Office of the President

More than 80,000 graduates call the Community College of Rhode Island their alma mater, and I invite you to learn how the largest public institution of higher education in the state can support your postsecondary academic success.

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Message from the President

Welcome to the Community College of Rhode Island!

More than 80,000 graduates call the Community College of Rhode Island their alma mater, and I invite you to learn how the largest public institution of higher education in the state can support your postsecondary academic success.

Whether you plan to transfer to a four-year college or work for one of Rhode Island’s high-wage, high-demand employers after graduation, at CCRI you will find a community of dedicated faculty and staff members working together to support you through graduation.

Here, our Guided Pathways will provide you with clear Academic and Career Paths to graduation in one of our 90-plus programs leading to a seamless transfer to Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island. When you select one of our seven paths, you will become a member of a learning community, form relationships with other students who share your interests, interact with faculty in your area of study and receive guidance geared to your career goals.

Across the college, we are collaborating on initiatives that support our Strategic Plan goals to enhance student success and completion; expand partnerships and programs; and strengthen our institutional effectiveness. We are all working every day to support you from the moment you first arrive on our campus until you cross our graduation stage.

Our CCRI community is inclusive and diverse. We serve first-generation college students, recent high school graduates and working adults. We educate veterans who have returned from deployment and are embarking on their second career. We serve high school seniors enrolled through our Running Start program, eager to get a head start on the college experience, and we welcome adult learners who are setting foot inside an institution of higher learning for the first time after many years. Our diversity is a point of pride for us, and our students inspire us every day.

We know higher education enriches the lives of our students and their families, and we are proud to provide all Rhode Islanders with the opportunity to successfully pursue postsecondary education and high-quality employment.

My team and I look forward to seeing you on campus and supporting your success as a member of our CCRI community.


Sincerely,
Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., R.N.
Interim President
Community College of Rhode Island

 

Biography: Dr. Rosemary A. Costigan

When Rosemary Costigan enrolled in what was then Rhode Island Junior College, she was a recent high school graduate from Pawtucket West High School (now Shea) and a first-generation college student with a plan to enter the Nursing field.  What she never envisioned then was that she would one day serve as Interim President of her alma mater – the present-day Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) – becoming the first alumnus to do so.

Before being appointed Interim President, Dr. Costigan served nearly eight years as Vice President for Academic Affairs, responsible for assuring the college provides the quality of instruction and broad array of educational programs and support services so that first-generation students like herself can achieve their own academic success and career goals, including graduation and entry into the workforce and/or transfer to a four-year institution.

Dr. Costigan has led the college’s work to expand courses online and invest in remote, accessible support to meet the ever-expanding needs of the student body; developed collaborative, faculty-led professional development that champions high-impact, equitable teaching, and learning practices; and helped enhance shared governance at the college with the launch of the Faculty Senate. In addition, Dr. Costigan facilitated the first formal academic master plan, along with faculty and instituted data-driven process to promote quality improvement within Academic Affairs. With her background and experience rooted in healthcare, Dr. Costigan was central to CCRI’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic by pivoting the college’s instruction to remote teaching and learning within a span of just two weeks to keep the college community safe.

After graduating with an Associate Degree in Nursing, Dr. Costigan continued her education while enjoying a successful nursing career at the former Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket. Upon graduating from RIJC, Dr. Costigan transferred to Rhode Island College where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing and then onto the University of Rhode Island where she completed her Master of Science Degree (Nursing) and Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing). Dr. Costigan returned to the academic hallways at CCRI and URI to teach Nursing and has served in multiple academic leadership positions at CCRI, including Chair of the Department of Nursing and Assistant Dean of Nursing.

Dr. Costigan serves on the Board of Trustees for Davies Career & Technical High School and has served as a peer-evaluator for both NECHE and ACEN. Among her many accomplishments and honors, Dr. Costigan was inducted into the CCRI Society of Knights in 2016 and is a past recipient of the Rosemary Wood Nursing Leadership Award, and the Academic Excellence Award by the Hospital Association of Rhode Island.

Dr. Costigan is married and is the mother of five children and seven grandchildren.

Contact the President

Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., R.N.

 

Presidents office hours

Office hours are available by appointment, according to the following schedule:

  • Fourth Tuesday of each month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
  • Fourth Wednesday of each month from 9 to 10 a.m.
Please call Deborah Zielinski at 401-825-2188 to schedule a meeting.

 

Request the President’s Attendance

If you would like to request that the President attend a college-related event or class, please download, fill out, and submit this electronic form.

Ask The President

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