A Strong Start to the Fall Semester

October 27, 2026

Mid Semester, Message from the Interim Dean

Dear Colleagues, Alumni, and Friends of the URI College of Business,

I am honored to serve as Interim Dean of the College of Business for the 2026-2027 academic year. It is an exciting time for our College as we continue advancing key initiatives, supported by generous donor investment, that strengthen student success and career readiness, expand AI and innovative technology capabilities, and enhance our academic centers of excellence.  I appreciate Associate Professor Dave Kale stepping into the role I vacated as Interim Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education.

The year is already off to an outstanding start. We welcomed nearly 2,600 undergraduate students, both new and returning, representing a 3.5% increase over Fall 2025 enrollment. Graduate enrollment also grew significantly, reaching 376 students, an increase of more than 6% from the previous year.

Helping students successfully transition to the URI College of Business remains a top priority. This fall, we hosted a wide range of programs and events designed to connect students with opportunities for academic, professional, and personal growth, including:

  • The Block Party, which introduced students to organizations, activities, and pathways for involvement across the College and University;
  • The Career Fair, which brought together 115 employers and nearly 1,900 students from the College of Business and across URI to explore internship and full-time career opportunities;
  • A Graduate Student Welcome Event, which connected students across all College of Business graduate programs and fostered new networking opportunities;
  • The inaugural Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Scholars Conference, featuring keynote speakers Valrie Grant and Kelly Burich and drawing participants from prior DBA cohorts, peer DBA programs across the United States, and international institutions;
  • Residency weekends for the Blue MBA and Professional Science Master’s in Supply Chain Management programs, providing valuable face-to-face engagement between students and faculty in these primarily online programs;
  • And many other activities that contributed to a vibrant and successful start to the academic year.

These achievements are made possible through the dedication and commitment of our leadership team, staff, and faculty, whose efforts create transformative experiences for our students.

We are also pleased to welcome several new members to the College of Business community. Joining our faculty are Professor Liliana Perez-Nordtvedt, Ph.D., and Matthew Hanson, the Fred ’78 and Sue Newton Assistant Professor of Human Resource Management, both in the Department of Management, as well as Robert Glew, DBA, CFP, CTFA, Assistant Teaching Professor of Finance. We also welcomed Lindsey Colligan and Essence Harrison, who joined the College as academic advisors from the Fannon Institute for Student Success.

At the same time, we extend our sincere gratitude to Kathleen Jackson, Senior Career Advisor, who retired at the end of August 2026 after years of dedicated service to our students and College community. We wish her every happiness in this well-deserved new chapter.

I invite you to learn more about the remarkable accomplishments of our undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and alumni. Their achievements continue to demonstrate the strength, innovation, and impact of the URI College of Business.

Go Rhody!

Warm regards,
Judy

Judy Beckman, Ph.D., CPA
Interim Dean
URI College of Business