CCRI 2023 News

On May 16 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, Tortolani will cross the commencement stage at 90 years young to receive her associate degree from the Community College of Rhode Island, ending an inspiring, life-changing journey that began rather unexpectedly more than a decade ago.

The Community College of Rhode Island Players close out the first half of their 2023–24 theater season this weekend with a production of Hand to God, an irreverent, dark comedy that touches upon themes of death, depression, religion, and the battle between good and evil through the lens of a crude sock puppet.

In celebration of Hispanic heritage and its Latinx students, the Community College of Rhode Island is hosting “A Celebration of Latinx Culture” Wednesday, November 29 from 4–5:45 pm at CCRI’s Liston Campus in Providence featuring artwork and special presentations from members of Rhode Island Latino Arts, the state’s leading nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to the promotion, advancement, development, and cultivation of Latino arts.

CCRI’s efforts to assist local businesses with energy savings is getting a major boost thanks to the Biden Administration selecting CCRI as one of seventeen new Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) nationwide.

Assistant Director of Brand Marketing & Advertising Becka Carroll, who recently earned her MPA from the University of Rhode Island, is working overtime as the Co-Director of the Buy Nothing Day Coat Exchange and a 2023–24 Women’s Policy Institute (WPI) Fellow. 

Governor Dan McKee and Speaker Joseph Shekarchi today joined CCRI’s Interim President Dr. Rosemary Costigan, Revolution Wind's joint-venture partners Ørsted and Eversource, along with Rhode Island state agencies and labor organizations, for a “topping-off” ceremony of the state’s first offshore wind safety training center at the Lincoln Campus.

CCRI’s own Digna Arias, a One-Stop Student Services Office Manager who has worked 13 years at the college, is one of many first-generation students who took advantage of CCRI’s vast resources while earning her associate degree in 2012.

The Community College of Rhode Island Players are teaming with the What Fray Was Here?: Social Justice Shakespeare theatre company and the Reverie Theatre Group this weekend for a free workshop presentation of Act 2 of I’m at Your Window, a hip-hop adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, at the Warwick Campus’ Bobby Hackett Theatre.

Through a partnership with Delta Dental of Rhode Island, CCRI's Dental Hygiene Clinic in Lincoln receives much-needed renovations to support a 25-percent increase in the number of dental hygiene students, thereby addressing the state's workforce needs.

Eleven juniors from North Kingstown High School (NKHS) are taking advantage of a unique learning opportunity through the Community College of Rhode Island’s latest High School Enrichment Dual-Enrollment initiative.

A recent nominee for the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Adult Educator of the Year Award, CCRI’s Benjamin Miller is an outstanding leader and advocate for adults looking to reimagine the education experience.

The Community College of Rhode Island has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) through academic year 2028, completing the second step of a two-step accreditation process by the National Security Agency (NSA) that began in March.

Communication and Media Assistant Professor Brianna Cox has been selected as a recipient of the Alex Trebek Legacy Fellowship for the Television Academy Foundation’s 2023 Media Educators Conference in Hollywood later this month.

Being visually impaired has presented myriad challenges for Community College of Rhode Island Theater major Jalen Rodriguez, but limitations haven’t stood in the way of the 22-year-old Woonsocket, RI, native pursuing a career in performing arts – both on and off stage ­– while one day hoping to become an advocate for those following in his footsteps. 

On a day that has become synonymous with the American gay rights movement, the CCRI Players launch their 2023–24 theatre season with a production of The Laramie Project, a revealing look at the reaction to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard.

CCRI's new Director of Athletics, Recreation and Wellness is looking to foster a culture of respect, communication, inclusion and competitiveness, while nurturing wellness and fitness programs that will support life-long health practices at the college.

Three Community College of Rhode Island professors earned 2023 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards, which recognize individuals doing extraordinary work on their campuses. This marks the second year in a row the college has had three different professors earn this distinction.

After fueling her passion for theater at the Community College of Rhode Island, Class of 2023 graduate Mireya Hoffens will continue to pursue her dream this year as one of three emerging artists to join the 2023–24 Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theater’s Gamm Fellowship Program.

The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) today joined Governor Dan McKee, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, Majority Leader Christopher Blazejewski, and Bally’s Corporation Chairman Soo Kim to announce a $5 million donation to CCRI to develop and launch new programming in the gaming, hospitality, and security industries and to support student scholarships.

The college's Foundation Board and Alumni Association Board recently elected two new officers to key leadership positions on CCRI’s Alumni Association; Jeffrey C. Wright Jr. is the new Alumni Association President and Malida Khim is the Alumni Diversity Council Chair.

CCRI student Kat Taylor attended Opening Day last month at the Warwick Campus and shares her experience interacting with Interim President Rosemary Costigan from the best seat in the house – front row center in the Great Hall – as the college's new leader addressed faculty and staff for the first time.

Two Community College of Rhode Island theater students are wrapping up a four-month paid internship at the Spectrum Theater Ensemble, a Providence-based theatre company showcasing neurodiverse artists.

Elissa Parente, 19, of Cranston and Jalen Rodriguez, 22, of Woonsocket, who is blind, have handled a variety of roles with STE, including marketing, publicity, social media, and even performing on stage during STE’s 4th Annual Neurodiversity New Play Festival (NNPF) this weekend in Providence.

When she first stepped foot on campus of the then Rhode Island Junior College in 1976, Dr. Rosemary A. Costigan never envisioned she’d one day serve as president of her alma mater.

