CCRI Green & White Fall 2015

Thomas Quinlan Jr. ’96 gives back to help open doors for students C O M M U N I T Y

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Alumna works to provide solid starts for early learners

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Students benefit from Alumni Association Book Awards Rachel Neimic

Amanda Ricard

Stephen DeFalco

Bridget Laferriere

Jennifer Jackson For students struggling to make ends meet while they attend college, every dollar counts. Recipients of the CCRI Alumni Association Book Award were honored during a breakfast with President Ray Di Pasquale and the alumni board of directors on Oct. 13 at the Knight Campus in Warwick.

Forty awards redeemable at the CCRI Bookstore are available in the fall and spring semesters to benefit students with financial need. Alumni donations and fundraising efforts make these awards possible.

To learn more about CCRI scholarships and awards, visit www.ccri.edu/foundation/scholarships.

LEADING OFF

A message from the President

contents Vol. 15, Number 3 • Fall 2015

1 Leading off 2 Notebook 4 Fall Classic Golf Tournament 5 Kerri Polseno ’87 8 David DeCesare ’94 10 Claudia Flanagan ’83 11 New board members

As I prepare to end my tenure as president of CCRI, I want to share how proud I am of the college’s many achievements over the past decade and how honored I have been to serve as your president. As CCRI transitions to new leadership, I encourage the college community to build on our success and continue the momentum.

It would take pages to review all the remarkable things the college has accomplished collectively since I arrived in 2006. A few of CCRI’s proudest triumphs include receiving an unprecedented NEASC review and full accreditation through 2024; balancing budgets and solving a million dollar-plus deficit without any layoffs; and securing more than $20 million in grant funding to help create new programs.

There are many good things in store for the college; in fact, a few of them are already in motion. Planning is in progress for a proposed education and training center in Westerly with Electric Boat as our anchor tenant. Updates and renovations are happening on campuses; you can read about recent art studio upgrades and the Warwick Renewal project in this issue. And some exciting new academic programs and training partnerships are underway.

The Alumni Association and board play a significant role as the college’s main representatives to alumni and have provided invaluable support to me. For that I want to say thank you.

Additionally, I would like to thank graduates who have shared of their time, talent and resources. CCRI alumni tell our story and are a true testament to the quality education the college provides. The college will need your continued support as it looks to the future.

I will always treasure my time as president here. CCRI’s future is bright and I look forward to hearing about its continued success.

13 Lee Smith ’10 14 Why I give: Thomas W. Quinlan Jr. ’96 15 Class notes, calendar and in memoriam 16

Flashback

Green & White staff Marisa Albini Director of Alumni Affairs Editor in Chief Managing Editor: Erin Olson Layout: Brendalee Peckham-Bell Photographer: Dave Fischbach Contributors: Richard Coren Robin McDuff ’98 Jenn Salcido

Ray M. Di Pasquale President

A message from the President of the Alumni Association It’s my distinct pleasure to address you as the president of the Alumni Association.

After six years of involvement in the association, particularly in these last three serving as presidentelect under Louis J. Saccoccio ’68, I’ve been able to see some extraordinary acts of giving and fellowship.

Last year’s golden anniversary celebrations spoke to our strength as an organization; the alumni network of CCRI is stronger than ever, whether it’s coming together at events like the sold-out “Celebrating Alumni for 50 Years” or raising record-breaking amounts through our golf tournaments and other events. Our anniversary year showed how far we’ve come in 50 years, growing from the rented facility on Promenade Street to our four campuses statewide. All the while, we’re doing the important work of making sure that we help as many students as we can.

I’d like to continue to see that involvement grow, in both manpower and dollar amount. I know that we’ve all got wonderful things going on in our professional and personal lives and that time is a scarce resource. But many hands make light work, and no donation is too small to make a difference in the lives of the diverse range of students we serve here at the state’s only community college.

I’m very much looking forward to staying connected with this extraordinary network of people this year, particularly at upcoming events such as “Changing Lives” in December, the next Society of the Knights in April and more.

I thank you for the honor of allowing me to serve you and look forward to continuing to watching our numbers grow when we graduate the college’s 51st class in the spring.

Joseph T. Fleming ’74 President, CCRI Alumni Association

NOTEBOOK

Foundation launches new scholarship system Finding and applying for the CCRI Foundation’s 80-plus scholarship and award opportunities for full- and part-time students is easier than ever with a newly implemented secure electronic processing system.

STARS Online allows students to search, sort and apply for multiple scholarships at one time. The old system was a paper application process, lacking efficiency for users on both sides of the transaction, said Robin McDuff, coordinator for Institutional Advancement at the college.

McDuff said there would be a drastic reduction in paper; before, students had to mail a separate paper application to each scholarship committee. Now, those committees can review the electronic

applications wherever they might be. “It’s a win-win situation,” said McDuff.

The increased functionality of the new system means that students won’t waste time applying for scholarships they aren’t qualified for or for scholarships with deadlines that have passed.

Plus, said McDuff, many students using the old interface might not realize they were eligible for certain scholarships and awards. Donors can rest assured that the students who most need assistance no longer will have to sort through a maze of paperwork and search results.

To learn more about the system, visit www.ccri.edu/foundation.

Knight Campus renovations build toward the future Alumni visiting the Knight Campus in Warwick this year will notice that many academic and social areas have been given a facelift to move facilities into the future, offering cutting-edge technologies and designs to benefit generations to come.

