Alumnus, former student ambassador De La Cruz thriving thanks to JAA program
Oct. 9, 2019
As a first-generation college graduate who took advantage of all the resources available
to her on campus, CCRI alumnus Mileiry De La Cruz is now pursuing a career in a field
designed to help students just like her reach their full potential.
The Providence native discovered her passion for helping others while enrolled at
the Community College of Rhode Island. Under the guidance of the college’s Access
to Opportunity and Joint Admissions Agreement (JAA) programs, De La Cruz flourished
as a Student Ambassador, graduating in 2018 and transferring to Rhode Island College
the following fall. Now a member of the nationwide Ronald E. McNair Achievement Program
– aimed toward helping first-generation and low-income students transition to graduate
school – De La Cruz will pursue her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration
upon graduating from RIC next fall.
The JAA program at CCRI is what really laid the foundation for De La Cruz, who admits
she’d have been “pretty lost” trying to navigate through the college process on her
own.
When she arrived at CCRI three years ago, she had no career choice in mind until she
got involved on campus, both as a Student Ambassador and student worker in the college’s
Enrollment Services office. She initially wanted to pursue Diagnostic Medical Sonography,
but her work as an ambassador ultimately sparked her interest in higher education.
De La Cruz soon met with Vice President of Student Affairs Sara Enright and Advising
and Counseling Director Lisa Mallozzi, who introduced her to JAA.
The program simplified the transfer process for De La Cruz by helping her identify
what field of study she wanted to pursue at a four-year college and then guiding her
down the right path to ensure all of her credits would be transferrable. Students
who participate in JAA also receive counseling each semester from advisors at both
CCRI and their four-year college of choice in addition to a tuition discount by graduating
CCRI with a 3.0 grade point average or higher.
“JAA gives you peace of mind knowing your credits will transfer, keeping you on the
path to a bachelor’s degree. And, the advisors helped keep me you on the right track,”
De La Cruz said.
De La Cruz ultimately chose to major in Communications at RIC with a concentration
in Public and Professional Studies, which, she says, will help her once she gets into
the field because she will need to be able to communicate effectively with students.
“If it wasn’t for JAA and my advisors, I would not have chosen a Communications degree.
They helped me understand how it would help with my future goals. They were truly
invested in my education and my future. It was the extra boost I needed.”
De La Cruz is applying to several graduate programs to begin the next phase of her
journey with the ultimate goal of one day working in higher education, where she can
assist similar low-income, first-generation students adjust to college life.
De La Cruz is confident her background will help her relate to students who need help
along the way, specifically those who are afraid to ask for it or aren’t comfortable
stepping out of their comfort zone. She’s the perfect example of a student who has
continued to persist with her education, and remains appreciative of her time at CCRI,
which forged her path to success. “What I’m doing now is a reflection of the lessons
I learned and the people I met at CCRI, who always believed I could achieve success,”
De La Cruz said. “My future is built upon the strong foundation I found at CCRI.”
In addition to being a full-time student, De La Cruz also works part-time as a bilingual
customer service specialist at the Santander Bank Call Center in East Providence.
Share this story
Latest News
CCRI and Rhode Island Energy partner to launch free utilities career exploration program
April 17, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Energy are teaming up to offer a free exploratory program designed to give participants a window into the growing utilities industry.
Introduction to Utilities – free to anyone who meets eligibility requirements through funding from Rhode Island Energy – is a seven-hour introductory course that provides participants with foundational skills and knowledge to explore career pathways within the utilities sector, specifically with Rhode Island Energy.
Read More
Four CCRI Faculty Honored with NISOD Awards of Excellence
April 10, 2025
Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly announces that four distinguished faculty members have been recognized with the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards. The recipients, honored for their exceptional dedication to student success and academic excellence
Read More
CCRI Achieves Gold Status as Military Friendly® School
April 10, 2025
Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is proud to announce that it has been designated a Military Friendly® School for the fourth consecutive year, achieving Gold status for the first time during the 2025–2026 academic year. This prestigious recognition underscores CCRI's unwavering commitment to supporting military service members, veterans, and their families.