Nearly five decades later, Dr. Costigan begins her tenure Friday, September 1, as Interim President of the present-day Community College of Rhode Island, becoming the first alumnus to serve in that capacity.

With the start of the fall semester a few weeks away, the Community College of Rhode Island is taking appointments for an array of free dental hygiene services at its Dental Hygiene Clinic located at the Lincoln campus.

The Dental Hygiene Clinic is a learning environment for dental hygiene students during each academic year where patients can schedule appointments Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7:30 am – 5:30 pm, to receive free treatment from students under the supervision of a licensed dentist and dental hygienist. Patients are welcome for dental hygiene treatments every 12 months after initial completion.

The CCRI Players present Antony & Cleopatra, the epic love story that moved the events of ancient empire, as part of CCRI’s Summer Repertory program at the Bobby Hackett Theatre in Warwick on August 3 – 6.

CCRI welcomed Governor Dan McKee, Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong, and Rhode Island Department of Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green to its Newport Campus to learn more about the Newport Public Schools’ Cyber Camp to promote learning beyond the formal school day and beyond the traditional 180-day school year.

CCRI Business and Professional Studies Department Chair and Associate Professor Maria Coclin has been named a regional recipient of the 2023 Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Teaching Excellence Award.

The ACBSP recognizes individuals each year who exemplify teaching excellence in the classroom.

Community College of Rhode Island Computer Studies Assistant Professor and Cybersecurity Program Director Michael Kelly received a 2023 Center of Academic Excellence Community of Practice in Cyber Defense (CAE Cop-CD) Community Service Recognition Award at this year’s CAE in Cybersecurity Symposium for his outstanding contributions to the cybersecurity community.

Kelly – a 2019 recipient of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award – has led efforts to increase enrollment and add new programs to the college’s Computer Studies department, securing CCRI’s reputation as a national leader in Cybersecurity education.

CCRI students and employees no longer need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of enrollment or employment, effective July 1, 2023. This means that students attending Summer 2023 and Fall 2023 semesters will not have a vaccination requirement.

Today we meet Carlin Weirick, one of the newest members of the CCRI community whose unexpected journey through the Human Resources field has led her to a rewarded career as a recruiter with a keen eye for talent.

With a diverse background in several fields, she has brought her exceptional people skills and passion for helping others to CCRI, beginning her latest journey in May as the college's new Talent Acquisition & Diversity Recruiting Manager for the Department of Institutional Equity & Human Resources.

The Community College of Rhode Island’s Division of Workforce Partnerships is currently accepting applicants for the second cohort of its Medication Aide/Tech training for licensed Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) offered at the Newport County Campus.

Classes begin Thursday, June 22. The duration of the program is 48 hours over the course of eight weeks, or two three-hour sessions per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays with participants given the option to choose 9 am–12 pm or 1–4 pm.

With an increasing need for qualified individuals to work in Rhode Island’s insurance field, the Community College of Rhode Island’s Division of Workforce Partnerships and the Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island (IIARI) are partnering to relaunch a free workforce training program in the fall for those interested in a career in the insurance industry.

The Rhode Island Property and Casualty Insurance certification course is a hybrid 60-hour course that covers major topics individuals need to be employed in the insurance industry, including the various types of insurance policies, policy riders and provisions, third party coverage, commercial crimes, and licensing laws.

The Community College of Rhode Island’s partnership with Polaris MEP and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) was selected as the 2022 recipient of the RIDOC's Teamwork Award.

This annual award honors an interdisciplinary team that accomplished a specific goal or project that contributed to the Department of Corrections’ mission.

The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Spring 2023 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.

Amidst a sea of decorative caps, multi-colored stoles, and smiling faces basking in the glow of their academic achievement, the Community College of Rhode Island capped the 2022–23 academic year with its 58th commencement ceremony at The Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence.

Several hundred graduates from the Class of 2023 – along with family and friends – gathered at The AMP to celebrate in what will be the final commencement under the leadership of CCRI President Meghan Hughes, who is leaving the college at the beginning of September.

Nine students from North Providence High School and 60 from various Providence Public Schools were honored Tuesday at a special Recognition Ceremony at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Providence Campus for completing two of the college’s beneficial dual-enrollment programs.

The Community College of Rhode Island Dental Hygiene Program recognized its graduating class of future dental hygienists and assistants at a Pinning Ceremony on Monday, more than half of whom were recipients of the inaugural Delta Dental of Rhode Island Scholarship.

A three-year initiative launched this academic year to address an emerging nationwide shortage of professional dental hygienists, the Delta Dental of Rhode Island Scholarship program provides financial support to students in CCRI’s Dental Hygiene Program who commit to working in Rhode Island for at least one year after graduation. Twelve of the 21 members of CCRI’s graduating class this year were recipients of the scholarship.

After reviving the college’s dormant student newspaper and overcoming hurdles in and out of the classroom, Community College of Rhode Island Class of 2023 graduate Nina Fauci is more than ready for the next step in journey.

The 20-year-old Fauci; a Tiverton, RI, resident; Rhode Island Promise scholar, and departing Editor-in-Chief of The Unfiltered Lens; graduates Thursday with her associate degree in General Studies. A creative writing and poetry enthusiast who one day dreams of publishing her own work, Fauci will transfer to Emerson University in the fall to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Writing, Literature, and Publishing.

The Community College of Rhode Island gave William Soly everything he could ask for in addition to the support he never knew he needed.

