KINGSTON, R.I.- October 16, 2018- The University of Rhode Island inducted 13 faculty and staff members with at least 40 years of service into its Lifetime Service Society during ceremonies at the Robert L. Carothers Library and Learning Commons on September 28, 2018. Each recipient received a certificate of appreciation from the University and citations from government officials. A commemorative brick, inscribed with his or her name and years of service, has been placed in the courtyard of the library.

Winifred E. Brownell of North Kingstown, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences • 46 years
Professor of Communication Studies Winifred Brownell received her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from SUNY Buffalo. At URI, she served as professor of communication studies and as associate dean, interim dean, and, since 1999, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. She was an ACE Fellow at the University of Utah and the first URI scholar to visit the People’s Republic of China to begin faculty and student exchanges with key universities. She has received many honors including The URI Foundation Teaching Excellence Award, the Association of Academic and Professional Women “Woman of the Year” Award, the Lambda Pi Eta Richard E. Bailey Service Award for Excellence in the Art of Human Communication, the Multicultural Center Administrative Excellence, the Rhode Island International Film Festival Producer’s Circle Award, the Wild Women of South County Award for leadership in higher education, the Dream Maker Award from the R.I. Film and TV Office, and the Leadership Award from the National Language Flagship. She helped launch the Harrington School of Communication and Media, and the Gender and Women’s Studies Program, and helped to sustain and enhance the International Engineering Program. This year the Rhode Island International Film Festival was dedicated to Winnie in recognition of her contributions to higher education, the film industry and to film education.

Lawrence F. Brusic of Kenyon, R.I., Hall Director, Division of Student Affairs • 43 years
Larry Brusic is a URI graduate who was a member of the student senate, a WRIU DJ and Heathman Hall resident when he studied here. After graduation, he became Hall Director and was a pioneer and one of the first hall directors to visit every resident in his building. He was a proponent of residence hall councils, which are now an expectation of all student housing. He appreciated the history of URI, and as part of student resident adviser training, he helped create the URI “Walk Through Time” exhibit in the library for the University’s 100th anniversary in 1992. He wanted students to understand that they, too, are a part of URI history. He had a unique perspective, appreciation and understanding of students, and his students loved him for it. His staff was intensely loyal and to this day he remembers them and they him, a tribute beyond any other for this truly unique and outstanding professional.

Richard A. Casagrande of Kingston, Professor, College of the Environment and Life Sciences • 41 years
After earning degrees in entomology at Rutgers and Michigan State universities, Richard Casagrande joined the URI faculty in 1976. Since then, he has pursued a career in insect ecology as well as a serious hobby in ornamental horticulture. He has taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses in entomology and instructed master gardeners and industry professionals throughout New England. With assistance from his colleagues, he has developed a world-class program in biological control of insects and weeds at URI, in which he plans to participate after retirement.

Robert A. Comerford of Wakefield, Professor, College of Business • 42 years
A Naval Air Force veteran, Robert Comerford earned his Ph.D. at UMass Amherst after working for Welex Corp. and came to URI in 1975. He researched the financial structure of marine-related businesses, co-authored strategic management textbooks and held various URI administrative positions, including interim vice president for business and finance, associate and acting dean of the College of Business, department chair, and head of URI’s first small business center. He taught on and off-campus graduate and undergraduate courses for more than four decades. He is an instrument-rated private pilot and enjoys surfcasting and racing sailboats.

Robert H. Fuquea* of Kingston, Hall Director, Division of Student Affairs • 45 years
Bob Fuquea was a URI student who majored in history. He was a renaissance man, a sailor, a basketball player, an award-winning golfer, a poker player, a font of knowledge, a softball player and coach. He worked in Hopkins Hall for a majority of his time at URI and then transitioned to the graduate and undergraduate student apartments. He was a man of strong opinion who served as a valuable mentor for young professionals. He was always welcoming, taking time to explain complex issues to younger staff and always listening closely to his peers. Fuquea mentored thousands of students, many of whom came back to visit him and seek his counsel. Sadly, Bob passed away in September and will be missed by all.

Thomas P. Husband of West Branch, Mich., Professor, College of the Environment and Life Sciences • 40 years
Since 1977, Tom Husband taught more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students for the Department of Natural Resources Science mow the College of Environment and Life Sciences. His research has addressed contemporary and important scientific problems of state, regional and international scope. As an indicator of his research acumen, eight of his projects from 2010 through 2019 are valued at more than $6 million. He established the URI Wildlife Genetics and Ecology Laboratory and has published more than 130 scientific articles in journals worldwide. Since 1983, he has received more than 20 awards for his achievements.