Read More
CCRI Celebrates First Cohort of MC3 Graduates, Expands Apprenticeship Readiness Program to Providence and Newport Campuses
April 08, 2025
WARWICK, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly celebrates the graduation of its first cohort of the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) Apprenticeship Readiness Program, marking a significant milestone in the college’s commitment to expanding career pathways in the skilled trades. The graduation ceremony took place on Thursday, April 3, at 3:30 p.m. at CCRI’s Warwick Campus.
Read More
CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic to Host Free Sealant and Fluoride Community Day for Children & Teens
March 31, 2025
The CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic’s upcoming Sealant and Fluoride Community Day on Friday, April 25, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Lincoln Campus will provide free dental sealants and fluoride treatments for children and teens ages 6 to 17. The event will be led by CCRI’s dental hygiene students, who will provide preventative care under the supervision of licensed professionals.
Read More
Lucas Johnson Named Rhode Island's 2025 New Century Transfer Scholar
March 17, 2025
Warwick, RI- Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) student and Warwick resident, Lucas Johnson, has been named a 2025 New Century Transfer Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship.
Read More
Governor McKee, CCRI Announces Launch of Associate Degree in Culinary Craftsmanship
March 07, 2025
NEWPORT, RI – Governor Dan McKee and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) today announced the launch of an associate in arts degree in Culinary Craftsmanship on CCRI’s Newport Campus in fall 2025. To support this initiative, Governor McKee is proposing $850,000 to create a Culinary and Hospitality hub at CCRI’s Newport Campus. The hub will serve as a state-of-the-art learning environment designed to meet the growing demand for skilled culinary professionals in Rhode Island’s workforce.
Read More
CCRI Metallica Scholars: Forging Paths to Success in Healthcare
March 05, 2025
For students like Esther Duran, of Providence, Wanda Wrobleski, of Cumberland, and Richard Garcia, of Providence, the journey to a fulfilling career in healthcare has been transformed thanks to the Community College of Rhode Island and the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Funded by a $75,000 grant from the legendary rock band’s foundation, All Within My Hands, this initiative provides financial support to students enrolled in CCRI’s Medical Assistant and Patient Support Specialist workforce training programs—helping to alleviate financial burdens and empower students to focus on their education and career goals.
Read More
CCRI Women's Basketball Team Punches Ticket to National Tournament
March 05, 2025
Warwick, RI- The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Women’s Basketball teamshowcased their dominance once again in the NJCAA Region XXI Conference, securing the regional title for the fourth year in a row and, punching their ticket to the National Tournament.
Read More
CCRI Players Present Stephen Sondheim's Assassins
March 04, 2025
WARWICK, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Players continue their 2024–25 season with a bold and thought-provoking production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, running March 6–9 at the Bobby Hackett Theatre on CCRI's Knight Campus.
Read More
CCRI Players Celebrate 50 Years of Excellence
February 14, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island's (CCRI) student-run theatre group, the CCRI Players, proudly marks half a century of participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 1, held this year at Central Connecticut State University. Over the five-day event, the Players distinguished themselves by securing 10 awards across various disciplines, including acting and properties design.
Read More
Black History Month
February 10, 2025
February marks Black History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans in this country; a time to acknowledge the lasting achievements of the people of the African diaspora who have shaped American history; and a time to walk alongside today’s Black leaders as they lead the work to create a truly anti-racist, inclusive community for all.
Read More
Fall 2024 Dean's List
January 08, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Fall 2024 Dean's List. Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher this semester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.
Read More
World Languages student and Rhode Island native wins fifth Emmy Award for film-editing technology
December 13, 2024
Cranston, RI, native Thomas Ohanian, a World Languages & Cultures student completing his independent study, recently won his fifth Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Award for co-inventing the Avid Multicamera System, a technology that has revolutionized the film-making and editing industry.
Read More
College's Division of Workforce Partnerships earns 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award
December 12, 2024
The Community College of Rhode Island’s Division of Workforce Partnerships has won the 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award for its work in developing free training programs to help upskill more than 50 employees through online trainings and in-person courses at PACE’s East Providence, RI, headquarters and CCRI’s Providence Campus.
Read More
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Westerly Education Center (WEC)
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Liston Campus
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Liston Campus
Jan.
1
January 1, 2025 All Day
Flanagan Campus