Kathy Peno, Ph.D., Educational Studies focus on Adult & Human Resource Development

Program Director
Professor of Adult Education
University of Rhode Island
kgugs@uri.edu

Biography
Kathy Peno, PhD, is Professor of Adult Education in the Master’s of Education, Adult Education specialization, and the Learning and Development Certificate Program. She prepares adult educators in corporate, healthcare, military, community, and higher education settings. Her scholarship focuses on workforce development, professional learning, and mentoring for organizational performance improvement.

Jane Northup, Ph.D., Adult Education

Assistant Professor of Adult Education
University of Rhode Island
jnorthup@uri.edu

Biography
Jane Northup, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Adult Education at the University of Rhode Island. She specializes in preparing professionals for crime scene investigations, higher education, and corporate training environments. Her work emphasizes skill development by focusing on improving training transfer for professional growth.

Dr. Northup consults with law enforcement agencies, supporting workforce development, evidence management, and organizational performance improvement through tailored professional development initiatives.

She currently serves as the President of the Adult Higher Education Alliance (AHEA) and is a past Secretary of the organization. Additionally, she is the secretary of the Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction Subcommittee within the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC).

Dr. Northup holds a Master’s degree in Adult Education from the University of Rhode Island and a Ph.D. in Education from a joint program with the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College.

Rita Kenahan, Ph.D.

Adjunct Faculty
University of Rhode Island
rita_kenahan@uri.edu

Biography
Rita’s expertise stems from her extensive work in the healthcare industry in Professional Education where she created and delivered faculty development workshops and seminars for surgeons, nurses and sales professionals. Rita earned her Doctor of Education degree in Adult Learning & Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her Master of Education in Instructional Design at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. In addition to her faculty roles at URI and the University of Houston Victoria, Rita serves on the Board of Directors of the Adult Higher Education Alliance.