The Diploma That Started It All

Mileiry "Milly" De La Cruz '18

"18-year old me would've never imagined being where I am today."
— Mileiry "Milly" De La Cruz '18

On the wall of her office in Ballentine Hall at the University of Rhode Island's Kingston campus, Mileiry "Milly" De La Cruz '18 proudly displays the three diplomas she earned as a first-generation college graduate. The green and gold one means the most.

De La Cruz's associate degree from the Community College of Rhode Island is the foundation for her success in higher education and the reason she continues to pay it forward in her role as Assistant Director of Professional and Executive Business Education for URI's College of Business.

"It represents the blood, sweat, and tears I had to go through," she said. "That's the start of it all."

A 2018 graduate of CCRI, De La Cruz went on to earn her bachelor's degree in communication from Rhode Island College through the Joint Admissions Agreement (JAA) program before completing a master's degree in higher education at Providence College. She previously worked at Clark University, serving as Associate Director of Academic Support and Care and Associate Director of Operations and Communications for the Office of Student Accessibility Services, before joining URI in January 2025.

Her success in higher education has earned statewide and regional recognition. In 2024, she received the American Council on Education Women's Network Massachusetts Emerging Leader Award, recognizing an early-career leader for exceptional growth, contributions to higher education, and a commitment to advancing women. In December, she was honored with the Rhode Island Black Business Association's 2025 Emerging Leader Award for her leadership and contributions to advancing equity across Rhode Island. In June 2026, she was appointed to the CCRI Alumni Assembly, where she will help strengthen alumni engagement and support future generations of Knights.

The journey has been anything but predictable. A first-generation college graduate and the daughter of Dominican immigrants, De La Cruz admits that "18-year-old me would've never imagined being where I am today."

At CCRI, she discovered her passion for helping others. She saw many students like herself arrive on campus unsure of where to go, who to talk to, or how to navigate college. Seeing herself in those students inspired her to pursue a career in higher education.

Although naturally shy and uncertain of herself at the time, De La Cruz stepped outside her comfort zone by joining CCRI's Student Ambassador Program. She led campus tours, worked in the Office of Enrollment Services, and helped prospective students through the admissions process.

"The faculty and staff saw leadership potential in me that I didn't even know I had," she said.

After transferring seamlessly to Rhode Island College through the JAA program and earning her bachelor's degree in 2020, De La Cruz completed her master's degree two years later before returning to CCRI as Interim Donor Engagement Officer for the CCRI Foundation and Alumni Association. She later served as a Student Success Coach at Bristol Community College before joining Clark University, where she held multiple leadership roles supporting academic success and accessibility initiatives.

In 2024, she was inducted as an Emerging Squire as part of the Foundation and Alumni Association's Outstanding Alumni Awards, recognizing her professional achievements and commitment to serving others.

Today, De La Cruz is thriving at URI, where she promotes graduate programs, develops professional education opportunities, and builds partnerships between the university and the business community. Just as importantly, she mentors students, helping them build confidence, explore opportunities, and achieve their goals.

"One of the biggest accomplishments for me has been helping students find their path," she said. "They see me as a mentor. Whether it's reviewing a résumé, helping with a project, or simply encouraging them to believe in themselves, I find it incredibly rewarding to help them cross the finish line."

Her appointment to the CCRI Alumni Assembly is another opportunity to give back to the institution that helped launch her career. As an Assembly member, she will help strengthen connections between alumni and the college while supporting the next generation of CCRI students.

Looking back, De La Cruz encourages future students to trust themselves and embrace every opportunity that comes their way.

"Listen to your gut," she said. "CCRI opened so many doors for me. It gave me the confidence to believe in myself and showed me that I belonged in higher education. Everything I've accomplished started there."