Biography

Bea Lanzi is a lifelong RI resident. She earned an M.A. in Political Communication from Emerson College and a B.A. in Communication and Political Science from RI College.
Bea served 20 years in the RI Legislature,10 years in the RI House of Representatives and 10 years in the RI State Senate. She is one of 59 women who have served in the RI Senate in the state’s history. During her time in the legislature, Bea served as Deputy Majority Leader and Deputy President Pro Tempore.
Bea is currently the Director of the RI State Government Internship Program, working with hundreds of college, graduate and law school students during the Fall and Spring semesters and the Summer break. Students are connected with internship experiences throughout state government, including the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches as well as state departments of government, municipal agencies and community and non-profit organizations.
Previously, she served as Deputy Treasurer / Director of Legislative Affairs and Outreach for RI General Treasurer Seth Magaziner. She developed, coordinated and executed legislative strategy and outreach activities.
She was the V.P., Director of Labor Community Services and Financial Stability at the United Way of RI from 1998-2015. In this role, she developed and coordinated programs and initiatives pertaining to family financial stability work.
Bea is a Fulbright Specialist and has been a Professor of Communication and English courses for over two decades. She has extensive experience teaching Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication and Professional Communication.
Bea was especially honored to have been inducted into the Cranston Hall of Fame in the Fall 2013.