- Assistant Dean of JEDI Initiatives
- Dean's Office
- Phone: 401.874.6640
- Email: princess_metuge@uri.edu
- Office Location: Ocean Science & Exploration Center – Rm 112
Biography
Princess Metuge emigrated from the Liberia to Rhode Island as a transfer International Student in August 1999. She acquired a Bachelor of Science degree in Management in 2005 from Rhode Island College; she later enrolled at Regis University – Denver, Colorado and obtained her Master’s in Business Administration in 2009.
She has worked in higher education, specifically with multicultural diverse student population, non-traditional students and adult learners for over ten years, serving in the areas of program development and management, recruitment and enrollment, curriculum development, career planning, and student retention. Ensuring equitable services, resources and support for all students is the bedrock upon which her work is focused, which includes giving students a voice and self-empowerment through professional development education and training. Key topics on which her work focuses include Cultural Awareness, Social Identity Theory, Workplace Discrimination, Unconscious Biases & Beliefs, and Illegal Interview Questions.
Ms. Metuge is a 2012 recipient of the URI Feinstein College of Continuing Education Lifetime Achievement Award, and a 2016 recipient of the Feinstein College of Education & Professional Students Staff Appreciation Award. Her lived experiences, life’s work and passion for JEDI issues and initiatives especially in Higher Education will bring new ideas and prospective to the Graduate School of Oceanography and the University of Rhode Island.
Research
My Research interest is focused on Adult Learner Immigrant Population in Rhode Island and its impact on the overall economic progress of the State with emphasis on education and professional development. To also analyze and evaluate what is currently in place to support the education and professional development of immigrants and what, if any can be done to improve the educational and academic experience of immigrants in Rhode Island. The target groups for this research are Hispanics/Latinas and African immigrants.
The aim is to not only identify the challenges, but to evaluate and critically analyze best practices and innovative ways we can work to minimize these obstacles, while providing immigrants and BIPOC community with the education and professional development they need to reach their full potential.
A number of immigrants do not fit into particular “categories” of eligibility required to receive educational funding to access available services. Others are undocumented and therefore will not have access to training or supportive services. International students who fall out of status due to loss of sponsorship are left to their own devices in a country where they do not know anyone.
My major research focus include: How to successfully integrate into the American culture amidst challenges, rebuild self-esteem, identify their career focus, develop their professional image and establish their presence in society.
Education
MBA, Business Administration, Regis University, 2009
Bachelor of Science, Management, Rhode Island College, 2005