As Provost at the University of Rhode Island, I serve as the University’s Chief Academic Officer and am honored to be a part of URI at such an exciting time. In 2023, we launched a new ten-year strategic plan – Focus URI – designed to further expand the high-quality educational opportunities we offer at URI, deepen our community engagement as Rhode Island’s flagship research university, and empower our faculty and students to help solve the world most important challenges. We are committed to fulfilling our teaching and research missions and to positioning the university to thrive for years to come.

Priority 1 of Focus URI is to “Broaden Our Impact” by driving transformative change for the betterment of Rhode Island and the global human condition. To achieve this, we are elevating our research enterprise and emphasizing public scholarship, reinvigorating our commitment to our land and sea-grant missions and to the state of Rhode Island. Through research, teaching, and collaboration with community and industry stakeholders, we are positioning URI and Rhode Island as global leaders in the Blue Economy.

The second priority in our strategic plan is to “Enhance Student Achievement” by cultivating an engaged and inclusive learning environment. URI exists first and foremost to educate students to be informed Rhode Island residents and leaders. Our goal is to empower our students to lead their own academic journey with access to resources and support that place value on inclusion, well-being, and holistic development. We prioritize community and a sense of belonging to help all students – undergraduate and graduate, in-person and online – succeed at URI.

Under Focus URI, our third priority is to “Foster an Inclusive Culture.” This extends from Orientation Day to our classrooms, from our libraries to the URI alumni community. We are “one university” and deeply value diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across the URI community. I hope everyone who studies, works, and visits feels a sense of belonging from their first day on campus.   

Our fourth priority is to “Power the University of the Future.” To accomplish this, we are investing in and implementing new and innovative administrative and financial practices that position URI for long-term success. We are transitioning to a new budget model that empowers our colleges and enables them to invest in new programs and initiatives. We are similarly investing in our campus infrastructure and hiring more faculty with an eye to the future. To be a part of URI is to be a part of a university on the move.

So, if you are a prospective or current student, staff, or faculty member, or an alumna(us), friend, or parent, I urge you to seize the opportunities available at URI and as part of the Rhody community. URI is your pathway to experiencing and changing the world.

I look forward to seeing you on campus.

Go Rhody!
Barb