On Sept. 16, students, faculty, staff and guests gathered on campus for a ribbon cutting to mark the art studios recent transformation.

The studios, which had undergone an impressive $2.4 million renovation over the course of the spring and summer of 2015, boasted new spaces for individual programs such as painting, photography, printmaking, ceramics and textiles in what was once an open space.

The 7,400 square feet of renovated space also features updated technology for audiovisual purposes.

“It means a lot to us,” said Art Department Chair Yvonne Leonard, who, along with past chairs Natalie Colletta and Mark Zellers, has been overseeing the renovations over the past six years. Leonard added that the new studios were far and away an improvement over the acoustically and visually challenging open plan classroom space that preceded them. Now, she said, individual classes really can benefit from uninterrupted focus and resources.

Leonard said the increased functionality of the new studios is the result of faculty in each media area providing significant effort and expertise over the past several years, working together to ensure all classrooms would best meet course and students’ needs.

Perhaps paradoxically, the new layout, which results in more clearly defined studio

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classrooms, also helps to create a stronger sense of community, said Leonard. Specifically, each group of students now has a common space to engage, linked by a shared interest: painters in a painting studio, ceramicists in a ceramics area. “What happens in the studio outside of class is just as important as what happens in class,” she said.

President Ray Di Pasquale pointed out that the day was representative of a wider set of accomplishments. Separate from the changes to the studios, a $25 million Warwick Renewal Project is now well underway on campus.

“This is the beginning of the future of our college,” he said of the renovations. “There are lots of great things in store for the future of this institution. . . .This is an amazing day.”

Improvements made in Phase I of the project include a raised crosswalk with solar-powered warning beacons from the faculty/staff parking lot to increase pedestrian safety; a new pavilion behind the round building to offer shade and a place to study, eat lunch or relax; and an expansion and renovation of the student union to accommodate increased space for clubs, dedicated storage space, a new gaming area and lounge, and upgraded computer facilities.

Future phases include upgrades to the Great Hall and Lower Commons, technology upgrades to sixth-floor classrooms, interactive computerized maps to help students and visitors navigate the building, an enclosed main entrance ramp, field house modernization, security improvements and much more.

NOTEBOOK

S AV E the DA TE

ΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘ

SOCIETY of the

KNIGHTS ——— A Knight of Stars

ΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘ The CCRI Society of the Knights Outstanding Alumni Award and the Squires Award will be presented on April 1, 2016, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.

To qualify for the Society of Knights award, nominees must be CCRI alumni who have been active as community leaders, attained personal and professional success, provided volunteer service to the college community, and have brought honor upon themselves and the Community College of Rhode Island. A new recognition this year, the Squires Awards will be presented to CCRI graduates who have shown outstanding professional accomplishments in their field.

For more information, visit the Alumni Association website often for updates at www.ccri.edu/alumni.

Boards hold joint annual meeting On Sept. 3, the CCRI Foundation and the Alumni Association celebrated the successes of the past year, acknowledged new board members, and ushered in a changing of the guard for leadership and executive committee members at their joint annual meeting.

The terms of the Foundation’s president, Mark K. Gim (Hon.) ’13, and the Alumni Association’s president, Louis J. Saccoccio ’68, came to an end.

“It’s been a privilege to work with Mark and Lou during their time as presidents of the Foundation and Alumni Association,” said CCRI President Ray Di Pasquale. “Both put in countless hours as volunteers and the college and I are grateful for their outstanding service.”

Incoming presidents are David P. Monti ’72 for the Foundation and Joseph T. Fleming ’74 for the association. “They’re both excited to get started and move both organizations forward,” said Marisa Albini, director of Alumni Affairs.

Before stepping down, Saccoccio read some highlights of the past academic year, which saw an incredibly successful run of events in honor of the college’s 50th anniversary. CCRI’s extensive alumni network was the centerpiece of many of these events, such as the Celebrating Alumni event, which honored the achievements of 26 distinguished graduates. The association increased restricted scholarships and awards to $187,660, held its 13th Annual Alumni Golf Tournament and participated in the 50th commencement exercises. Members of the Class of 1966 made a symbolic walk to the podium at commencement as they did in the first exercises.

The Foundation reported the endowment has grown from $2 million to $2.3 million and that $129,000 was provided in scholarships to students. The revamped STARS Online scholarship processing system also was announced.

See Page 11 for information on new Alumni Association board members.

David P. Monti ’72 and Louis J. Saccoccio ’68

David P. Monti ’72 and Joseph T. Fleming ’74

ΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘΘ

CCRI President Ray Di Pasquale and Mark K. Gim (Hon.) ’13

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EVENT

21st annual CCRI Fall Classic Golf Tournament

The Fall Classic Golf Tournament took place on Monday, Sept. 21, at Warwick Country Club in Warwick, Rhode Island. Beautiful weather welcomed more than 100 golfers to the picturesque golf course for the annual event.

This year’s tournament raised more than $31,000 for student financial support. Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island supported the tournament at the Champion Sponsor level.

Additional key sponsors included Corvias Campus Living, Ameresco, BETA Group Inc., Abrams & Verri Law Office, Delta Mechanical Contractors LLC and RICOH. The day included lunch, a Texas scramble format golf tournament, dinner, reception, raffle and awards.

