Biography: Ray M. Di Pasquale

In July 2006, Ray M. Di Pasquale was appointed the fourth president of the Community College of Rhode Island after having served as interim president for more than a year.

Prior to joining CCRI, President Di Pasquale most recently served as vice president for enrollment management and student affairs, as well as interim vice president for institutional advancement at the State University of New York’s SUNY College at Brockport in upstate New York, part of one of the largest and most respected educational systems in the world. During his term from 1998 to 2006, he is credited with increasing freshmen applications by more than 50 percent, taking SUNY Brockport from the lowest application rate in the New York system to the highest and improving the first-year student retention rate from 70 percent to 84 percent. President Di Pasquale brings to CCRI demonstrated success in fund-raising, student enrollment, success and retention, community building, marketing and strategic planning.

President Di Pasquale’s career in higher education spans more than 35 years in positions that range from teaching to director of athletics and director of admissions. He spent most of those three decades in the Massachusetts community college system, having held positions at Middlesex Community College and Springfield Technical Community College, including stints of holding multiple leadership positions simultaneously. Additionally, he has taught management, marketing and government courses.

In addition to his career in public higher education, President Di Pasquale has been active in his community. He was elected to the Springfield (Mass.) City Council, served as vice chairman of the Springfield School Committee and as chairman for the Hampden County Commissioners.

He has received several honors throughout his career, including scholarships established in his honor by faculty and staff at SUNY Brockport and Springfield Technical Community College and another at CCRI that evolved from funds raised during his presidential inauguration. President Di Pasquale also received the Outstanding Performance Citation, a Massachusetts statewide performance recognition program.

Since coming to Rhode Island, President Di Pasquale has assumed leadership positions on the boards of directors of the Newport Chamber of Commerce, as chair of the Rhode Island Campus Compact Executive Committee and the Met School Board and is a member of the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council and the Rhode Island Commodores. He also is a member of the College Board New England Community College Advisory Committee and is a Kent Hospital Incorporator.

President Di Pasquale earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Ark., and his Master of Science from Northeastern University in Boston. He lives in Warwick, R.I.