News&Views

Commencement 2005

The University of Rhode Island’s 119th Commencement was held on Saturday, May 21 (Graduate Commencement) and Sunday, May 22 (Undergraduate Commencement). Best selling author Ann Hood, a 1978 URI graduate, was the speaker at the Sunday Commencement. She was also one of seven honorary degree recipients.

Ann HoodDoctor of Arts

After graduating with honors in English from URI, Ann Hood traveled the world as a flight attendant for TWA for nearly eight years. During that time, she earned her M.A. at New York University, wrote her first book, and sold it for publication. That novel, Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine, hit the bestsellers list in 1987. Eight more books followed including Ruby and a memoir, Do Not Go Gentle: My Search for Miracles in a Cynical Time. Her latest book, An Ornithologist’s Guide to Life, was published last year by Norton. Hood’s short stories and essays have appeared in The New York Times, Glimmer Train, Double Take, The Missouri Review, The Washington Post, Traveler, and Bon Appetit. She has won a Best American Spiritual Writing Award, a Pushcart Prize, and the Paul Bowles Prize for Short Fiction.

Nancy McKinstry Doctor of Laws

When Nancy McKinstry was a URI student studying economics, faculty members had little doubt that she would go places. They were right. She has shattered the glass ceiling. Today, McKinstry is CEO and chair of the executive board of Wolters Kluwer, an Amsterdam-based publisher that operates in 25 countries, employs more than 18,000 people, and earns $4.3 billion in annual revenue. After graduating from URI in 1980, McKinstry earned an M.B.A. from Columbia University. Despite her busy schedule as head of a global business, McKinstry serves on the URI President’s Advisory Board and on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s External Advisory Council.

Mark Ross, Doctor of Humane Letters

As a member of the founding family of Ross-Simons, a thriving jewelry company, Mark Ross, a 1964 URI graduate, has been an energetic supporter of his alma mater. An active member of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s External Advisory Council, Ross became aware of the limited funding for faculty and students in the humanities. Recognizing the critical importance of the humanities, he agreed to chair a fundraising effort to help underwrite faculty and student humanities research. That endeavor has already surpassed its original $500,000 goal and has been increased to $1 million.

Paula Vogel, Doctor of Arts

Ever since she won a Pulitzer Prize in 1998 for her play How I Learned to Drive, Paula Vogel’s career has been in high gear. The drama about a pedophile has been produced all over the world. Her other plays, The Baltimore Waltz, Hot N Throbbing, Desdemona, The Mineola Twins, The Long Christmas Ride Home, And Baby Makes Seven, and The Oldest Profession, tackle such subjects as AIDS, pornography, prostitution, and gay and lesbian relationships. The Brown University literary arts professor possesses a unique ability to explore taboo topics and to make them accessible to a wide audience.

John Aristotle Stoukides, M.D., Doctor of Science

John Aristotle Stoukides, whose practice in geriatrics flourishes at Roger Williams Medical Center, is committed to a team-based, interdisciplinary practice that provides his older patients with the best possible care. Stoukides, who earned a pharmacy degree at URI in 1985 before earning his M.D. from Tufts University, works with medically complex patients whose average age is in the late eighties. It’s no wonder that Rhode Island Monthly dubbed him “Top Doc in Geriatrics” five times. He is a member of URI’s Health Promotion Partnership and a founding and core faculty member in the Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center.

Seoung-Young Hong, Doctor of Laws

Seoung-Young Hong, president of Inha University in South Korea, is the visionary behind the recently formed Global U7 Consortium that is composed of seven leading institutions worldwide, including URI. The institutions are collaborating in education, research, and capacity-building in the fields of high technology, business, marine affairs, and logistics. As past president of the Korea Maritime Institute, an important research institution that analyzes major marine issues, Hong recognized that solutions to the oceans’ problems are multinational in nature, and in 1997 he began a joint venture with URI that continues to this day.