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COVER STORY

KERRI POLSENO ’87

Early Childhood alumna goes from employee to owner thanks in part to CCRI

What started as a summer internship after high school at the Johnston Child Care Center set Kerri Polseno ’87 on her career path: She’s now the owner and director of the center, which she has run for nearly 20 years.

Polseno was 17 when she graduated from Smithfield High School in 1985 and wasn’t sure whether she should proceed directly to a four-year institution or stay in the working world for a time. But after that summer, she knew that the Early Childhood Education program at the Community College of Rhode Island would be her next destination.

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COVER STORY

“I just fell in love with working with children in the early childhood field and I realized that I was passionate about it,” she said.

“I had some great support at CCRI,” she said, fondly recalling mentors such as Professor Dr. Richard Archambault and Professor Eunice Stoskopf. “They were a great bunch of individuals that really guided you and supported you. CCRI gives you the opportunity to work at your own pace, to try to figure out where your interests are and what you want to do. There’s not the pressure that you have when you go directly into a four-year program.”

That support enabled Polseno to keep a swift pace in the program.

She completed as many courses per semester as she could, sometimes up to seven, to fulfill the requirements in two years, all while working at field placements in facilities. For much of that time, she worked at Johnston Child Care Center, where her mother, Gail Mignacca, was the head teacher. When she graduated, Polseno headed straight for Rhode Island College, majoring in liberal arts-communications with an eye toward how the background would help her as a business owner.

During her senior year at RIC, Polseno found a program at Roger Williams University that would give her the necessary certification to work at the higher levels of early childhood education. She put that to

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good, and immediate use, at a facility in Warwick, Liddle Tots, where she was the head teacher and director.

“That’s when I really got the experience of being responsible for running a child care facility,” she said. “I ran the preschool program but was also in charge of many other things; for example, enrolling students and supervising staff. That’s where I really got a lot of the hands-on experience.”

The goal was always to own her own facility, said Polseno. In 1996, she jumped at the chance to buy Johnston Child Care Center.

At Johnston Child Care Center, Polseno goes above and beyond the state-mandated early childhood education standards to incorporate curriculum that has stood the test of time and experience for the 50 to 60 students the center serves daily.

The center offers infant, toddler and preschool programs, as well as a full day kindergarten for eight students and before- and after-school and summer programs. Each age group has its own developmental goals and standards to achieve. The focus is on each individual child’s need to develop his or her own self-concept through interacting with a community of young children, under the guidance of a trained, professional staff, explained Polseno.

COVER STORY

“You want to be giving them the best support and best age-appropriate activities that you can; whether that’s through play, activities like arts and crafts, gross motor activities or playing manipulatively with different puzzles,” she said. “There’s so much expected of them once they go off to school, it’s great to be able to enhance their self-confidence and have those great concepts locked in before they go to elementary school.

It’s not just child care. We want them to take their experiences and love of learning gained here at our center with them for the rest of their educational journey through life.”

As time goes on, the field of early childhood education has gotten much-deserved attention and funding for being “the foundation of children’s learning,” said Associate Professor of Human Services Carol Patnaude, who chairs the Human Services Department at CCRI. Patnaude, who graduated from the college’s program in 1978, said it’s difficult to overstate the field’s importance.

“It really all starts at birth. When children have a solid, highquality experience in an early childhood classroom, it really does set their foundation for learning, growth and development. Early childhood also encompasses informing families about the importance of early childhood experiences and family engagement,” said Patnaude.

This summer, CCRI’s program received the distinction of being first in the state to receive accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Commission on Early Childhood Associate Degree Education.

Patnaude said the program is one of just 180 schools around the country to receive this accreditation, which was a two-year process, and that it helps further align CCRI’s program with new teaching standards in the state. Over the years, Patnaude said, the program has seen considerable growth; in Fall 2015, 324 students were registered in the Early Childhood Education associate degree program and 108 students were registered in the Early Childhood Education certificate program, putting it in the top five majors at the college.

“It’s wonderful to see how the field of early childhood education has grown over the years, that people realize how important it is to enhance and create great curriculum for every child, age appropriately,” said Polseno.

Many of the 16 teachers Polseno employs are either graduates of or are enrolled in CCRI’s Early Childhood Education program, she said, and she couldn’t be happier with the quality of students the program continues to feed into the field. In particular, Polseno praised the flexibility and emphasis on hands-on learning, both in her time at the college and now.

“I love that CCRI allows students to work, and offers them support and guidance through field experiences,” she said. “It’s very difficult for people to have to leave where they are working to do an internship somewhere else. The flexibility at CCRI allows my employees to continue working in the field that they love, with the opportunity to do internships while they earn a paycheck. It is because of CCRI that I have many qualified and professional teachers who have been with me for years while in school and were able to do so because CCRI offers this opportunity.”

Walking around the facility, which is as brightly colored as one would expect – and more organized than one might think possible for a facility rife with energetic toddlers – it’s clear that Polseno has put a lot of love and effort into her center.

“ CCRI has held a very special place for me, because I had such a positive experience there. It was such a great transition for me before I went off to a four-year college.”

