.

2008

Shana DeFelice, programs and mission impact director for Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, is a 2024 recipient of the 40 Under Forty Award by Providence Business News, which recognizes members under the age of 40 for their achievements and leadership in Rhode Island.

2009

Sarah Courtemanche was appointed assistant principal of Smithfield High School.

Marleny Luna was one of 50 women featured in Nancy Patino Sanchez’s book “Remarkable Latina Women of Rhode Island,” (Stillwater River Publications, 2023).

Marianne Raimondo, dean of Rhode Island College’s School of Business, was honored with the 2023 Leaders & Achievers Awards by Providence Business News.

2010

Patricia Rakovic was named 2024 District Teacher of the Year by East Greenwich Public Schools.

2011

Erick Pagan was appointed the new principal of Lippitt Elementary School in Warwick.

Heather Sherman and her husband Benjamin are owners of the newly opened Owl & Dove, a cozy bistro in Westerly by the Pawcatuck River.

2012

Justin Bibee received a certificate of recognition from the office of R.I. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, acknowledging his honorary doctorate degree and humanitarian contributions to refugees in the state of Rhode Island.

Alexander Cruz is an ensemble member and understudy for a principal role in the Broadway musical “Moulin Rouge!”

Marcy Reyes, who founded the Financial Literacy Youth Initiative, was recognized for her achievements by the Rhode Island Black Business Association at their 2023 Annual Awards Gala.

2013

Marcia Diaz is the new chair of the School of Justice at Miami-Dade College.

Nicolas Hardisty was named director of operations at Tall Ships America, the national organization for sail training and tall ships.

Aaron Lindo now plays the bagpipes full time for King Richard’s Faire in Carver, Massachusetts.

Marissa Moroni opened the South County School of Performing Arts in 2023.

Lisa Salameh, vice president and chief nursing officer at Sturdy Health, was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review in the article “Chief Nursing Officers to Know in 2023.”

Taiwo Sodipo-Kuforiji, a CNA training program coordinator at CareLink, received the organization’s Mountain Mover Award.

2014

Kayleigh Perkins, COO for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island, is a 2024 recipient of the 40 Under Forty Award by Providence Business News, which recognizes members under the age of 40 for their achievements and leadership in Rhode Island.

2015

Stephen Gorman was appointed the new head wrestling coach at Cumberland High School.

2017

Jessica Borges was appointed assistant principal of Aitken Elementary School in Seekonk.

Michael Bedrosian was awarded Boys Coach of the Year by the Johnston Sun Rise newspaper for his hard work as Johnston High School’s head basketball coach.

Jeffrey Heath, principal of Portsmouth High School, is a 2024 recipient of the 40 Under Forty Award by Providence Business News, which recognizes members under the age of 40 for their achievements and leadership in Rhode Island.

Jessalyn O’Neill was named head coach of Rhode Island College’s women’s lacrosse team.

Daniel Pereira, lead director of MinuteClinic Innovation and Operations at CVS Health, is a 2024 recipient of the 40 Under Forty Award by Providence Business News, which recognizes members under the age of 40 for their achievements and leadership in Rhode Island.

Elena Yee has worked as a psychological counselor and LGBTQIA+ liaison in Counseling Services at Ramapo College of New Jersey for three years and started her own private practice in New York in 2023.

2018

John Black was named interim pastor of Faith Chapel in Cranston.

2019

Annisha Vasquez was appointed vice president of community development at BankNewport.

2020

Dylan Brobisky won first place at St. Raphael Academy’s 2023 Alumni & Friends 5K Run/ Walk at Slater Park.

Courtney Lambrese took home the bronze in a match at Fenway Park’s Pickle4 Ballpark Series.

2022

Olivia Merritt has been awarded the Sir John Gielgud Bursary Award for having an exceptional attitude and extraordinary talent while training.

Jared Nobrega is a member of the 2023-24 Gamm Fellowship Program for emerging artists of color at the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre.

2023

Maureen Gibbons has begun her new position as an acute care adult gerontology nurse practitioner at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, Maine.

WEDDINGS

2017

Joshley Credo married Christopher DiStefano in June 2024.

2018

Tiffany Ovalles married Dan Pellett in August 2024.

ANNIVERSARIES

1962

Jeannine Dionne and her husband John Dionne celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary by renewing their wedding vows.

2017

Elena Yee is celebrating 22 years with her partner, Dr. Richard Huizar.

RETIREMENTS

1973

After working for Rhode Island College for 49 years, Holly Shadoian retired from her position as Rhode Island College’s vice provost for undergraduate affairs.

1974

Joan Mullaney is retiring after three decades as a nurse practitioner at WellOne.