Soly, a Rhode Island Promise scholar, first-generation college graduate, and this year’s student speaker at the CCRI’s 58th commencement ceremony graduates Thursday with his associate degree in General Studies with a concentration in Education, Government, & Human Services. 

The Community College of Rhode Island is where students of all ages and backgrounds come to find a clear path to a high-quality education.

Few travel the road faster or make a greater impact than Ana Duarte Spencer.

A chance encounter with one of America’s most famous civil rights activists led Community College of Rhode Island first-generation Class of 2023 graduate Shane Lee down an unexpected career path.

Now the 36-year-old Providence, RI, native and married father of five is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and continue teaching the philosophies that have inspired countless others.

The Community College of Rhode Island’s Collegiate DECA chapter capped another strong academic year at the 2023 International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando with several team and individual awards in addition to Business and Professional Studies Professor Joanne Orabone winning another award for her service to Collegiate DECA.

The ICDC provides members the chance to network with representatives from National DECA’s corporate sponsors in career exhibits. Students also engage and network with business professionals through the Professional Development Series, with presentations focusing on topics such as personal branding, money matters, sustainability, mastering motivation, and dressing for success, which provide DECA members with an opportunity to gain real-world insight from many business and industry professionals.

CCRI remains the state’s only public associate degree-registered nursing program with seamless options to become a certified nursing assistant and licensed practical nurse, and one of the many benefits of enrolling at the college to pursue a nursing degree is the opportunity to join CCRI's Gamma Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society.

Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society aims to recognize the academic excellence of associate degree nursing students and encourage students to pursue advanced nursing degrees. To be eligible, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average, with at least a B in all nursing classes and demonstrate conduct on campus and in the clinical areas that reflects integrity and professionalism.

The CCRI Players close out the Spring 2023 semester with a production of Yellowman, a 2002 Pulitzer Prize in Drama finalist written by actress, poet and playwright Dael Orlandersmith.

Yellowman premiers tonight at 7:30 at the Providence Campus Auditorium with additional shows Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 2 and 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2. Tickets are available online or at the auditorium box office and are priced at $12 for general admission and $19 for students, employees, and seniors.

To celebrate #OTmonth at CCRI, we're profiling several members of our OTA staff who've been inspired professionally by their work in this industry and who continue to inspire students looking to join the OTA workforce.

Today, we check in with Assistant Professor and Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director Christine Lynch, who joined the college mid-pandemic in December of 2020 and has now been a part of our community for two and a half years.

April is Occupational Therapy Month — an excellent opportunity to share the value of occupational therapy. 

Occupational Therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them live independently and meet goals to develop, recover, improve, and maintain skills needed for daily living and working. 

Warwick, RI – Community College of Rhode Island Business and Professional Studies Professor John “Jack” Renza Jr. has been chosen to receive the Rhode Island Society of CPAs and RI Business Forum (RISCPA) inaugural Industry Legends Award for his unprecedented contributions toward strengthening the CPA profession, higher education, and Rhode Island’s business climate.

Renza, of Hope, RI, celebrates his 48th year of teaching Accounting at CCRI in December and is one of four to receive the Society’s Industry Legends Award at the RISCPA’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Reception on Thursday, April 20 at 6 pm at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, RI. He joins Ernie Almonte, William (Bill) Pirolli, and Alan Litwin as this year’s recipients.

The Community College of Rhode Island is hosting its second annual Cybersecurity Night on Tuesday, April 18 at its Warwick campus featuring a keynote address from Rhode Island State Senator and Chair of the Senate Finance Committee Louis DiPalma.

Hosted by the college’s Computer Studies and Information Processing department, Cybersecurity Night is an opportunity for current and prospective students to learn about the college’s Cybersecurity associate degree and Cyber Defense Path from current faculty members in addition to meeting representatives from industry partners and four-year universities. Members of the college’s student-led Cybersecurity Club and Career Services department will also be in attendance.

Community College of Rhode Island President Meghan Hughes today announced that for the first time in its 59-year history the college has earned designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). The designation, certified by Excelencia in Education, acknowledges colleges and universities with a student population that is at least 25% Hispanic.

CCRI is one of only two institutions of higher education in Rhode Island to earn HSI status for the 2021-22 academic year, joining College Unbound.

CCRI’s Class of 2023 Dental Hygiene students are hosting a free dental sealant and fluoride treatment clinic for children ages 6–17 as their semester community project at the college’s Lincoln Campus.

The event, named “Get in the Groove,” is scheduled for Wednesday, May 3 from 3–5 pm at the college’s Flanagan Campus in Lincoln, RI. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Scheduling for a treatment is by appointment only by calling 401-333-7330. Each patient’s parent or guardian must sign a HIPPA and treatment consent form. Children attending the free clinic will receive sealants on qualifying teeth.

CCRI’s Dental Hygiene program seeks to prepare students as dental hygienists who can competently and safely perform dental hygiene procedures; display the personal qualities of integrity, responsibility and reliability; function as active members of the dental care team; and are committed to professional development through life-long learning.

The name of the event, “Get in the Groove,” is based on the surface area of the back teeth – tiny grooves known as fissures – that are susceptible to tooth decay because of how hard they are to clean and how often food and bacteria gets stuck in between; grooves are often narrower than a single toothbrush bristle, making them especially difficult for children to clean.

