Biography

Heather Sharpes-Smith is the Executive Director of URI Online in the Provost’s Office at the University of Rhode Island. As a first-generation college student herself, Heather understands the challenges of navigating higher education without a clear roadmap or family guidance. Her personal experiences shaped her passion for student success and inspired her career in higher education, where she has focused on online learning, student access, and program strategy. Today, Heather leads initiatives that support student enrollment, student experience, and positive academic outcomes at URI. She is deeply committed to helping students feel supported and empowered throughout their college journeys. Heather hopes to provide first-generation students with the mentorship, encouragement, and clarity she wishes she had earlier in her own educational experience. Her advice to students is simple but powerful: do not be afraid to ask questions. Heather believes that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness, and encourages students to take advantage of available resources and build meaningful relationships early in their college careers. She knows those connections can make a significant difference in both personal and academic success. As a mentor, Heather is especially interested in supporting students with identity development and sense of belonging, navigating college systems, imposter syndrome and confidence building, career exploration, and graduate school planning.