— KERRI POLSENO ’87

She purchased the 5,000-square-foot former office building with her husband, Derrick, in 2001, presiding over the extensive renovations that would create the center’s latest incarnation. On one of the season’s last warm days, children played on the sizable playground outside. Inside, infants napped on one end of the building while a class of preschoolers bounced up and down in an exercise class at the other. Clustered around a table in another room, a kindergarten class listened with rapt attention to “Miss Gail” – Polseno’s mother, who serves as the education coordinator – as she led them in a lesson.

Behind the closed door of Polseno’s office, the environs were much quieter, though no less bright: Two child-size M&M mannequins stood jauntily in a corner by the door, filled with treats for students to take each Friday on their way out of the center. Behind Polseno’s desk, a spate of family photos – of her sons, Derrick Jr. and Jarred, both now in college – hinted at the life she somehow finds time for outside of the center.

“I was involved with parent teacher organization and served as a room mother while my children were in elementary school. I also taught CCD at St. Michael’s Church, which I enjoyed very much,” she said.

That involvement has extended to the CCRI Alumni Association, which Polseno joined two years ago. Though her time on the board has been limited, she said she relishes the chance to give back to the college and hopes her involvement will continue to grow.

“CCRI has held a very special place for me, because I had such a positive experience there. It was such a great transition for me before I went off to a four-year college.” she said. “I think it’s very important for alumni to share the stories of our positive experiences at CCRI with students today. Hopefully, they’ll be able to see all the opportunities we were given and say, ‘There are so many people that, through the years, have gone through the CCRI programs, look what they were able to accomplish. CCRI could help me achieve my goals.’”

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FEATURE

DAVID M. DECESARE ’94

DeCesare rises in ranks with lifelong learning

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FEATURE

U

nlike many who enter law enforcement, David DeCesare ’94 didn’t inherit the career as a family business. He remembered having a distant cousin who might have been a police officer, but that’s it.

“It wasn’t one of those things I grew up wanting to do,” he said.

Sitting in uniform at a mahogany table inside the Superior Court complex on Benefit Street in Providence, DeCesare appears clean-cut and fastidious about his appearance. Seeing him now, it’s hard to imagine he considered doing anything else. But instead of a birthright, he owes his career in law enforcement – he recently was appointed chief sheriff of the R.I. Division of Sheriffs – to the Community College of Rhode Island.

At two critical points in DeCesare’s life – in 1988, after he had graduated high school, and again later, in the early 1990s when he came back into the classroom in search of his associate degree in Law Enforcement – CCRI came into play. Although he had taken some business management courses at Rhode Island College immediately following high school graduation, something wasn’t clicking for him and he dropped out to work full time at a local deli.

The first time he encountered CCRI and his new career path was at the R.I. Municipal Police Academy, which holds classes at the Flanagan Campus in Lincoln, after a friend nudged him into signing up during a recruitment drive. Although his mother was leery of this career path because of the potential danger, DeCesare started to notice some commonalities with those who protect and serve. He saw they were athletic and “subscribed to a team theory,” attributes he saw in himself.

After the academy, he went to work as a probationary patrolman in the Johnston Police Department. He worked hard to prove himself, thriving in an environment that prized regulation, routine and order

While DeCesare enjoyed the classroom – learning about the application of the law, honing his report writing skills, etc. – he continued to excel on the streets. He saw an opportunity to connect with the younger generation; he wasn’t too removed from them, and his community could put a face and a name to the profession. This earned him the respect of his peers in class, too; out in the working world, he was gaining valuable experience that he could bring back to share. “Perhaps it made some of these students who, like me, maybe weren’t interested in that field, to possibly now want to transcend to that course of work,” he said.

After graduation, he was promoted to sergeant and then lieutenant in Johnston. He married in 1994, bought a new house with his wife and enrolled at Roger Williams University to finish up his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

“In between, I was still taking what I’d learned at CCRI and applying that to my daily duties and obligations as a police officer on the streets. A lot of it is sometimes like a big puzzle; I found that what I learned at CCRI made the pieces of the puzzle fit together a lot quicker.”

Rising to deputy chief of police in Johnston, the No. 2 position, DeCesare knew he would have to move on to advance further. He missed the pleasures of walking the beat – making good arrests, protecting the public and handling split-second decisions in the middle of a crisis. But he continued to excel at administrative tasks, his orderly nature making the department run smoothly. When the opportunity arose to head an organization – the R.I. Division of Sheriffs – he jumped at the chance.

Leading a municipal division and leading a state division are different beasts, he said, but he has been able to apply what he has

“ I had a lot of great teachers, a lot of whom were already in the field, so their knowledge was put upon me as real life experiences, which brought the quality of the education to a different level.”

above all else. “I wanted to learn my job through field training – to be the best cop that I could be,” he said.

He learned his beat, earned the respect of the community and got his footing as a police officer in his hometown. Not one to shy away from a challenge, DeCesare sought to take on more; when the time came to continue with his college education, he thought of CCRI. The college had a great reputation among his brethren on the force as “the place you want to go,” he recalled.

“It was a great experience,” he said of his time in the college’s Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department. “I had a lot of great teachers, a lot of whom were already in the field, so their knowledge was put upon me as real life experiences, which brought the quality of the education to a different level.”

learned throughout his formal and informal education to the new post.

He oversees a department of 175 members who are charged with court security, transportation of inmates, extraditions, civil process serving and more. The budget he maintains now is close to triple what it was in Johnston. Thanks to his time at CCRI, he feels as ready as ever.