“Dental sealants are an effective preventive measure against tooth decay, and we are excited to offer this service to those who may not have access to regular dental care,” said Ashley Soares, a CCRI dental hygiene student and Senior Class Officer for the Dental Hygiene Program.

“We collectively came up with ‘Get in the Groove’ because the most common place to have tooth decay for children is within the grooves, pits, and fissures of the molars. Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases, affecting millions of children every year. Untreated tooth decay can cause pain, infection, and can even lead to more serious health problems. Moreover, it can significantly affect a child’s quality of life, causing difficulty in eating, sleeping, and concentrating in school. The good news is that tooth decay is preventable and one of the most effective preventive measures is dental sealant.”

The treatments provided at the clinic target those specific grooves. Sealants are a thin, protective shield applied to the grooved and pitted areas of the teeth that prevent cavities and tooth decay by blocking out germs and food. Fluoride treatments also prevent tooth decay and promote remineralization, which helps repair early decay. In most fluoride treatments, a clear gel or foam is painted directly onto the teeth.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 11 have untreated cavities and more than half (52 percent) have had a cavity in their primary (baby) teeth.

“The CCRI Dental Hygiene Program provides educational opportunities that empower students to become competent dental hygienists who provide quality comprehensive care,” said CCRI Dental Hygiene Program Director Janice Schmitz, CDA, RDH, DHSc. “We prepare our graduates to meet the future oral health needs of the community and promote lifelong learning and community service. One way we do this is through our Community Day, where our senior students plan, implement, and evaluate the results of a community dental health clinic. This year’s ‘Get in the Groove’ sealant clinic will meet the objectives of our program by giving our students the opportunity to plan and implement a service learning project, as well as meeting the needs of our community by providing this important preventative treatment.”

As part of CCRI’s Dental Hygiene Program, the college runs a dental hygiene clinic, a classroom/learning environment located at the Flanagan Campus, for student dental hygienists that provides free dental services to the community between September and May.

Community College of Rhode Island sophomore and West Warwick, RI, native Dakota Hunter has been named a 2023 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar and will receive a $1,250 scholarship.

A Rhode Island Promise scholar and member of CCRI’s Phi Theta Kappa – the international honor society for two-year colleges – Pi Omicron chapter, Hunter graduates in May with his Associate Degree in General Studies with a concentration in Cellular & Molecular Biology.

He will transfer to the University of Rhode Island in the fall through CCRI’s Joint Admissions Agreement (JAA) program to study Neuroscience and Biochemistry and eventually plans to apply to medical school in hopes of working in Pediatrics, inspired by his recent volunteer work for the past year and a half with Inspiring Minds, a non-profit organization that works with Providence Public Schools to help students gain the education skills and self-esteem they need to become successful learners and productive members of the community.

“Winning the scholarship is an awesome feeling,” said Hunter, 19, the oldest of three in his family. “I was a bit nervous because I had applied in December and didn’t hear anything for a while, so I didn’t think I won, but when I got the news, it definitely helped my week get a lot better.”

Students are nominated for the Coca-Cola Academic Team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.

Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies and will also be recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, scheduled from April 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio.

As the self-described “art kid” growing up, Hunter attended Ponaganset High School through its Career and Technical Education (CTE) program ­– which prepares students for college and careers in high-demand and high-wage labor markets – and enrolled at CCRI in Fall 2021 to pursue a career in Graphic Design. He interned at Hasbro for a short while until the start of the pandemic, which “threw everything off the rails.” Computer Science was his next pursuit. A year later, he joined PTK and “started to fall in love” with Biology and Chemistry. After considering a career in Neuroscience, Hunter zeroed in on Pediatrics through his work with kindergarten students at Inspiring Minds.

“The program connects people from the community to children in the classroom and the students get a lot of one-on-one time,” Hunter said. “We work with a lot of kids who’ve never had any schooling before and it’s truly rewarded. I can see myself doing this for a long time.”

The Community College of Rhode Island’s student-run theater group, the CCRI Players, and the college’s Office of Student Life are teaming with Spectrum Theatre Ensemble (STE), a company of neurodiverse theatre artists based in Providence, RI, to host a free series of play readings by neurodivergent artists at the college’s Warwick Campus.

The readings are scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, March 24 at 7 pm at the Bobby Hackett Theatre. STE is sponsoring the event in hopes of showing those with neurodivergence the “power of seeing oneself on stage and how it can enhance one's view of self and neurodivergent identity.” The event includes three play readings and a monologue featuring 10 neurodivergent artists, many of whom are BIPOC.

Neurodivergence is the term for when someone's brain processes, learns, and/or behaves differently from what is considered “typical.” The term includes a variety of conditions, including, but not limited to: autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), traumatic brain injuries, dyslexia/dyscalculia, epilepsy, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Tourette syndrome, Down syndrome, bipolar disorder, and various others. 

According to Clay Martin, the STE’s Founding Artistic Director, the collaboration with CCRI came about when the college’s Theatre Program Director and Professor Ted Clement reached out to bring the neurodivergence workshop to CCRI to “uplift, include, and highlight neurodivergent artists and audiences through live theatre.”

Neurodivergent adults, Martin said, are among the most underemployed segments of the adult population across every age and race. According to studies, the unemployment rate for neurodivergent adults is typically between 30 and 40 percent, which is three times the rate for people with disabilities, and eight times the rate for people without disabilities.

“They exist everywhere,” Martin said. “Through STE, we have created opportunities for people who work with us to work independently elsewhere and secure employment outside of our organization.

