Top

Student Spotlight: Andrew Lee

Davila JackleyOct. 10, 2019

In his final year at the Community College of Rhode Island, Knight Campus Student Government President Andrew Lee has fully embraced his role as the “voice of the students” with a goal to make sure not only his administration runs as smoothly as possible, but that future campus presidents enjoy similar success.

“I want to come back in five years and see that there are a lot of clubs – a lot of members. I want to see double the amount of clubs,” said Lee, a Coventry native and Rhode Island Promise Plus scholar. “This year, my term is really about rehabilitation. I want to make sure next year, whoever is the president and whoever is in our cabinet, they know what to do and are prepared to do what they need to do.”

The first few weeks on the job have been a whirlwind; Lee also works as a waiter at Spain of Narragansett and is participating in this year’s College Leadership Rhode Island program, balancing life in and out of the classroom as he works toward completing his associate degree in Business Administration.

A member of the Joint Admissions Agreement (JAA) program, Lee will transfer to a four-year university next fall to continue his education. His “dream job,” as he calls it, is to one day work as an executive at an investment firm, a goal he says is a “little farfetched” for now, but certainly not unattainable – at least not for a bright, goal-oriented student like Lee whose desire to keep learning makes him a perfect fit for a leadership role in Student Government.

Since starting his presidency this fall, Lee has gained valuable experience handling assorted issues raised by individual students – from handicapped parking to accessibility on campus – while remaining steadfast toward accomplishing the goals he outlined during his campaign, a complex balancing act that has helped him appreciate the responsibility that comes with his new role.

“Student government, in general, is very good practice for time management,” Lee said. “You’re balancing courses and you’re balancing student government, and you’re balancing your work, but, within student government, you never know what’s going to happen. Everything is always different.”

Lee’s goal is to increase engagement on campus by promoting and assisting in the development of new clubs. Last year, he helped organize a ping-pong tournament in the Great Hall to collect donations for the Food Pantry and will do the same this year in addition to working on the launch of an LGBT community as part of his initiative to make sure all students feel welcome and have a voice on campus. Lee also plans to start a community garden where students can learn about agriculture while growing produce to donate to the Food Pantry or other organizations in Rhode Island. 

His desire to build a stronger sense of community at CCRI comes from his own struggles to get involved both in high school and during his first few weeks of college. Lee needed a push to realize his full potential. Joining Student Government lit the spark that eventually nudged him toward becoming Knight Campus President.

“I was just really quiet,” Lee said. “I was like everyone else. I just stuck with a small group of friends and just did my homework. After getting involved with Student Government last year, I talked to so many different people and realized you can gain something from every single person. I really liked that. It opened me up. It’s developed me because I’m able to talk to all different types of people.”

Lee is also taking on the responsibility of establishing a more concise set of guidelines and policies for future members of Student Government in order to streamline the event-planning process. This, he says, will make it easier for students or clubs to work with various vendors and departments on campus when organizing a specific fundraiser or meeting.

Lee continues to put his best foot forward as an advocate for his fellow students while keeping a watchful eye on the future.

“I get so many emails about real issues – random stuff that may be in the back of your mind, but can become a huge issue, so I realize it’s something I have to prioritize,” he said. “We have a lot of diversity on campus and students that represent a lot of groups, so we have a decent amount of events planned for this year that I think are important and vital to the community.”

Share this story

Latest News

CCRI and Rhode Island Energy partner to launch free utilities career exploration program

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Events
Jan.
1

English Language Studies (ELS) - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Driver Ed for Teens - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR Courses - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Maritime Electric Boat Programs - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Westerly Education Center (WEC)

Jan.
1

Fast Track to CNC Manufacturing - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Liston Campus

Jan.
1

Teacher Assistant - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Motorcycle Rider Education - Ongoing Seasonal

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Para-Pro Review Classes and Testing - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Bridge Program - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Liston Campus

Jan.
1

Global Wind Organization - Basic Safety Training - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Flanagan Campus