1978

Joanne McGunagle, current CEO of the Comprehensive Community Action Program, will be retiring in 2025 after 35 years with the organization.

1979

Paul Riendeau, upon retiring, received a proclamation from the Mayor of Pawtucket in his honor.

1986

Kristen Salemi retired from her position as director of student engagement and leadership at Rhode Island College.

IN MEMORIAM

1943

Arthur Pontarelli

Maynard Shusman

1944

Grace (Almeida) Stinton

1948

Miriam (Cronin) Clancy

1949

Sandra (Waldman) Joel

1950

Mary (Dwyer) Caporelli

Anne-Louise Gracyalny

1951

Virginia (DeAngelus) Black

Margaret (Reinsant) McGovern

1952

Madeline (Kalarian) Holbrook

Captain Philip Oliver Jr.

1953

Marie (Lennon) Conlon

Louise (Zarella) DelVecchio

1954

Jane Ann Brown

Barbara Romani

1955

Lois (Lindemann) Harrington

1956

Richard Brassard

John Heslin Jr.

1957

Irma (Siniscalchi) Raymond

1958

Raymond Anderson

Arline (Sylvestre) Montecalvo

Nancy (Farmer) Mowbray

1959

David Moore

1960

Edward Kelly Jr.

1961

Frances (Palumbo) Driscoll

Patricia (Ross) Maciel

1962

Helene (Dufresne) Petrone

John Ryan

1963

Yvette (St. Germain) Leclerc

Beverly (Manchester) Mansi

Michael O’Hern

Bette (Tubman) Poirier

Ray Sharkey

1964

Kathy Egan

Richard Hanaway

Madeline Jones

1965

Martha (Shea) Capaldi

Geraldine (Federico) Shea

Gordon Sundberg

Michaela (Delaney) Whitfield

1966

James Dolan

Mary Louise Dunn

Joseph Jannetta

Linda Ann Santos

Patricia (Farrell) Schissler

Eleanor (Gaudet) Skenyon

1967

Ilidio Contente

Muriel (Villard) Desjardins

Anthony DeStefanis

Francis Ford

Dennis Kostyla

Linda (Loparto) McPhail

William Reilly Jr.

1968

William Bleasdale

Sen. James “Jim”D’Ambra

Eileen (Carreiro) Ferri

Mary (Barnes) McLaughlin

Claire Elizabeth “Lisa” (Madison)

Metcalfe

Linda (Rafferty) Sheehan

1970

Robert Deroy

Margaret (Dillon) Duncan

Paulette (Dauphinais) Girard

Frances (Weller) King

Therese (Beaudette) Stewart

1971

Alfred Augusta

Ronald DiRuzzo

Nancy (Faxon) Golowka

Diane (Caliri) Klausner

Denise (Laferriere) Monaghan

Rita (Lynch) Wood

1972

Judith “Judy” (Morgan) Conant

Anthony Pepe, M.Ed.

Sr. Constance Perreault

Louis Rochira

Carol Zadorozny

1973

Alexia (Blackley) Allbee

Steven Arnoff

Raymond Arsenault

Richard Chester

Dennis DeCelles

George Hodgson

Malcolm Lanphear

Maureen Monteiro

Kathleen (Strasser) Rechter

John Reopell

1974

Nadine (Ferrante) Beirne

Norman Laliberte

Marjorie Martiesian

John McCormick

Wanda (Szymanski) Morse

John Mycroft

Kay Norris

Raymond Peloquin

Ronald St. Pierre

1975

Jerome Comes

Maria (Ciavatti) Keil

Catherine McLaughlin

Theil (Baumann) Ramsbey

1976

Edward Almeida

Frank Bielecki Jr.

Mark Derham

Richard Duguay Jr.

Lillian (Rarity) Hargrove

Maria Martineau

Stephen Palazzo

Patricia (Dawson) Runner

Anthony Russo

Patricia (Sullivan) Walsh

1977

Christine (Temple) Brannon

John Caparco Jr.

