President Marc Parlange celebrates URI’s newest alumni and reflects on URI’s role in the biomedical sector.

As we celebrate the recent Spring Commencement, marking both a culmination and a beginning for our graduates, I am filled with a deep sense of pride in our community. These ceremonies remind us of the importance of coming together to honor critical milestones and reaffirm our collective commitment to URI’s values: nurturing future leaders and innovators and pursuing knowledge with honesty, integrity, and courage.

This spirit of community is especially significant as we take a closer look at the impact of our work in biomedical sciences. In Rhode Island, our community’s health and well-being are deeply intertwined with the state’s growth and development. The implications of this work are profound, and URI is making substantial contributions, particularly in understanding and treating Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, through the efforts of the George & Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience.

Alzheimer’s disease poses one of the most critical public health challenges in our state and globally. It is not only a medical issue, but also a community concern that has devastating impacts on countless families, significantly reducing the quality of life of all those it touches. At the Ryan Institute, our researchers are pioneering efforts in early detection, prevention strategies, and therapeutic interventions. Groundbreaking work on biomarkers and noninvasive screening tools, like retinal imaging, are the innovative approaches we need that can lead to significant advancements in early diagnosis and disease management.

Colleagues across our campuses, from the College of Nursing to Health Sciences and Pharmacy, are bolstering the work of the Ryan Institute through research into lifestyle factors that influence cognitive health—including diet, exercise, and mental well-being—illustrating our comprehensive approach to addressing disease and positively impacting health outcomes in the state.

“The biotechnology and medical research sectors are burgeoning areas of our economy, and URI can play a pivotal role in their growth and success.”

—Marc B. Parlange

Central to this work is the University’s general obligation bond for a new biomedical science building, which we expect Rhode Islanders will be asked to vote on in November. We are deeply grateful for Rhode Islanders’ support of our bonds over the years—bonds that have had a transformative impact on the University. The proposed state-of-the-art biomedical science facility will not only support cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research, but will also play a pivotal role in workforce development, preparing a new generation of health-care professionals. The biotechnology and medical research sectors are burgeoning areas of our economy, and URI can play a pivotal role in their growth and success. By fostering a strong biomedical sciences ecosystem, we enhance our state’s attractiveness to biotech companies and startups, spurring job creation and economic development. The partnerships we forge between academia, industry, and government are crucial to our collective success.

The stories in this issue further celebrate our community’s achievements in the areas of biomedicine and public and environmental health and highlight how our efforts are making a real difference in Rhode Island and beyond.

I hope this season affords you rest and relaxation. And as we look forward to the polls this fall, let’s remember the importance of civic engagement and continue to actively participate in shaping the future of our community, state, and nation.

Finally, to our Class of 2024—welcome to a robust alumni community—stay engaged, and come back often!

Marc B. Parlange
President, University of Rhode Island

At URI’s 2024 Spring Commencement exercises, more than 4,700 degrees were conferred and actress Viola Davis (above) was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters. One of only 19 people to have won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards, Davis spent much of her early life in Rhode Island and graduated from Central Falls High School and Rhode Island College.

PHOTOS: NORA LEWIS; CATHERINE SCOTT