Academic Affairs Team
Team Summaries
Barbara J. Nauman, M.B.A., Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
As Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Barbara J. Nauman, M.B.A., works closely with the academic deans, and faculty on educational programs, quality instruction, and furthering the institution's strategic plan, academic master plan, goals, and mission. She recently served as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Nauman joined CCRI in June 2015 as an Assistant Professor in the Business and Professional Studies Department, receiving the college's Teaching Excellence Award in 2017. Since 2021, she has served as the Dean of Business, Science, Technology and Mathematics (BSTM) after previously working as Interim Dean and Interim Assistant Dean of BSTM.
In addition to her experience at CCRI, Associate Vice President Nauman has taught at Salve Regina University and Johnson & Wales University graduate and undergraduate schools. Prior to teaching, she worked for 22 years as a business professional, holding a variety of senior leadership and management positions at The Providence Journal, including Vice President of Consumer Sales and Services, Vice President of Circulation, and Senior Director of Consumer Marketing. During that time, Nauman served on various community committees and boards, including the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce. She also was the President of the Advertising Club of Southeastern New England.
Associate Vice President Nauman obtained her Master of Business Administration from the Johnson & Wales University, where she was recognized as the Graduate School's 2008 Distinguished Alumni. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English/Communications, magna cum laude, from North Adams State College (now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) and completed the Medill School of Journalism Management Development Program at the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University. Contact Barbara Nauman.
Elizabeth Del Sesto, M.B.A., Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs
Elizabeth (Liz) Del Sesto serves as the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs where she helps coordinate a wide range of responsibilities related to the analysis, planning, and implementation of academic priorities within the Division of Academic Affairs. She has worked for CCRI since 2017 and brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to this role, contributing to the division's growth and success through her responsibilities related to curriculum management, grant-funded initiatives, scheduling, assessment, and academic technologies. Assistant Dean Del Sesto earned her Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the University of Rhode Island. While completing her M.B.A., she also received graduate certificates in labor relations and human resources. Contact Liz Del Sesto.
Suzanne Carr, Ph.D., R.N., Dean of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences
Suzanne Carr serves as the Dean of Health and Rehabilitative Science (HARS) degree and certificate programs, including nursing, dental health, radiography, occupational and physical therapy, radiography, and respiratory therapy, among others. Dr. Carr joined CCRI in January 2019 as the Interim Dean and as the Dean in May 2020. During her tenure at CCRI, Dr. Carr successfully led the re-accreditation for the Nursing Department, Radiography, MLT and Histotechnician programs and oversaw the implementation of the $1.9 million Healthcare Workforce Transformational Grant to advance initiatives of Diversity, Interprofessional Education, Mental Health First Aid and Continuing Education. Under her leadership, CCRI has solidified its role as a regional leader in health care education that meets the workforce needs of our partners in the health care industry. Prior to joining CCRI, Dr. Carr served as an associate professor of nursing and interprofessional education coordinator at New England Institute of Technology. She previously taught nursing at the University of Rhode Island (URI), accumulating more than 16 years of experience in nursing academia. She holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing, a master’s in nursing education and a doctorate in nursing, all from URI. Contact Suzanne Carr.
William Stargard, Ph.D., Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
William Stargard serves as Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS) (comprised of the following departments: Art, Art History, and Design; Communication and Media; English; Human Services; Library; Performing Arts; Psychology; Social Sciences; and World Languages and Cultures). As Dean, Stargard provides leadership for the development and implementation of programs, initiatives, and projects across the division. Prior to coming to CCRI in 2022, Stargard served as Assistant Dean of Faculty Development and Teaching Excellence and Professor of Art History at Pine Manor College. While at Pine Manor, Stargard served in a variety of administrative roles, including NECHE Accreditation Liaison Officer. Stargard received his Ph.D. in Art History from Columbia University. Contact William Stargard.
Christine Turenius-Bell, Ph.D., Interim Dean, Business, Science, Technology and Mathematics
Christine Turenius-Bell serves as the Interim Dean of Business, Science, Technology and Mathematics (BSTM). She most recently served as Chair of the Biology Department. Since joining CCRI in 2017, she has been passionate about the college's academic program, actively participating in the NECHE Academic Program review, various assessment programs, and curriculum enhancements. Dr. Turenius-Bell has been instrumental in the development of new academic pathways, including the A.S. in Environment, Sustainability, & Management and several environmental biology certificates. She has supported faculty course design and curriculum development efforts by leading professional development workshops and also supported new department chairs in their transition from faculty roles by serving as a guest speaker in CCRI’s new chair development series. She currently serves as CCRI’s Institutional Representative for the RI-INBRE network, a role she has held since 2019. Dr. Turenius-Bell earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California, Riverside, and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a recipient of the 2023 RI-INBRE Curriculum Development Award and the 2020 NISOD Excellence Award. Contact Christine Turenius-Bell.