“Things are constantly changing, and you always need to learn something new and different. CCRI played into my success; I liked the way my education was piecemeal; it always gave me the opportunity to accomplish one step, get other things in order, set some time aside and go back to get more accomplished,” said DeCesare, who also graduated from the FBI Academy and is considering pursuing a master’s degree.

“It’s never too late, especially in a world that’s constantly changing and evolving. It’s important to keep striving to learn.”

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FEATURE

Investment in education pays dividends

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he focus on the Community College of Rhode Island’s history during the recent 50th anniversary celebration held special meaning for one alumna whose father-in-law was the college’s first president.

Claudia Flanagan ’83 knew Jack Flanagan, son of Dr. William Flanagan, through mutual friends and they began dating soon after she started at CCRI in 1981.

She remembers the elder Flanagan, who retired in 1978, as being “her biggest cheerleader in the world.”

“He talked about how and what the college meant to him, what his thoughts were around the start of the college and how we needed a place in Rhode Island where you could get an affordable, great education,” she said. “He believed everybody should have an education.”

One of seven children of an Algerian immigrant, Claudia Flanagan was the first in her family to attend college, pursuing a degree in computer programming because of the opportunities it presented for a rewarding and financially stable career. She did so while holding down two jobs – one waitressing at Bickford’s in Cranston and the other as a coach of her hometown Coventry High School volleyball team.

It wasn’t easy, but she said William Flanagan’s encouragement certainly softened the blow of all those 6 a.m. wake-up calls for her shifts at the restaurant before a long day of classes. She estimated that in the period between graduating high school and her marriage to Jack in 1984, she took only two days off from school, work or both – each time for a sister’s wedding.

“I think Dr. Flanagan instilled a sense of pride in me,” she said.

“He always told me that I was doing exactly what I needed to be doing.

The fact that I was taking the time to invest in myself for the future, no matter what I ended up doing, was important.”

While earning her bachelor’s degree from Bryant University at night, she went straight to work as a computer programmer, first for American Insulated Wire and then transitioning to a role as a systems engineer for EMC Corp., a multinational IT firm specializing in cloud computing and big data. She works on site as a service account manager for one of the company’s clients, ensuring that EMC’s technology continues to run smoothly. If anything goes wrong, she’s part of a team that works to resolve it.

Over her career, she has had to face a challenging and ever-changing work environment, often as the only woman in the room. She said that while she hadn’t always dreamed of becoming a computer programmer – rather, that path seemed like a sound decision at the time – the excitement and obstacles she has found in the industry are what has kept her in the field.

“I was always interested in taking on new things. I probably wouldn’t have had the success I have had if I wasn’t willing to take on change all the time,” she said. “I can tell you that my success all comes from my education at CCRI. I got a great education at Bryant, but the skills that I put to use and that I’ve grown from are skills that I learned at CCRI.” She spoke proudly of her family’s heritage and that of the Flanagans.

Although they no longer live in the big, white president’s house at the Knight Estate, they still gather for holidays in William Flanagan’s old

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house in Warwick, where her sister-in-law and her family live. But looming large in her personal history is another set of roots, forever intertwined with her own: CCRI. “I have kids in college now, and I’m able to pay for their college educations based on the success that I have from going to CCRI. It all started going to work as a waitress and fighting my way through. It gave me my start,” she said. “The more you work hard and invest in yourself, the harder you work, the luckier you get.”

“ I can tell you that my success all comes from my education at CCRI. I got a great education at Bryant, but the skills that I put to use and that I’ve grown from are skills that I learned at CCRI.”

— CLAUDIA FLANAGAN ’83

FEATURE

Alumni Association board welcomes new members The CCRI Alumni Association board had many reasons to celebrate at its recent joint annual meeting with the Community College of Rhode Island Foundation board, welcoming new

New president Joseph T. Fleming ’74 took the helm after serving the Association for six years, the last three as president-elect while Louis J. Saccoccio ’68 was president. He said that what he is most excited about regarding his upcoming two-year term is seeing the Association grow, both in membership and in the number of student scholarships it is able to supply. During the last fiscal year, the Association gave nearly $24,000 in restricted scholarships and awards.

Fleming, who was part of the first full twoyear class when the Knight Campus opened in 1972 in Warwick, was involved in campus life during his time at the college, serving as vice president of the Student Senate in his second year. He said it really hit him during that time

that if he ever had the opportunity to give back to his first alma mater, he would.

Fleming went on to graduate from Rhode Island College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and obtained a master’s in education from Providence College. But he has never forgotten the institution that gave him his start. “I always found my professors very caring. They wanted you to succeed and took a big interest in you. Although I went on to a four-year college and to get my master’s, the place I look back on is always CCRI,” he said.

“It was very good for me.”

Like Fleming, Gamache attributed his successes in life – a long and rewarding career in law enforcement, two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree and more – to getting a solid

Normand E. Gamache Jr. ’78

Joseph T. Fleming ’74

leadership and three board members into the fold.

Alumni Association career networking program The Community College of Rhode Island Alumni Association is seeking alumni to help provide career and leadership information to students and alumni through its mentoring and networking program. CCRI has many career resources available to help students with job placement, career advice, career assessment, and résumé and cover letter review.

These resources are now also available to alumni.