“Ted [Clement] is an amazing individual. We spoke to him about ways that this event can impact the college community and hopefully integrate our program with CCRI while helping the Theater Department work further with disability programs on campus, which I think is a relationship that benefits everyone.”

Founded by Martin in 2017, STE is a company of neurodiverse theatre artists with the common belief that theatre provides a unique, collaborative venue for the understanding and inclusion of all, and that society and culture is stronger for it. STE produces “relevant and high-quality productions” in addition to leading initiatives and sensory-friendly consulting with other organizations within the theatre industry and beyond.

Last year, STE produced two in-house performances and plans to expand to six in 2023. Noted Martin, “we never intended to be a strictly production-based theater company, as we devote a lot of our time to accessibility and inclusivity work.”

Dr. Meghan Hughes, President of the Community College of Rhode Island since 2016, has announced today that she will step down from her position, effective August 31, 2023.

As the fifth president of CCRI, and the first female president, Dr. Hughes is recognized as a higher education visionary who led the transformation at the community college with an unwavering focus on student success and a commitment to providing Rhode Islanders with an outstanding education that leads to strong learning outcomes, successful degree attainment, and robust labor market opportunities. Dr. Hughes has placed closing equity performance gaps at the center of her work. Under her leadership, the college achieved the highest graduation rates in more than 20 years, outpacing national two-and three-year graduation rates, and was named the 2019 two-year college of the year by Education Dive magazine.

Dr. Hughes fiercely advocated for the creation of a free college tuition program at CCRI, which has become a model for similar programs across the country. Since the program launched in 2017, the RI Promise Scholarship program resulted in dramatic improvements in enrollment and graduation rates for students, in particular for low income students and students of color. 

Led by Dr. Hughes, CCRI’s partnerships with government and industry have transformed the labor market landscape through collaborative building of in-demand credentials that allow Rhode Islanders to receive the training needed to compete in today’s economy and provide a pipeline of qualified employees for businesses. CCRI’s Division of Workforce Partnerships trains more than 4,000 Rhode Island residents annually in short-term, labor-market driven credentials and is the leading educational partner for General Dynamics Electric Boat for its submarine building facilities in New London, CT and Quonset, RI. CCRI is also poised to launch the state’s first GWO training program in support of multiple offshore wind farms expected to be constructed in the coming years. 

Creating an inclusive, diverse and anti-racist college community has been a leading priority for Dr. Hughes. During her tenure, the college created the first ever Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Organizational Development and reformed how the college attracts, hires, and retains a diverse talent of faculty and staff.

Dr. Hughes will complete her service at CCRI after successfully leading the College through the challenges of the pandemic and building a strong leadership team that will continue to position the college for future success in providing thousands of Rhode Islanders access to an affordable, high-quality education.

“Serving as CCRI’s president has been the greatest professional honor of my lifetime, and I am profoundly grateful to all the faculty, staff, students, and broader Rhode Island community members who have taught me so much and who continue to inspire me daily,” said Dr. Hughes. “I believe the time is right to transition the college to new presidential leadership by summer’s end as CCRI is strong and continuing to grow ever stronger. We have largely emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, our enrollment continues to recover each semester, and we are laser focused on supporting strong student learning outcomes. Our commitment to creating equitable access and delivering outstanding credentials that lead to quality employment and seamless transfer is powerfully advanced every day across all four campuses, and I have full confidence in our faculty, staff, and administrators to continue advancing this work.

“President Hughes has been a bold, visionary leader at CCRI,” said Governor Dan McKee. “From making community college more accessible, to increasing graduation rates, and working together to create innovative job training partnerships in key sectors like offshore wind, President Hughes has been a true partner on our team and a key part of our Administration's work to strengthen our state's higher education ecosystem."

"I speak on behalf of the entire Council on Postsecondary Education when I say how much we will miss Dr. Hughes’ passion and commitment to the CCRI community,” said David Caprio, Esq., Chair of the Council on Postsecondary Education. "Her transformational leadership has profoundly impacted countless lives and elevated CCRI to one of the best community colleges in the nation."

“We wish Meghan Hughes all the best in her future endeavors, and we are certain she will be successful based on her achievements while serving Rhode Islanders as the president of the Community College of Rhode Island,” said Shannon Gilkey, Ed.D., Rhode Island’s Commissioner of Postsecondary Education. “On behalf of the Council on Postsecondary Education, I thank Dr. Hughes for her years of valued service to public higher education in our state and share our deep appreciation for her leadership. Dr. Hughes has been a relentless champion of CCRI and it showed in everything she did as president. Immediately, the council will begin the process to fill the vacancy at the college’s helm and will seek candidates with high caliber academic and institutional management experience who will prepare Rhode Islanders with high quality degrees and certifications required to be successful in the modern economy.”

Dr. Hughes chairs the Board of Directors for the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Foundation and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. In addition, she serves as a member on the Council on Competitiveness, the College Board’s Community College Advisory Panel, Congressman David Cicilline’s Women’s Advisory Council, and the Rhode Island Commodores.

Dr. Hughes is an Aspen Institute Fellow for Community College Excellence. She was presented with the “Trailblazer in Education” award in 2018 at the Realizing Inspiration & Sustaining Excellence Women’s Leadership Conference. Hughes was recognized by the Latino Public Radio Foundation with its Foundation Builder Award in 2016 and by the Rhode Island Foundation with its Community Leader award in 2015. In 2014, U.S. Rep. David Cicilline named Hughes an Outstanding Woman of the Year.