Miriam (Schart) DiLorio

Cecilia (Harbour) Perry

1978

Lorraine (Duguay) Andreozzi

John Donato

Stephen Hopkins

Pamela Manchester

Mary Lee Partington

1979

Dorothy (Fox) Allen

Constance (Cahill) Palouski

1980

Pamela Dudek

Katrina Fowler

Judy Ann (Levin) Frank

Gregory Markley

1981

Ruth (Limer) Rotenberg

Jo-Ann Scotto

Joyce (Morse) Trapani

Harriet (Corean) Ward

1982

Joan Mollicone-Lewis

1984

Dolores (Maiello) Ciambrone

Brian Harrington

Judith (Altman) Umbriano

1986

Elaine (Kurtz) Grenon

Madeline (Carvalho) Nasiff

1987

Kenneth Buckley

Martha (Hirsh) Felber

1988

Joseph Broady

Linda Dupuis

1989

Patricia (DeDora) St. Germain

Charlotte (Mastors) Taylor

Rae Zuckerberg

1990

Mary Ann Cauchon

1993

Tracy (Gearing) Conte

Scott Lavallee

1994

James Kelley

Leona (Kelly) Zienowicz

1996

Jeffrey DeAlmo

Jennifer Lee (Degnan) Liston

1997

Deana (Cerra) Tallo

Sharon Wainger

1998

Elaine (Desnoyers) Baldwin

Keri (Quinlan) Lamoureux

1999

Kimberly (Radock) Hough

Mary (Snow) Moriarty

Gia (Fiore) Noviello

2001

Patricia (Garlington) Threats

2002

Calvin Anderson

James Bishop

2004

Jason Hamel

2007

Carol (Graves) Faulkner

2008

Katherine Batchelder

2010

Daniel Mitchell

2013

Michael Pietros

Nong Suon

2014

Alexander Pavlik

Daniel Westgate

2015

Sarah Ann Thomas

2016

Richard Broderick

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WELCOMES NEW LEADERSHIP

The new director of alumni relations returns to her alma mater, while the board president strengthens his existing ties to the campus community.

Tiffany Pellett ’18 is the new director of the Office of Alumni Relations at Rhode Island College, while Kevin San ’12, M.P.Ac. ’13 has been named president of the Alumni Association’s board of directors. Both were appointed over the summer.

The new role is a homecoming for Pellett, who has spent the past 12 years working in a variety of private sector roles, while San has remained a fixture on campus since completing his master of professional accountancy degree in 2013. Since 2014 he has been an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business, teaching governmental and nonprofit accounting.

“The opportunities and experiences I gained after graduating from RIC have been incredible and I am excited to be able to give back to the RIC community,” says Pellett.

Since graduating with a bachelor of arts in communications, she has worked in a variety of sales, consulting and management roles in retail, e-commerce and HR services. After college, she worked for Alex and Ani in both management and visual merchandising, before relocating to Los Angeles for a client relations role at Reserve Studies, Inc., a company that provides real estate cost-estimating and financial analysis services. She has been back in Rhode Island since 2018, where she served as a project manager at Acertitude, an executive search firm. For the past four years, she was director of operations at Bike-On, a retailer of handbikes, recumbent bicycles, adaptive cycles and wheelchairs.

“As I embark on this new journey, my goal is to enhance collaboration across all departments to become a key strategic partner,” she says of her new role. “This will enable us to offer alumni meaningful, lifelong opportunities to engage and connect with the RIC community.”

San most recently served as treasurer for the Alumni Association. His dedication and leadership have led to his appointment as president for the new term. In addition to his teaching role at RIC, he serves as controller at the Rhode Island Lottery Commission.

“Rhode Island College has played a pivotal role in my personal and professional development, and I am excited to give back to the community that has given me so much,” he says. “My experience as a student and now as a faculty member has shown me the incredible potential within our alumni community. I am committed to harnessing that potential to enhance our collective contributions to the college’s mission.”

above: Kevin San ’12, M.P.Ac. ’13, president of the Alumni Association board of directors.

left: Tiffany Pellett ’18, director of the Office of Alumni Relations.

FOUNDATION WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR

Eric Shoen is a certified fundraising executive with 25 years of philanthropic experience

After a national search, the Rhode Island College Foundation proudly announced its new executive director, Eric Shoen, on May 7, 2024. Shoen is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE) who most recently served as executive director of donor relations at Brandeis University.

He received his B.A. degree in Spanish literature from Hartwick College and his M.S. degree in project and program management from Brandeis University.

“I’m excited to bring my 25 years of fundraising and engagement experience to this foundation so that we can raise more money and provide the best experience possible for our students and the college community,” he says.

RIC Foundation Board President Joyce Stevos ’65, M.Ed. ’97, Ph.D. ’05, states, “We are thrilled to have Eric join us to reinvigorate fundraising for the RIC Foundation. His passion for higher education and the mission of our foundation made him the perfect fit for this job.”

The foundation, under Stevos’ leadership, awarded over $800,000 in scholarships to deserving students at the college last year. Stevos and Shoen both expressed gratitude to Clark Greene for his role as interim director during the previous year.

The Rhode Island College Foundation was established in 1965 and strives to offer accessible higher education of the finest quality to traditional and nontraditional students from around the state, region and beyond. It pledges to act with integrity, appreciate its beneficiaries and to work passionately for the enhancement of the college and its students.

