Dr. Jack R. Warner Officially Installed as 11th President of Rhode Island College

Providence, RI – On Friday, November 15, Dr. Jack R. Warner was officially installed as the 11th President of Rhode Island College (RIC) during a formal ceremony in Roberts Hall, followed by a gala at the college’s Recreation & Events Center. Warner served his first two years as interim president before he was given a three-year appointment by the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner in February. The inaugural events were the capstone of that process.

During his inaugural address, Warner laid out his vision for the college as the “college of opportunity for Rhode Island” and his goal to become the state’s “most student-centered institution of higher education.”

“A high-quality college degree transformed my life and gave me opportunities I never dreamed were possible,” noted Warner, a first-generation college graduate. “I know that this RIC community is committed to transforming the lives of individual students into graduates who will enjoy a more prosperous and higher quality of life, while giving back to their own communities. As a public institution, we also understand that the collective impact of these transformations creates significant benefits for the economic development and quality of life of our state and region. This is our fundamental value proposition and that value is stronger than ever.”

The gala was attended by more than 400 people, including dignitaries such as Gov. Daniel McKee, Sen. Jack Reed, Mayor Brett Smiley, and Treasurer Jame Diossa. The event raised $130,000 for the President’s Discretionary Fund at the Rhode Island College Foundation.

“President Jack Warner is a forward-thinking leader and respected voice in higher education," said Gov. Dan McKee. “Thanks to his commitment to student excellence, President Warner has positioned Rhode Island College to help grow our state's economy, lead the way in cybersecurity, and prepare the next generation of Rhode Islanders for the workforce. On behalf of the Ocean State, I wish President Warner, his family, and RIC continued growth and success.”

“Dr. Warner has performed superbly in preparing Rhode Island College for long-term success,” said David Caprio, chairman, Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education. “His steady, learned, and experienced thinking is always strategic and deliberate. While solving today’s challenges, he also is focused on the impact that today’s actions will have decades into the future. That degree of consideration reveals a leadership style that puts the students of RIC and people of Rhode Island first. On behalf of the Council on Postsecondary Education, I congratulate him on this joyous occasion and extend best wishes for continued success.”

“Dr. Warner leads one of the most beloved Rhode Island institutions, and the people of Rhode Island can trust that they have at the helm of Rhode Island College a president deeply committed to student success. His definition of success is not limited to matriculating students but to all alumni throughout their entire lives,” said Shannon Gilkey, R.I postsecondary commissioner. “His student-centric focus is highly visible in all that he undertakes in the daily administration of the college and it is paying dividends in increased enrollment, a balanced budget, new programs aligned to in-demand jobs, and a strong support system of faculty and staff. Congratulations, Dr. Warner!”

About Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College is a regional comprehensive public college that serves approximately 6,100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students through its five schools: The Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, the School of Business, the School of Nursing and the School of Social Work. Established in 1854, it is Rhode Island’s first public institution of higher education. It is the first four-year institution of higher education in Rhode Island to earn federal recognition as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

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