Giroux is RIC’s New Connection to the Corporate World

Jenifer Giroux has been appointed to become Rhode Island College’s first-ever vice president of corporate engagement and professional studies. 

“I believe establishing this position signals that RIC is serious about working with the business community, and with so many of our students remaining in Rhode Island after graduating, it’s important that we have strong ties with businesses,” Giroux says. 

Giroux, who was former associate vice president of professional studies and continuing education, will now become the primary point of contact to link RIC’s assets with Rhode Island employers and industry associations.

Rhode Island College Interim President Jack Warner said Giroux will be responsible for partnering with the college’s academic offices to develop and execute strategies to expand adult education, continuing education, workforce development, online coursework and graduate studies. 

With Giroux’s promotion, “I am raising the portfolio of this critical work,” Warner says.

Giroux intends to develop a strategic plan around corporate engagement and expand the college’s participation with the Real Jobs RI program as well as other philanthropic and grant opportunities.

“We’re going to be looking at a complete relationship with employers,” she says. “It could be training for their incumbent employees, working in the CEO program with the college’s Alumni Association or providing internship and job placements for our graduates. With RIC alumni working at many corporations, that would yield more chances for us to engage.”

Giroux will also work closely with Miguel Nino, the college’s new assistant vice president for adult and online education. She foresees more online, evening and weekend courses at the college, which she says state corporations are clamoring for their employees.

“That’s where the expertise of Dr. Nino will come in,” she says. “His role will involve supporting faculty in developing more online programming, if there’s a need, and to ensure that the programming is high quality.” 

Giroux is part of a six-member innovation team created by Warner that includes a labor market economist who provides labor market demand data in Rhode Island.

“Our goal is to look at economic trends to make data-driven and informed decisions about how to meet the needs of state employers,” she says. 

Contact Jenifer Giroux at jgiroux@ric.edu