WARWICK, R.I. – The Community College of Rhode Island welcomed faculty and staff back to campus last Thursday for Opening Day Convocation, the College’s annual gathering marking the start of a new academic year. President Rosemary A. Costigan opened the 2026–27 year with an inspiring call to action, urging the CCRI community to embrace the work ahead and be “brave enough to try.”

Faculty, staff, and state leaders filled the Knight Campus for event, setting a tone of vision and collective courage for the fall semester. Drawing inspiration from U2's "Beautiful Day," Costigan challenged the audience to actively choose to see the beauty in their demanding work.

"You decide it's a beautiful day, and then you go out and make that true," she said.

The program featured moving remarks from Francine Grigoletto-Manso, CCRI's new Student Government President. Moving to the United States from Brazil at age 15 without speaking English, she experienced her first taste of CCRI through ESL classes. After dropping out of high school, she earned her GED, returned to CCRI as an Economics major and transformed into a 4.0 student planning to transfer to Rhode Island College through the Joint Admissions Agreement.

"There is a phrase I carry with me: Be the person you once needed," Grigoletto-Manso said, expressing her goal to lend confidence to others.

Her speech drew strong praise from Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee.

"Francine is a perfect example of exactly why we're doing this work," McKee told the faculty and staff. "You all are inspiring people like Francine every single day. What does that mean for the state of Rhode Island? It means a great future. It means a new Rhode Island that we all can share and be a part of. And we’re already starting – right here at CCRI.”

Costigan then outlined the bold transformations happening across CCRI's campuses. Key initiatives include the launch of the Knight Success Hub, renovations at the Lincoln Campus, expansion of embedded tutoring, and bridging credit and non-credit operations.

To further support employees and streamline communication, Costigan also discussed the rollout of a new Intranet. By moving employee resources behind a secure login, the portal provides a centralized home base for faculty and staff while allowing the main public website to remain solely focused on prospective students.

Costigan also highlighted the upcoming November ballot featuring a $275 million higher education bond, which includes a historic $60 million to build a Workforce Innovation Center on the Warwick Campus. David Caprio, Chair of the Council on Postsecondary Education, commended Costigan's leadership on the bond initiative.

"She had the vision, she grabbed hold of it, and she presented it to the Governor and the legislative leaders, who immediately saw the value in it," Caprio said. “She’s a fierce advocate for our students and for every person in this room. Whether she’s presenting to our board, to elected officials, to donors, or to students, she is a fierce advocate and the embodiment of what every student that comes through the door here at CCRI can be.”

Recognizing that the college's essential work can be demanding, Costigan was joined on stage by CeCe, CCRI's comfort dog who arrived last spring. Costigan noted that CeCe reminds the community to lead with empathy, providing a soft landing for both students and staff.

“I've seen stressed students calm down with a hand resting on her back,” Costigan said. “That is exactly the kind of empathy I keep asking us to lead with -- and CeCe reminds us of it without saying a word.

Closing her remarks ahead of the start of classes, Costigan delivered a simple but powerful charge.

"Our students are coming on Monday," she said. "Whoever they become is up to you."