2023 -- H 6363
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LC002958
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
THANKING MEGHAN HUGHES, PH. D., FOR HER DEDICATED LEADER SHIP AS THE
FIFTH PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Ajello,
McGaw, Fellela, Tanzi, and Cortvriend
Date Introduced: May 04, 2023
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, On February 1st of 2016, Meghan Hughes, Ph. D., a Class B Director, 1
became the first female and fifth President of Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI); and 2
WHEREAS, Founded in 1964, Community College of Rhode Island is the largest 3
community college in New England, educating 22,000 students annually and dedicated to its 4
mission “to offer recent high school graduates and returning adults the opportunity to acquire the 5
knowledge and skills necessary for intellectual, professional and personal growth through an 6
array of academic, career and lifelong learning programs”; and 7
WHEREAS, Dr. Hughes graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and holds a 8
Doctorate from New York University. Previous to her appointment as President, she had attained 9
thirty years of experience in higher education and the nonprofit sector including leading Year Up 10
Providence and as an art history teacher; and 11
WHEREAS, During her tenure at CCRI, Dr. Hughes successfully championed a strategic 12
plan that focused on student success and closing equity performance gaps, with “strong learning 13
outcomes, successful degree attainment, and robust labor market outcomes”; and 14
WHEREAS, In 2022, Dr. Hughes achieved many of her goals when CCRI achieved its 15
highest graduation rate in eighteen years and continues to aggressively pursue meaningful 16
retention, completion, transfer and employment gains for its students; and 17
WHEREAS, Recognized for her achievements, Dr. Hughes has been honored with the 18
“Trailblazer in Education” award in 2018, the “Foundation Builder Award” by the Latino Public 19
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Radio Foundation in 2016, the “Community Leader” award by the Rhode Island Foundation in 1
2015, and was named “Outstanding Woman of the Year” by United States Representative David 2
Cicilline in 2014; and 3
WHEREAS, In addition, Dr. Hughes serves on myriad Boards and Commissions 4
including, the Rhode Island Foundation, Greater Providence Chamber, Year Up Rhode Island, 5
Congressman Cicilline’s Women’s Advisory Council, the Rhode Island Commodores, the 6
Governor’s Commission on Higher Education and Employability, and the Governor’s Skills 7
Cabinet; and 8
WHEREAS, Extraordinary people never retire, they just begin a new chapter of their 9
lives. Such is the case with Dr. Meghan Hughes who, by virtue of her numerous 10
accomplishments, serves as a model for all our educational leaders; now, therefore be it 11
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 12
honors and commends Meghan Hughes on her retirement after seven and a half years of devoted 13
service to the students at Community College of Rhode Island. We thank her for all her efforts 14
and wish her good health, fulfillment and much success in all her future endeavors; and be it 15
further 16
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 17
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Meghan Hughes, Ph. D. 18
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LC002958
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