Beth O'Leary Anish, Ph.D., Dean of Learning Commons and Classroom Technology
Beth Anish is the inaugural Dean of Learning Commons and Classroom Technology (LCCT). The Learning Commons pulls together under one umbrella the Library and other academic support services at the college, including Academic and Career Pathways, the Tutoring and Writing Centers, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and Online Learning and Technology. In addition to leading the Learning Commons, Anish will provide a bridge from Academic Affairs to IT regarding classroom technology needs. She has been with the college since 2010, first as professor in the English department, and more recently as Director of Guided Pathways. Her work centers around removing barriers to student success, from students' first moment of contact with the college through reaching their transfer and/or career goals. With a master's degree in Higher Education Administration in addition to her Ph.D. in English, she once served Associate Director of Admissions at Worcester State University, in charge of transfer admissions and their Joint Admissions program. She also worked as an academic advisor at Quinsigamond Community College while serving as an adjunct faculty member there for close to a decade. Contact Beth O'Leary Anish.
Lindsey Gwozdz, Assistant Dean of Library
Lindsey Gwozdz joined CCRI in 2024 as the Assistant Dean of the Library, having spent 11 years prior as an Associate Professor and the Scholarly Communications Librarian at Roger Williams University. She also serves as the Fellow for Open Education at the New England Board of Higher Education, leading its open education initiatives and helping to expand the awareness of Open Educational Resources from a cost-savings tool to be more inclusive of pedagogies that create systemic changes for more representative and equitable information creation, evaluation, and access.
Lindsey has co-authored articles and book chapters that center social justice and pedagogical innovation with respect to open education, most recently a new framework for open education research that centers social justice: SCOPE of Open Education: A New Framework. Contact Lindsey Gwozdz.
Lauren Webb, Ph.D., Director of Academic Program Review and Accreditation
Lauren Webb is the Director of Academic Program Review and Accreditation at CCRI, where she facilitates the assessment and academic program review processes. Since joining CCRI in 2017, she has led several initiatives, including the launch of the P-Tech early college program, the implementation of several academic data platforms, the expansion of professional development opportunities for faculty focused on assessment, and the college's comprehensive evaluation for reaccreditation in 2024. Prior to her current role, Lauren was a research analyst at Eduventures, a higher education consulting and market research organization, and contributed to the growth of assessment in the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University. Lauren holds a BA in Sociology from Drew University and a PhD in Sociology from Northeastern University. Her doctoral research explored the evolution of the legitimacy of online learning in higher education. Contact Lauren Webb.
Leslie M. Killgore, Ph.D., Director of General Education and Professor of Sociology
Leslie Killgore is Director of General Education and Professor of Sociology. As Director, Leslie serves ex officio on the Faculty Senate General Education Committee, organizes general education assessment projects, and provides support to faculty on a variety of Blackboard and curriculum-related topics. She also represents Academic Affairs on the AI Institutional Coordinating Committee. Prior to her appointment as Director, Leslie taught courses in the Social Sciences department at CCRI and, previously, at Johnson and Wales University and College of the Holy Cross. Leslie received her Ph.D. in Sociology from Brown University in 2004, focusing on complex organizations and higher education. Contact Leslie Killgore.
Rachel A. Rogers, Ph.D., Director of Center for Teaching Excellence
Rachel A Rogers first joined the CCRI community in 2011 as a Psychology professor, and she currently serves as Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). CTE is the hub of faculty professional development opportunities at CCRI. Rogers focuses on faculty-led offerings that build a community of continuous development, championing high-impact and equitable teaching and learning practices. She strives to collaborate with any group on campus that wants to offer workshops or information to CCRI’s excellent faculty. Rogers holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with a Cognate in College Teaching from the University of New Hampshire. Contact Rachel Rogers.
Sarah Beth Gable, Assessment Coordinator
Sarah Beth Gable joined CCRI as Assessment Coordinator in 2024. Prior to this role, she held positions in Student Services and Institutional Research at Bradeis University including Assessment Coordinator and Program Manager for the Brandeis Undergradtuate Group Study (BUGS) program. She also contributed to data analytics and knowledge management projects for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She is the recipient of multiple teaching fellowships and has taught College Writing and History courses. She is currently finishing her dissertation on the Committees of Correspondence and Political Violence in rural Massachusetts during the American Revolution. Prior to her academic career, she worked in corporate sales and client management for BASF and Givaudan Fragrances Corportation. She is ABD at Brandeis (History), received her MSc. from the University of Edinburgh and BA from the Randolph-Macon Womans' College. Contact Sarah Beth Gable.
Karen Devine, Academic Affairs Coordinator
Karen Devine serves as Coordinator of Academic Affairs, where she works closely with Deans, faculty, and staff to streamline processes, maintain critical academic records, and support initiatives that strengthen student and faculty success. She has been with the Community College of Rhode Island since 2022 and brings more than 15 years of experience in higher education, including roles in admissions and financial aid, reflecting broad experience across academic and student affairs. Karen holds a BS in Professional Studies with a focus on organizational leadership from Rhode Island College and an AS in Paralegal Studies from the Community College of Rhode Island. Contact Karen Devine.
Dana Lemoine, Assistant to the Interim Vice President
As the assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dana is responsible for all aspects of administrative support for the VPAA. In addition to his regular duties, he also serves on the Commencement Planning Committee and is a resource for the academic deans, assistant deans, faculty, staff, and the general public. Dana is a graduate of CCRI with an associate's degree in General Studies. Contact Dana Lemoine
Reach Out!
Contact the Academic Affairs DepartmentThe Academic Affairs department builds upon a rich tradition of teaching excellence and high academic standards; our diverse faculty and staff are devoted to fostering creative and critical thinking skills across disciplines.