The Association would like to hear from individuals who would be willing to volunteer. Please visit www.ccri.edu/alumni to learn more and fill out the online form if you are interested in participating.

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Ana A. Cruz ’91

start at the college. Growing up in Central Falls, Gamache recalled that he started to fall in line with some questionable influences. One morning, he woke up and realized it was time to turn his life around; that day, he enrolled at CCRI and seized his fresh start. He’s now the director of public safety at the Rhode Island School of Design.

“I don’t know that I could have gotten into college without CCRI,” he said. “And I’ve been in college virtually every day of my life since.

It’s all been because of the discipline I got from

CCRI. That’s why I feel so fondly about the institution; it’s opened up so many doors. And I owe it all to CCRI opening its doors to me.”

Cruz also got a fresh start at CCRI; in fact, it was part and parcel of a new beginning in a new home country. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Cruz was in her third year of medical school when she came to join her brother in Rhode Island. When she began at CCRI, she couldn’t speak a word of English; however, a few years later, she was not only fluent in the language, but graduated with an associate degree in Science, helping her to start a career in medical office administration. She later obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology and became a certified cardiographic technician and a registered polysomnographic technologist.

“When I was approached about joining the board, I was so happy,” she said. “Without CCRI, it would have been impossible for me to accomplish what I did. My goal is to provide any help that I can to students so that they, too, can accomplish their career goals.”

Kristiansen, who enrolled at CCRI just after she turned 40, is one of those students.

An accomplished photographer, she wanted to make a career change and hopes to earn a bachelor’s degree in secondary education at Rhode Island College through the Joint

Sarah Kristiansen

FEATURE

Admissions Agreement program. As the student representative on the board, she said she hopes to help build connections with recent alumni, particularly those who have gone on to transfer to four-year institutions.

“You’ll be an alumnus of the school you transferred to, but you’re also an alumnus of CCRI,” she said of those students. “A lot of people wouldn’t be getting their bachelor’s if it weren’t for the college.”

We’re looking for a few good alumni The Community College of Rhode Island is always seeking unique stories about members of the college community, especially alumni.

Are you a graduate who is changing lives or helping others achieve their dreams?

Share your story with us for possible coverage in a future issue of the Green & White or on the CCRI website.

Please send your story to: CCRI Office of Alumni Affairs, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, RI 02865, alumni@ccri.edu

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FEATURE

Where are they now?

LEE SMITH ’10

Grad found his place in the library

W

ith such a wide network of alumni, you don’t have to look too far to find a success story. Sometimes, in fact, that story is within a short walk. This is the case with Lee Smith ’10, who has returned to the Knight Campus in Warwick for the semester as part of his graduate education in library science.

“It’s been great to have Lee back,” said James Salisbury, reference librarian and chair of the Library Department at the college.

Smith is pursuing a Master of Science degree in information and library science from SUNY Buffalo State, where he resided for the first few semesters of his program, returning to Rhode Island last winter to finish up the balance of his coursework online.

Salisbury first hired Smith as a student worker and was immediately impressed with his work ethic. He would come in every day at 8 a.m. sharp and would work through his routine, which included opening up the library, starting up the computers and processing book requests for CCRI students. “He was different from most students,” Salisbury said. “It’s a rare student who is proactive, asking what he can do to help.”

After graduating from high school, the West Warwick native wasn’t sure what direction his academic career would take – but he knew that education was important to him.

Armed with a genuine curiosity, Smith had always been a good student and it would be no different at the college. At CCRI, Smith discovered his passion for library work. “I really found my place in the library,” Smith said.

“When I got the job here, that’s when I knew it was a field I wanted to pursue.”

The library, its patrons and staff dominate memories from his undergraduate years more than any one subject. After graduating with his associate degree in General Studies, he transferred to Rhode Island College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, knowing that his next step would be the master’s degree.

So it’s no surprise that he gives his all to his work here; working in library services has been a singular goal of his for some time.

Lee Smith ’10 and James Salisbury in the Knight Campus library.

“I love helping people, working at the circulation desk and in public services. I like working in an academic library, too,” he said.

“But most of all, helping people is fun for me.

It’s as simple as that.”

Smith will have ample opportunity to do that in his chosen field, from basic circulation services to research assistance, explained Salisbury. As part of his experience at the college, he even is shadowing Salisbury in the classroom, teaching CCRI students how to

research and read critically for college-level work.

When he is not working for CCRI or completing coursework, Smith works part time as a library tech at Hope Library. It’s a small library, he explained, so he is gaining experience across the spectrum of services in that job, too. The experiences he has had at CCRI and at Hope have inspired him to apply for jobs in both academic and public libraries, he said. “I’m open to what comes next.”

“ . . . Helping people is fun for me. It’s as simple as that.”

— LEE SMITH ’10

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INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Why I give: Thomas W. Quinlan Jr. ’96

T

homas W. Quinlan Jr. ’96 has always been interested in the business world. Neither of his parents obtained a college degree, nor can he point to a specific mentor who inspired him to pursue business, but he knew from a young age that he would need a postsecondary education to succeed in that arena.

“I wanted to better myself,” said Quinlan, now vice president – risk management at Washington Trust, the largest state-chartered bank in Rhode Island. “I felt that a business degree would help me get into companies at a higher level.”