John M. Murphy, Doctor of Humane Letters

John M. Murphy is founder and CEO of the Home Loan and Investment Bank and its affiliate companies, which employ 300 and provide mortgage lending services in more than 30 states. Born of Irish immigrants, Murphy grew up in the Fox Point section of Providence, the youngest son of a widowed mother. As a successful businessman, he has never forgotten his beginnings and has quietly supported charities that serve people, particularly children, by providing health services and educational opportunities. He has helped the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence, St. Joseph Hospital, Rhode Islanders Supporting Education, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, among others.

Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr.

Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., distinguished scholar-in-residence and director of URI’s Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, is the fourth recipient of the University’s Diversity Award for Lifetime Achievement. Dr. LaFayette was invited to speak at the U.S. Department of State’s African American History Celebration in February about his experiences during the Civil Rights Movement. He is shown here with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Ten Truman Scholarship recipients

Ten Truman Scholarship recipients, including Elizabeth Rolando ’84, Johnathan DiMuro ’03, and Gregory Hughes ’04, returned to campus in April to celebrate the University’s designation as a 2004 Truman Foundation Honor Institution. URI is the first public university in New England to receive this honor and one of three nationally selected in 2004. The URI Honors Program hosted a talk by CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, who serves on the New York selection panel for Truman Scholars, in honor of the occasion.

The URI Women’s Studies program

The URI Women’s Studies program, one of the country’s first, celebrated its silver anniversary this year. Today nearly 300 students are enrolled in 65 women’s studies interdisciplinary courses jointly offered by 16 different departments in five colleges.

President Robert L. Carothers

President Robert L. Carothers received the first Council of Fellows Outstanding Mentor Award at the American Council on Education’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on February 13. The ACE Fellows Program supports academics interested in pursuing higher education leadership positions. Since joining URI in 1991 as its tenth president, Carothers has mentored nine ACE Fellows.

Zeta Beta Tau

Zeta Beta Tau, a fraternity respected for its strong commitment to campus and community service and academic performance, recently broke ground for a new chapter house. Active brothers, alumni, and University officials participated in brief ceremonies to mark the first new construction of a fraternity house since 1980. The 10,000-square-foot, two-story house will be built at 8 Fraternity Circle, the site of the fraternity’s former house, which was destroyed by fire in 1994. The design was taken from drawings of the original house.

From Your Alumni Association President

Dear Fellow Alumni,

This will be my last letter as Alumni Association president, and what better way to end my term than to finally say it’s official—the move to the new Alumni Center has been completed! Not only is the Alumni Center now home to the Alumni Association and the Division of University Advancement, but it’s also a spacious and comfortable setting for meetings and other events. I can attest to that personally since the Alumni Association Executive Board held its April meeting at the Alumni Center. Michele Nota and her staff gave board members a tour of the building, and Michele informed us that there are already several events planned at the center for Commencement and Golden Grad Weekend. If you’re interested in using the space for an event, please call the Alumni Office at 401-874-2242.

Thank you to all the former Alumni Association presidents who worked so hard to keep this dream of a new Alumni Center moving forward. Thank you to Phil Kydd, Alan Wasserman, and Linc Almond for working tirelessly to make this a reality. Thank you also to President Carothers, for without the support of the administration, this building wouldn’t be here. We’re looking forward to showcasing the Alumni Center at the many celebrations now being planned.

I would like to welcome our new president, Peter Miniati ’85. Peter has been very active in the Alumni Association over the past few years and has served as a member of the Finance Committee, as treasurer of the Executive Board, and, most recently, as president-elect. He has been a strong supporter of the Ram Fund, the student managed investment fund, and has worked tirelessly to recruit successful alumni in the field of financial services to work with the students. He is passionate about the University and about providing opportunities to our students as they graduate. I know Peter will do a tremendous job as our next president. I would also like to welcome Sixcia Henderson, Mark Ross, and Melba Depena to the Nominating Committee and John Boulmetis as the representative for the College of Human Sciences and Services,

I have enjoyed working with Michele Nota, her staff, and the Executive Board. We are extremely fortunate to have this group of dedicated professionals working on our behalf providing programs and services as well as fiduciary oversight. I intend to stay closely connected to the University. It is an exciting time on campus with many projects in progress including a new dormitory, dining hall, and biotech building. The University is also gearing up for a new Capital Campaign to increase the endowment.

