CCRI's 5th president lives by her tattoo

College’s 5th president installed at campus ceremony

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After being named for the role in February, the Community College of Rhode Island’s new president was officially installed on Thursday. Chair of Rhode Island Board of Education Barbara Cottam, Chair of the Council on Postsecondary Education William Foulkes, and Governor Gina Raimondo were among those participating in the ceremony to induct Dr. Meghan Hughes as the college’s fifth – and first female – president. Cottam called Hughes “energetic and passionate” before Foulkes expressed his readiness to “take CCRI to the next level” under her leadership.

“It’s exciting. I’m happy to be part of [inducting] the first female president of CCRI. It’s about time,” added Governor Raimondo. “I have high hopes for her mostly because she’s so passionate about providing a good experience for students here. She knows that a good education is a ticket to the middle class and everybody has to have an accessible education. We’re going to support her and make sure she gets the job done.”

Dr. Hughes has a Ph.D. from New York University and graduated magna cum laude from Yale University. When she taught at Tufts University, she won the school’s Excellence in Teaching Award. After that, she became the executive director of Year Up Providence, a branch of the national organization who’s goal is to “close the opportunity divide by providing urban young adults with the skills, experience and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education.” It was at Year Up that Hughes met the governor and “roped” her into becoming a mentor.

One of Hughes’ favorite Yale professors, Robert Stepto (English, African American and American studies), spoke at the ceremony about her time as his student. He read from five poets, four of whom were U.S. poet laureates, and said Hughes’ talents “match that of the school.”

Dr. Hughes creatively crafted her speech around her wrist tattoo, which reads “Noli Timere,” believed to be dying words of poet Seamus Heaney. Hughes said the Latin phrase “do not be afraid” has motivated her to succeed despite fears she may encounter along the way. She’s seen new students survive their anxieties every day too, she said.

“I watched our students push through the fear…and learn how to be college students,” she said.

Hughes continued on by telling stories of students, one of whom was Oscar, a student who someday hopes to open his own restaurant. Oscar’s favorite class was English because he loved reading The Odyssey. Hughes said Oscar was on an odyssey of his own, taking long bus rides to and from classes to further his own education while also fulfilling the roles of a single parent.

Oscar’s story “mirrors” that of so many other CCRI students, Hughes said. She thanked the college’s faculty members who help them succeed, calling them “relentless to our college’s mission.”

CCRI faculty and community members seem eager about her as well.

Hughes laughed, cried and smiled as she watched a congratulatory video compiled for her by various departments throughout the college.

After the ceremony, CCRI held a massive reception, funded by sponsors like The Washington Trust, at the Knight Estate. Faculty and administration alike joined to celebrate Hughes.

“She’s reinvigorated our community college foundation board,” said David Monti, president of the Community College Foundation. “The extent of volunteers who are on the foundation board are people in the business community and they can’t wait to work with the new president and her team to raise a lot of money for the college. She’s been so great about the whole thing.”

The governor seconded the praise.

“She’s one of the hardest workers I know. She is relentless, and she really cares about every single student at CCRI,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do. There are a lot of changes that we need to make here and it won’t be easy, but she’s going to stick with it.”

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