The Council on Postsecondary Education is expected to announce plans for an interim president by the April 19 meeting. 

Meet Elaine Sorto-Justiniano, a first-generation Rhode Island Promise Scholar from Providence, RI; a soon-to-be Class of 2023 graduate; and the college's Student Government Director of Student Relations.

In her director's role, Elaine, 19, serves as the Student Representative on the Student and College Success committee, one of nine standing communities that falls under the leadership of CCRI's Faculty Senate

Community College of Rhode Island sophomore and Providence, RI, resident Precious Lijofi has been named a 2023 New Century Transfer Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Lijofi is a member of CCRI’s Phi Theta Kappa – the international honor society for two-year colleges – Pi Omicron chapter, a Rhode Island Promise scholar, and a General Studies major with a concentration in Cellular & Molecular Biology. She is also a General Chemistry and Math tutor for CCRI’s Student Success Center.

For the second time in the program’s history, our Cybersecurity program has earned designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) through academic year 2028 by the National Security Agency (NSA).

CAE-CD designation reflects the college’s ability to meet the increasing demands of contributing to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure and addressing the critical shortage of professionals with cybersecurity skills by promoting higher education and research in addition to providing the workforce with a pipeline of qualified cybersecurity professionals.

CAE-CD designation is the first in a two-step designation process for the college’s Cybersecurity program. CCRI is also in the process of earning its National Center of Academic Excellent Two-Year Education designation, which focuses on the college’s internal and external outreach – from other college departments to statewide outreach – in regard to Cybersecurity and limiting cyber threats. Two-Year Education designation is expected to be announced in June.

The college earned both designations in 2018. All institutions or programs must apply for reevaluation every five academic years to maintain designation. According to the NSA, “a highly-skilled cybersecurity workforce is a strategic national security advantage.”

The Community College of Rhode Island has been named a 2023-24 Military Friendly® School for the second year in a row by VIQTORY, a data-driven military company that helps connect the military community to civilian employment.

Military Friendly® is the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefit for the military community. The Military Friendly® ratings program began in 2003 as an advocacy vehicle to encourage civilian organizations to invest in programs to recruit, retain, and advance veterans as employees, entrepreneurs, and students.

In our newest segment, "Getting To Know," we profile recent hires at CCRI and provide an in-depth look at their role at the college, their background prior to joining our community, and how their work reflects CCRI's guiding principles. Email [email protected];to nominate a co-worker. 

In early December, Providence, RI, native Taiwo Adefiyiju joined the CCRI community as our new Dean of Students with the goal of providing a vibrant and engaging college and campus experience for our entire student body.

In response to labor market needs, the Community College of Rhode Island was recently approved by the Council on Postsecondary Education to add four new certificate and degree programs to its expansive list of academic programming.

“By adding these programs to the curricula, CCRI is s enhancing the college’s ability to meet the educational needs of our students and building a pipeline of highly trained and capable employees for Rhode Island employers,” said Meghan Hughes, PhD, president of CCRI. “I am incredibly grateful to our Deans and Chairs for their continual work to ensure we are providing our students with the very best education possible.”

“These new programs are essential as we continue to provide Rhode Islanders with a high-quality education in high-demand fields,” said Rosemary A. Costigan, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Our Deans and Chairs are consistently in tune with the state’s labor needs and their relationships with our industry partners allow us to deliver exceptional educational opportunities for students both in the classroom and in the field. I am also grateful for our faculty for their diligent work in developing the curricula for each program.”

Our CCRI faculty and staff are a diverse group with many fascinating hobbies and interests that keep them busy during their free time off campus. Welcome to "Off The Cuff," where we profile a member of our CCRI family to find out what makes them tick. Hopefully, their stories inspire others and help us develop new connections and friendships with our CCRI colleagues.

On Thursday, the DEI Council hosts its first event of the year, a screening of the Smithsonian film Warrior Women, a documentary about a forgotten female army that inspired Marvel’s Black Panther’s Wakandan female warriors, the Dora Milaje.

With an increasing need for qualified individuals to work in the insurance field in Rhode Island, CCRI’s Division of Workforce Partnerships and the Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island have partnered to develop and offer a workforce training program for those interested in a career in the insurance industry.

The Rhode Island Property and Casualty Insurance certification course is a 60-hour, online course that covers major topics individuals need to be employed in the insurance industry, including the various types of insurance policies, policy riders and provisions, third party coverage, commercial crimes, and licensing laws. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will sit for the RI Property and Casualty exam and will receive job placement assistance with Rhode Island-based insurance companies. Graduates of the course may also be eligible for academic credit.

Several members of the Community College of Rhode Island’s student-run theatre group, the CCRI Players, earned awards at this year’s Region 1 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF).

The KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing, and design. Students are selected to compete in the KCACTF based on nominations stemming for their performances during the calendar year. CCRI belongs to Region 1, which also includes schools from northeast New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

The 2022 KCACTF awards recognize performances and technical theatre work from the Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 semesters, which included both virtual and in-person productions for the Players, who officially returned to in-person theatre in October for the first time since February of 2020.

Among the eight individual and group award winners from CCRI at this year’s festival, Ednilson Tavares of Pawtucket, RI, and Shelby Cray of Bristol, RI, were nominated for the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship while Lauren Kieler of Stonington, CT, earned three awards in addition to being nominated for the KCACTF’s Design, Technology, and Management Exposition.