To make his dream a reality, he enrolled at the college shortly after graduating from Warwick Veterans Memorial High School. The first semester was a tough adjustment – college life is vastly different from high school, after all, and he worked about 30 hours a week as a shift supervisor at a local Newport Creamery, which made balancing studies and work a challenge. But after his adjustment period, he “enjoyed it a lot,” he said, praising CCRI’s flexible course offerings for allowing him to fit in full-time studies and a nearly full-time job.

Quinlan continued to work at Newport Creamery as a restaurant manager for about three years after graduation until he had the opportunity to advance in retail, working as manager for a CVS/pharmacy store with about $20 million in sales. Intermittently, he fit in classes at Rhode Island College and then Bryant University. But ultimately, it was banking that would draw him in – and where he would thrive, thanks to the skills he learned at CCRI. “I got offered a job working at Citizens Bank as a branch manager when the partnership with Stop & Shop was in its infancy stage,” he said. “That kind of jump-started my career. Sometimes, it’s just about being in the right place at the right time.”

Over the years, Quinlan moved from Citizens to Bank Rhode Island and then to Washington Trust, where he began in the small business lending area.

“What I really enjoy about banking, especially on the small business side, is that I’m able to help people in the state, which affects the economy directly. If I can finance a business, especially a startup business or a

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There’s really not another institution in the state like [CCRI]

“ A CCRI education really opens up doors for other opportunities.”

— THOMAS W. QUINLAN JR. ’96

business that’s growing, it, in turn, hires more employees,” he said.

But these days, Quinlan is helping in another way: by volunteering his time and donating money to his alma mater, CCRI. He began by getting involved with the Alumni Association nearly 10 years ago, serving as chair of the golf tournament and development committees.

“I’ve always held CCRI in high regard.

I always felt that without that degree, I wouldn’t be at the level I am at today. So it’s important to give back to the college; there’s really not another institution in the state like it,” he said.

“Money raised directly supports the students.

And there are a lot of students out there where the difference between going to school and not going to school is made up by one of the scholarships. A CCRI education really opens up doors for other opportunities.” _______ To learn how to establish a scholarship for students or donate to the Alumni Fund, call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 401-333-7150 or online at www.ccri.edu/ alumni.

CLASS NOTES

1970s 1970 – Susan G. Ursillo recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Rhode Island and is now nationally certified in human resources.

1990s 1993 – Kenneth S. Buonaiuto has been promoted to lieutenant with the Rhode Island State Police. He has been assigned to all barracks locations as a member of the Uniform Bureau and to the Financial Crimes Unit as a member of the Detective Bureau.

He is the officer-in-charge of the Major Crimes Unit.

1993 – Ernest P. McKenney has been promoted to sergeant with the Rhode Island State Police. He has been as assigned to all barracks locations as a member of the Uniform Bureau, including the Commercial Enforcement Unit, and is assigned as the liaison officer at T.F. Green Airport.

1995 – Peter A. Filuminia has been promoted to corporal with the Rhode Island State Police. As a member of the Uniform Bureau, he has served in all barracks locations, including the Block Island detail. He is assigned to the Lincoln Woods Barracks.

1996 – Charles G. LeValley has been promoted to corporal with the Rhode Island State Police. As a member of the Uniform Bureau, he has served at all barracks locations and the Commercial Enforcement Unit and is assigned to the Wickford Barracks.

1997 – Brian P. McMahon was hired as assistant vice president of commercial lending at Pawtucket Credit Union.

1998 – Melissa Nassaney, a clinical coordinator and physical therapist, has received the women’s health clinical specialist certification from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists. She is one of only two in Rhode Island to receive this certification.

She sees patients in Lifespan’s East Greenwich facility and her clinical focus is pelvic floor disorders.

2000s 2006 – Umile Guido and Angel Mucci were married on June 13, 2015, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Westerly.

2010 – Kathleen (Izzi) Silvers graduated with her Master of Social Work from Rhode Island College in May 2015. She is working as a medical social worker at Gentiva Hospice.

2013 – Andrew T. Crowley, a senior at the University of Hartford, is a men’s basketball team walk-on who has been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches 2014–15 Honors Court. He is an architectural engineering student and recently was named to the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

2015 – Jillian Nantais and Michael Russ were married on May 24, 2015, at Wedding Bells Chapel in Las Vegas. _______ What’s new in your life?

Send information to: CCRI Office of Alumni Affairs 1762 Louisquisset Pike Lincoln, RI 02865 Email: alumni@ccri.edu

2010s 2010 – Kimberly Manchester and John Massaroco were married on April 18, 2015, at Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston.

Calendar of events

In memoriam

Dec. 3

The Green & White Alumni Magazine publishes “In memoriam” in honor of college alumni.

Dec. 3 to 6

Donna M. Arruda ’91 Debra J. (Cherry) Bettez ’81 Michelle A. Breslin ’91 Sarah E. Canavan ’82 Kathleen A. (Miley) Faltus ’75 George P. Fogarty ’81 Robert W. Glassford ’80 Arleen M. (Eibel) Keresztessy ’78 Autilia G. Lomba ’02 Leslie A. McClain ’83 Helene A. Moretti ’08 Daniel R. Sanches ’13 Frederick E. Steininger ’69 Chad E. Stephen ’08

“Changing Lives” celebration, Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, Cranston See back cover for additional details.