If you’d like to get reconnected to the University, please call Michele Nota at the Alumni Office at 401-874-2242. We would welcome your support and participation.

Thank you!

Kathy Goulding ’77

URI students

URI students recently engaged in a vigorous debate on the merits of casino gambling at the Rhode Island Statehouse as part of the Emerging Leaders Program, a part of Leadership Rhode Island. Senators for a day Nathaniel Nelson, David Hathaway Jr., and Krystle Nowak joined 26 other students from Rhode Island colleges in this program designed to help students make the transition from college to civic life.

Student-athlete Justine Boisvert

Student-athlete Justine Boisvert trains hard to excel, but athletic excellence can also be found in her family tree. Justine is the granddaughter of Fred Tootell, legendary coach and athletic director. “Growing up, I knew that my grandfather was the athletic director here and that he coached track and won a gold medal in the Olympics,” said Justine, a sophomore member of the Rhody women’s basketball team.

Eulalia Grace Frenzel

Eulalia Grace Frenzel, a psychologist in the URI Counseling Center since 1980, has been named 2005 Woman of the Year by the Association of Professional and Academic Women. A reception and award ceremony was held in Frenzel’s honor at the University Club on May 20.

The URI Alcohol Team

The URI Alcohol Team led a conference in Newport on student alcohol problems on college campuses. Participants have team research/coalition projects underway funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism initiative, Rapid Response to College Drinking Problems. URI Psychology Professors John Stevenson, Paul Florin, and Robert Laforge and Boston University School of Public Health Professor William DeJong are investigators on URI’s NIAAA research grant.

Jumpstart URI Corps tutor Sara Addis, a freshman, helps Devon Libutti, 5, string beads.

Jumpstart student AmeriCorps

Jumpstart student AmeriCorps members and 36 preschool children celebrated their year together at the Jumpstart for a Day celebration. The event gave the children’s families a chance to see the student tutors interact with their partner children. The program is sponsored by the Feinstein Center for Service Learning.

Virginia Chafee

Virginia Chafee, widow of the late U. S. Senator John Chafee, recently typed in a few key strokes on a computer in the URI Library’s Special Collections Reading Room, linking the index of her husband’s senatorial papers to the World Wide Web. It is now possible for scholars, students, historians, and citizens to learn more about the senator’s remarkable career and achievements.

U.S. Army Lt. Nathan Seidell

U.S. Army Lt. Nathan Seidell made a recent visit to his alma mater to speak to a group of ROTC cadets, some of whom will head to Iraq or Afghanistan after graduation. A Ranger-qualified airborne infantry officer with the 2nd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division, Seidell was in command of a platoon of 35 soldiers, leading patrols within three days of stepping foot on Iraqi soil.

Joy Hess

Joy Hess, a senior field hockey star from Ephrata, Pa., has been named the first NCAA Fall Post Graduate Scholarship recipient in URI’s history. A communicative disorders major with a grade point average of 3.9, Hess was the only student-athlete from the Atlantic 10 to be awarded the $7,500 scholarship this year. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.

The 2005 Black Scholars Awards

The 2005 Black Scholars Awards were presented to graduating seniors in ceremonies held in the Cherry Auditorium on April 4, 2005. Seen above, left to right, are the winners: Randy Brooks, Raydeana Roderick, Alex Bien-Aime, Pascale Delaunay, Moses Siums, Emily Hall, Nathalie Nascimento, Adilson Ribeiro and Millie White. Missing from the photo are: Candace Ranglin, Reuben Ray, and Geraldine Hines.

It’s Not Too Late

To Support the URI Alumni Fund

Please give as generously as you can to support the 2004-2005 Annual Fund. Your gift will help support student scholarships and programs that are not covered by the URI budget.

To give, either call 401-874-4505 or pledge on line at adance.uri.edu/giving/giveonline