Kieler earned the 2022 KCACTF Merit Award for Properties Design Properties for the Players’ production of I And You; the Society of Properties Artisan Managers (SPAM) Award, which recognizes students for their properties and craft design; and the Heart of the Art Award presented annually to a student who communicates a genuine passion and love the artistic endeavors.

Cray, who starred as Clare in the Players’ production of Something Cloudy, Something Clear, was a finalist for this year’s regional acting award. She was also cast as a reader in the KCACTF National Playwriting Program (NPP) production of Jimmy’s Rib by composer and performer Jay Eddy.

Tavares, a semifinalist for the acting scholarship, starred as Lank in the Players’ production of Detroit ’67, and performed in the staged reading of the NPP’s award-winning play Closing Costs on 6101 Nyanza Park Drive APT D6 Flushing, NY 11351. Tavares also shared the 2022 KCACTF Merit Award for Ensemble Work awarded to the entire cast of Detroit ’67.

“I’m extremely proud of these students,” said Adjunct Theatre Professor and Faculty Mentor Anthony Goes. “This festival and the deadlines it presented were challenging, but our students rose to the occasion and remained on track. Their preparation and hard work paid off – another solid year for the CCRI Players.”

Other winners include:

• Noreliman Katan of Warwick, RI, who earned a Merit Award for Properties Management in Something Cloudy, Something Clear
• Ira Neff of Providence, RI, who earned a Merit Award for Sound Design in Something Cloudy, Something Clear
• Haley Ahlborg of North Kingstown, RI, who earned a Merit Award for Lighting Design in I And You
• Kaisey Caputo of West Warwick, RI, who earned a Merit Award for Sound Design in I And You

The KCACTF is a national theater program benefitting more than 18,000 students annually from colleges and universities across the country. The goal is to encourage, recognize, and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theater programs while providing opportunities for participants to develop their theater skills.

Community College of Rhode Island Performing Arts Professor and Theatre Program Coordinator Ted Clement of Cranston, RI, received this year’s prestigious Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 1 Medallion for his decade-long service to the KCACTF and his more than 25 years’ worth of experience as a theater student, artist, mentor, and educator.

The KCACTF is a national theater program involving more than 18,000 students annually from colleges and universities across the country, culminating each year in a week-long conference for participating students. The participating colleges represent eight regions, with CCRI belonging to Region 1, which also includes schools from northeast New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Each year, the eight KCACTF regions honor individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and who have significantly dedicated their time, artistry, and enthusiasm to the development of the annual festival. Most importantly, recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to the values and goals of the KCACTF and to excellence in educational theatre. The Kennedy Center Medallion is the most prestigious regional award given by the KCACTF and is considered one of the great honors in theatre education.

Clement’s connection to the KCACTF spans more than two decades; he first attended the festival in 1997 as a student at CCRI and credits the relationships built that year with theater professionals and fellow students with influencing his decision to transfer to Salem State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. He went on to receive his Master of Fine Arts in Acting at the New School for Drama in New York City.

Over the past decade, Clement has continued to contribute to the KCACTF, starting first as Hospitality Host before working his way up to Respondents Chair, a role in which he coordinated the assignment of respondents to participating KCACTF schools across Region 1 to attend shows and nominate performers for the annual festival. He spent the final six years of his tenure with the KCACTF as Regional Co-Vice Chair and eventually Co-Chair, where he helped shape organizational policies, implemented a job fair for theatre hopefuls, and worked to increase the KCACTF’s diversity and inclusion rates. Clement also served as the master of ceremonies for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Showcase at the 50th Annual KCACTF National Festival in 2019 and ultimately became a policy writer for the national group, most notably writing the organization’s DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) statement. He continues to contribute to the KCACTF in an advisory role.

“To receive the Medallion is a tremendous honor,” Clement said. “I had the opportunity to attend the festival five times as a student, so when I became a professor, I wanted to be involved in the festival right away.

“KCACTF provides opportunities for students develop their craft and to find their way into the theatre industry. It’s an illuminating, empowering experience to attend a conference full of your colleagues and thousands of students building their careers. I’ve learned so many different approaches to my craft and developed myself professionally as a teaching artist.

“I certainly was motivated to be as involved as I was because of the profound experience I had as a student, and I’ve found it to be truly rewarding. It was an honor to be able to help shape the festival for six years and see those students perform on the Kennedy Center stage.”

In addition to his professorial role at the college, Clement serves as a mentor to the leaders of the college’s student-run theater group, the CCRI Players. He is also the Coordinator of the CCRI Summer Repertory Program, a community theatre project designed to recruit high school students for the CCRI Theatre Program and increase community engagement.

The Community College of Rhode Island’s Health Sciences Clinical Simulation Laboratory, located at the college’s Lincoln Campus, has been granted full accreditation for its simulation program in the area of Teaching/Education through December 31, 2027 by The Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

CCRI’s simulation lab provides Nursing and Allied Health students with realistic clinical experiences where they can apply knowledge and skills in a safe environment. The educational activities that are provided in the simulation laboratory assist in the development of clinical, interpersonal, interprofessional, and critical thinking skills.

Accreditation by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare in the area of Teaching/Education ensures students are provided high quality, excellent simulation-based education. This commendation benefits the college in multiple ways, including enrollment in the health science programs by potential students, faculty and staff advancement, sustainability of CCRI’s simulation lab, and increased opportunities for grants.