CCRI Players present “American Buffalo,” Liston Campus, Providence

Dec. 8 to 10

Fine Arts Seminar show, Knight Campus, Warwick

Dec. 9

Choral concert: Chorus and Chamber Singers, Knight Campus, Warwick

Dec. 15 to 17

Student art exhibition, Knight Campus, Warwick This calendar lists some of the upcoming events and important dates involving CCRI students, alumni, faculty and staff. For more information about what is happening at CCRI, visit www.ccri.edu.

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FLASHBACK

2007 – President Ray Di Pasquale’s inauguration

Ray Di Pasquale was inaugurated as CCRI’s fourth president on March 23, 2007. Under his direction, the college has reported near-record enrollments, received accreditation through 2024 from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, added numerous programs and courses, instituted energy cost-saving projects and expanded career pathway programs. Di Pasquale also spearheaded CCRI’s first capital campaign, which raised nearly $7 million toward improvements to the four campus libraries, dental labs and art department facilities.

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CCRI ALEX AND ANI BANGLE The perfect holiday gift The CCRI Alumni Association has partnered with Alex and Ani to create the first-ever community college signature patented expandable wire charm bangle, made in America with love.

This holiday season, give a gift that will directly support CCRI students. Proceeds from the sale of the CCRI charm bangles, which feature the college’s seal, will provide financial assistance for students through Alumni Association scholarships and book awards.

Bangles are available at all four CCRI Bookstore locations and on the Bookstore website at www.ccri.edu/bookstore.

®

® ®

®

COLLEGIATE COLLECTION LOYALTY | ENTHUSIASM | PRIDE

COLLEGIATE COLLECTION COLLEGIATE COLLECTION LOYALTY | ENTHUSIASM | PRIDE LOYALTY | ENTHUSIASM | PRIDE

Unforgettable memories are made here. Lifelong friendships are created here.

Unforgettable Your memories are made here. Lifelong friendships are created here. Your Unforgettable memories are made here. Lifelong friendships are created here. Your school is the foundation that will open your mind up to opportunities that will school positively is the foundation that will open your mind up to opportunities that will positively school is the foundation that will open your mind up to opportunities that will positively change your life. Proudly support the place that will remain forever in your change heart. your life. Proudly support the place that will remain forever in your heart. change your life. Proudly support the place that will remain forever in your heart.

MADE IN AMERICA WITH LOVE ® | WWW.ALEXANDANI.COM

COLLEGIATE COLLECTION

MADE IN AMERICA WITH LOVE ® | WWW.ALEXANDANI.COM MADE IN AMERICA WITH LOVE ® | WWW.ALEXANDANI.COM

LOYALTY | ENTHUSIASM | PRIDE Unforgettable memories are made here. Lifelong friendships are created here. Your school is the foundation that will open your mind up to opportunities that will positively change your life. Proudly support the place that will remain forever in your heart.

MADE IN AMERICA WITH LOVE ® | WWW.ALEXANDANI.COM

M E M B E R U P D AT E

If you’re not receiving a discount on your auto insurance, PLEASE CALL METLIFE AUTO & HOME®: 1-877-491-5087 Community College of Rhode Island’s Alumni Association members will get a discount on auto insurance!

MetLife Auto & Home has screened top insurers to find companies that will offer competitive rates to our members. All you need to do is call one number to get multiple quotes from top-rated insurers that have agreed to give you an immediate member discount.

As a member of the Community College of Rhode Island’s Alumni Association, you could save hundreds** every year with discounts like these: n Up to 15% member discount n Up to 20% discount based on length of membership n Up to $250* credit for claim-free driving n Extra savings with a multi-policy discount

By calling MetLife Auto & Home, you’re making the most of your membership and you could save hundreds!

Get FREE quotes from top-rated companies.

Call 1-877-491-5087 today!

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*NY drivers must pay state-mandated minimum deductible before using this benefit. **Savings are based on an annualized average savings for a group auto policy where the customer provided his/her prior premium and prior carrier at the time of the original quote (between 01/1012/10) and where the written auto premium amount resulted in a price less than the disclosed prior carrier’s premium. Discounts may not be available from all carriers and are only available to those who qualify. Coverages, discounts and billing options are subject to state availability, individual qualification and/or the insuring company’s underwriting guidelines.

CCRI is not a sponsor of this program and is in no way responsible for the insurance provided through this program.

MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates: Metropolitan Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan General Insurance Company, Metropolitan Group Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and Metropolitan Lloyds Insurance Company of Texas, all with administrative home offices in Warwick, RI. Coverage, rates, and discounts are available in most states to those who qualify. MetP&C®, MetCasSM, and MetGenSM are licensed in Minnesota. © 2011 MetLife Auto & Home. L0711194521[exp0614][xMA]

COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF RHODE ISLAND Liston Campus One Hilton St. Providence, RI 02905-2304

Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Providence, RI Permit No. 1693

Stay connected

6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3

Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island

Join us to celebrate the diverse student population at the Community College of Rhode Island with an evening of international cuisine and entertainment.

Come taste specialties from the Mediterranean, Asia and Caribbean and enjoy live cultural music and performances.

The event also includes a silent auction and cash bar.

Reservations: $75 per person For more information or to register online, visit www.ccri.edu/foundation.

The Changing Lives celebration is sponsored by the CCRI Foundation and will raise funds to connect students with their dreams.