URI’s new coordinator for the Center for Student Leadership Development brings a wealth of experience working with students and making education more equitable and accessible for all

Nov. 25, 2025

Victoria Andrade-Fonseca, the University of Rhode Island’s new coordinator for the Center for Student Leadership Development, has found a warm, welcoming home at her alma mater.

A 2022 graduate of Bryant University who went on to complete URI’s College Student Personnel Master’s Program in 2024, Andrade-Fonseca has worked at the Kingston campus for the past three years in myriad roles, but leadership has always been her passion.

After serving as a coordinator for programs at URI’s Multicultural Student Services Center since June of 2024, she has now landed a new full-time role with the CSLD, where she briefly interned during her time as a graduate student.

Leadership is nothing new for the New Bedford, Mass., native; at Bryant, Andrade-Fonseca found her calling working for the PWC Center for Diversity & Inclusion and the Center for Student Leadership & Involvement. She graduated Bryant with a bachelor’s in Sociology with minors in Africana/Black Studies and Human Resources Management before enrolling in URI’s master’s program the following fall.

In addition to her role with the CSLD, Andrade-Fonseca also worked part-time as a graduate assistant for URI’s Women’s Center and interned at the Rhode Island School of Design’s Equity & Compliance Office, allowing her to continue her work in making higher education more accessible, meaningful, and equitable for all students.

Andrade-Fonseca also puts her leadership skills to use outside of URI as an assistant coordinator for Enchanted, a Rhode Island-based event management brand launched by URI alumna and former CSLD student Jordan Cruz that offers event planning and virtual project management services.

In today’s feature, we find out what inspired Andrade-Fonseca to pursue a career in leadership and why URI offers the perfect work environment for those who are fully invested in higher education.

What led you to want to pursue a career helping students and specifically guiding student leaders on their path beyond college?

“I attended Bryant University for college. While there, I discovered my passion for working in higher education and creating spaces for underrepresented student populations through my work in the PWC Center for Diversity & Inclusion and the Center for Student Leadership & Involvement. Without truly knowing it at the time, this experience as a student leader emphasized the importance to me of integrating social justice into leadership styles and created my commitment to fostering diverse, inclusive, and engaging learning environments for students. I wanted to pay it forward and be an advocate and resource to others like the ones I had during my time at Bryant.”

After spending some time working in the MSSC and the Women’s Center, what led you to pursue this new role?

“I interned in the CSLD in my second last of my graduate program here at URI, the College Student Personnel Program. I enjoyed my experience being an intern here and it opened my eyes to a new level of student affairs work that I hadn’t considered professionally before. My work in the MSSC and the Women’s Center was something I had always set out to do as a higher education professional. I always wanted to work in the DEI space. It was what I set out to do. However, when the position opened in the CSLD, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up to try something different for my career trajectory.”

What are some of your goals in this new role at URI?

“I want to continue to learn and grow the CSLD as much as possible and continue to work with our students to contribute to their development as leaders once they leave URI.”

As one of many who’ve come back to URI to work after earning a degree here, how would you best describe the working culture and your overall experience at URI?

“It truly is a family here at URI. I have found a community here, which has made it such an easy decision to continue here after my graduate degree and going into my second professional position on campus. Everyone is willing to help each other out and lend a hand.”