“This is an incredible achievement to receive full accreditation for the simulation labs,” said CCRI’s Dean of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences Suzanne Carr, PhD, RN. “Our students deserve state-of-the-art labs to enhance their learning. We look forward to expanding our simulation footprint in 2024.”

With two simulation bays, a control room, two debriefing rooms, a simulated clean utility/medication room, and a work area, the lab is designed and outfitted like a modern-day hospital room. Each bay is equipped with audio visual monitoring and recording equipment with the capability to live stream or playback simulationevents in the debriefing rooms. The medication room is also equipped with audiovisual and recording equipment.

The laboratory's inventory of high-fidelity patient simulators includes two SimNewB neonatal simulators, two SimJunior pediatric simulators, two 3G adult simulators, and two SimMom obstetrical simulators in addition to a recently-added Nursing Anne and SimBaby simulators. The laboratory also has two Hill-Rom Affinity birthing beds, two fully stocked crash carts with a cardiac monitor and defibrillator, two V60 non-invasive ventilators and one Nellcor Puritan Bennet 980 ventilator.

The Society for Simulation in Healthcare, formerly known as the Society for Medical Simulation, is a non-profit organization founded to advance the application of medical simulation in healthcare and serves as a resource for young professionals in their growth in medical education and administration.

The Community College of Rhode Island recently announced Rich Sullivan as its new Vice President for Administration and Finance, effective February 6.

As Vice President for Administration and Finance, Sullivan will serve as Chief Financial Officer and lead the business and administrative functions of the college, including the Controller’s Office, Human Resources, the Business Office, the Budget Office, Payroll, Purchasing, Physical Plant, and Campus Police.

Sullivan brings a strong foundation of more than 20 years in leadership positions in higher education and health and human services. Most recently, he served as CFO and Treasurer for Vinfen Corporation, a not-for-profit, community-based health and human services organization, where he oversaw all financial, debt management, IT, and facilities functions. Prior to that, Sullivan served 14 years as CFO at Curry College, where he was responsible for the oversight of all financial, student financial services, and facilities functions and served as part of the Strategic Enrollment Management and NECHE Accreditation teams. During his tenure at Curry College, he co-managed major capital improvement projects, including the construction of a new student center, three residential halls, and an academic building; managed multiple debt transactions, including five bond issuances; and oversaw the college’s endowment investment strategy.

Sullivan earned a BS in Business Administration from Northeastern University and a MS in Taxation from Bentley University.

The Community College of Rhode Island recently announced Jonathan Miller, of Haverhill, MA, as Dean of Student Engagement.

As Dean of Student Engagement, he will serve as a member of the Student Affairs’ Leadership Team to provide leadership and support for all planning, staffing, educational, operational, facility, and budgetary aspects of Student Life, Athletics, and Student Government. In addition, he will provide co-curricular, Academic/Career Pathways, and leadership development programs and services that improve the transition of students to and through CCRI with an emphasis on student persistence, retention, and graduation with the intent to reimagine the student experience and create a community of engaged learners with equity and inclusivity at the center of the work.

Dean Miller joins CCRI from Northern Essex Community College where he served as the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and later Dean of Students. There, he provided leadership and vision to all aspects of Student Life, Academic Coaching, and other student support systems in addition to his work in increasing student engagement programming and initiatives. He also served on the college’s COVID-19 Taskforce, the Deep Data Dive Team, Leading for Change, and the Center for Equity and Social Justice Steering Committee.

Prior to that, he served as the Dean of Students at Delta College in Michigan. In that role, he was the supervisor for Athletics, Student Activities, Multicultural Services, and Academic Career Services, among others, and participated in strategic planning and related institutional program development as a member of the President’s Executive Council. At Delta, he also managed the development of production of the college’s Student Handbook, which included overhauling student conduct policies and procedures.

Dean Miller served as the president of the Community College Student Life Association in 2015 and is currently a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, the National Association for Campus Activities, and the American College Personnel Association.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University in 2002, followed by a Master of Arts in Student Personnel from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Dean Miller is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Community College Leadership at Ferris State University in Michigan.

The Community College of Rhode Island recently announced Jennie Johnson as Vice President for the Division of Workforce Partnerships.

As Vice President for the Division of Workforce Partnerships, she will lead workforce development efforts at the college, including developing customized trainings in business and industry, workforce development programs, small business and entrepreneurial programs, adult education, transportation programs, and career services.

For the past 16 years, Johnson has served as Executive Director and Senior Vice President for City Year Providence, where she has been responsible for managing the site’s budget and leading the strategy and execution of the organization’s governmental and external relations, development and fundraising, communications, service and impact, recruitment, training, and evaluation components.

Johnson is a proud CCRI and Rhode Island College alumna who earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Psychology. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program and the American Express Nonprofit Leadership Academy. 

She currently serves as a Commissioner on the Rhode Island State Board of Elections and previously served on the CCRI Alumni Association Board of Directors. She was named a recipient of the “40 Under Forty” award from Providence Business News and the Women of Excellence award from the Women’s Center of RI, and was named one of GoLocalProv’s “12 people who made a difference in RI 2012.” In 2015, City Year Providence was honored by Providence Business News with a Business Excellence Award for Excellence at a Non-Profit.

Johnson is a transformative and widely-respected community and education leader with strong and trusted connections to local, state, and national public and private stakeholders.