ALUMNA CREATES AWARD NAMED FOR GERÁLD THE TURKEY

RIC’s turkeys, like this award, encourage students to take advantage of RIC’s abundance

For the first time at Rhode Island College, an award in honor of a turkey was created by alumna and graduate assistant hall director Tiana Dickenson ’21, M.S.W. ’24 in collaboration with the RIC Foundation and the Office of Residential Life and Housing.

“You might know the turkey. He’s known for attacking cars on campus,” says Dickenson, who named the animal.

Geráld became the nickname given to any turkey spotted on campus. He’s so legendary that a sandwich was named after him at RIC’s Donovan

Dining Center, and the graduating Class of 2024 gifted the college with a bronze statue in his honor.

As an undergraduate recipient of the Alan J. Chile Leadership Award, Dickenson was inspired to pay it forward and create this award.

Award recipients must be enrolled at RIC; have a GPA of 2.5 or more; submit a 500-800 word essay about their challenges and what they learned from them; and a letter of recommendation from a RIC faculty, staff, counselor or mentor.

The theme of the 2023-24 Geráld the Turkey Award was “In the face of adversity.” Dickenson chose a student who demonstrated determination, perseverance and commitment to their education – nursing student Bryan Soto, a native of Guatemala who began his journey at RIC in 2019 in the ESL Intensive Program. He received $1,000 in April 2024.

ALUMNA LEAVES GIFT TO BENEFIT PORTUGUESE INSTITUTE

A $55K gift from the late Carmen Augusto ’61 was bequeathed to the Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies (IPLWS) at Rhode Island College over the summer.

The funds, which will be administered by the RIC Foundation, will allow more Rhode Island College students to major in Portuguese. It will also provide professional development for educators and pre-service teachers and advance research on Portuguese language and culture. Augusto also designated several $10,000 scholarships for students graduating from Cumberland and Lincoln high schools who meet the scholarship criteria.

Augusto, whose parents immigrated from Portugal in the 1930s, died in 2018 at age 78. She grew up in the Valley Falls area of Central Falls and Cumberland, a town where at least 10 percent of residents are of Portuguese descent, according to a 2022 American Community Survey. Rhode Island has the densest concentration of people of Portuguese descent in the nation.

Her parents attended Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church of Cumberland, which has long been considered a landmark of the town’s Portuguese community. They were also members of Clube Juventude Lusitana, a vibrant hub of Portuguese cultural and philanthropic activities in Cumberland.

Augusto graduated from RIC with a bachelor’s degree in English, with a concentration in social studies. She worked for 32 years as a history and geography teacher in the Cumberland Schools before retiring in 1993.

Scan the QR code to buy Geráld the Turkey “Destroyer of Cars” attire. All proceeds go to the fund.

IPLWS Director and Professor of Portuguese Studies Silvia Oliveira and IPLWS community board members stated:

“Carmen Augusto’s generous gift allows us to continue our mission of bridging the connection between Rhode Island College and the Portuguese-speaking community and promotes opportunities for RIC students to graduate with a Portuguese major, which wasn’t available to Ms. Augusto in 1957.”

why i give

Pauline Ucci Dyson ’59 says her decision to create an endowed scholarship at her alma mater is based on two reasons: appreciation for public institutions of higher learning like RIC and dedication to the memory of her late niece, Mary Lyn Ucci ’78.

When Dyson graduated from RIC with a degree in education, the campus had only one academic building and no dorms, she says, but the school had a stellar reputation as one of the best colleges to pursue a career in education.

“It was a big step for a daughter of immigrants to go to college in those days,” Dyson recalls. “My husband, Stephen, and I are enamored of public colleges and their role in educating first-generation Americans like me.”

Dyson taught high school social studies in Connecticut for many years before retiring in 1998. Her niece, an educator as well, earned a degree in elementary special education. Ucci went on to teach at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Alabama, where she was inducted into the Hall of Honor for exceptional contributions to the school and its mission. Ucci passed away from ovarian cancer in 2016.

“Lyn possessed wonderful qualities during her life,” Dyson says. “She was an extremely warm person and open to whomever she came across. In her career, she inspired generations of students, both as a counselor and special education teacher. She made sure that those with special needs had a way forward.”

Establishing the endowed scholarship is a way to ensure that Ucci’s legacy endures, says Dyson. The scholarship will be awarded to sophomores pursuing degrees in special education. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, and preference is given to students with higher GPAs.

“I think Lyn would be pleased about this scholarship because it passes on the torch of the work she has done and would have continued to do had she lived,” Dyson says. “She had a can-do attitude that she passed on to her students. That’s worth honoring.”