George E. Kent of Charlestown, R.I., Professor of Music, College of Arts and Sciences • 48 years
George Kent received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and his master’s degree in music from the New England Conservatory of Music. He came to URI in 1969, having taught in the Stonington, Conn., school district for three years and at Rhode Island College for seven. He has been the organist at Christ Church in Westerly since 1956. In 1959, he founded the Chorus of Westerly, which, under his direction, grew to over 200 voices. He was associate conductor of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra for 16 years, responsible for all music education outreach. His accomplishments range from recordings on the Nonesuch label and international recital appearances, to honorary doctorates and recognition by the Rhode Island Historical Society as a “History Maker.” His commitment to quality music education for children and adults has inspired countless professional and amateur musicians and has fostered an informed audience for all those performers.

Amar K. Lahiri of Wakefield, Professor, University Libraries • 47 years
As the senior-most faculty member, Amar Lahiri’s work has impacted every researcher, teacher and student at the University. His cataloging for the University Libraries for almost half a century has opened doors to countless members of our community and the world. In 1987, he achieved the rank of full professor and was appointed head of cataloging. Under Lahiri’s leadership, the department transformed the cataloging system. Many wonder why he continues to work at the age of 86. His answer is always: love of work, the University and his community.

William R. Matteson of Wakefield, Director, Property and Support Services • 44 years
Bill Matteson graduated from Bates College, and after graduation he went to work for Marathon House in Stamford, Conn. In the summer of 1972, Matteson began a seven-year stint working third shift at the URI Police Department while he completed his master’s degree in 1978. He was involved in theatre, and in 1976 he went to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he performed in a play, “Rule, Rhode Island” written by University Professors Kimber Wheelock and Joel Cohen. In 1979 he went to work in Property. Bill was promoted to assistant director of Property and became director of Property and Support Services around 2000. Matteson has been growing dahlias since 1988 and has been a member of the RI Dahlia Society and American Dahlia Society since 1993. He is also an ADS Accredited Dahlia Judge.

Barbara J. Ray of North Kingstown, Coordinator, GSO and Department of Public Safety • 45 years
Born in New Hampshire, Barbara Ray earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and a master’s degree from the University of Hawaii. She began working at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography in 1971 for Bob Duce, who later became the dean. She joined Bob’s research group in 1970, and for the next 20 years she was responsible for the execution of major research programs in the Pacific. She was a very active scientist and co-authored 21 peer-reviewed publications. Ray then left GSO to apply her experience and wisdom in the Department of Public Safety, working for Director Stephen Baker. In 1998, Ray joined the Department of Safety and Risk Management as the Coordinator of Hazardous Material and Chemical Waste. She was the sole employee of Environmental Health and Safety, now a division of Public Safety, and includes four full-time employees and one part-time employee. She provided safety training, assisted scientists with safety issues and assisted in disposal of laboratory chemicals. Ray was responsible for submitting reports to state and federal governments. She put off her retirement to oversee the move of the College of Chemistry from Pastore Hall to the Beaupre Center for Chemical and Forensic Sciences and in 2016 was recognized for her efforts and named Public Safety Employee of the Year.

Karen F. Stein of Kingston, Professor of English, College of Arts and Sciences • 49 years
Karen Stein received her bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Brooklyn College (CUNY). She received her master’s from Pennsylvania State University, her M.L.I.S. from URI and her Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. She was selected Woman of the Year by both the URI Association of Professional and Academic Women and the Rhode Island Commission on Women. She co-founded the Women’s Studies Program (now the Gender and Women’s Studies Program) at URI. A specialist in modern North American women writers, she has written books and articles on Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison, Rachel Carson and Adrienne Rich; and essays on Octavia Butler, Janet Frame, Susan Glaspell, Margaret Laurence and Alice Walker. She was director of graduate studies in the English Department, chair of the English Department and director of the Women’s Studies Program.

Timothy W. Tierney of Wakefield, Assistant Director, Audio Visual Production Services • 41 years
Tim Tierney came to URI as an undergraduate in the early 1970s and earned his degree in psychology. He then pursued a master’s in education during his tenure. In the 1990s Tierney successfully partnered with faculty from the College of Nursing to secure funding from The Champlin Foundation in support of early distance learning efforts and again later with the Department of Journalism for TV studio improvements in Chafee Social Science Center. He served on the Commencement Committee for many years and occasionally found time to teach for Education, Library and Information Studies and Film and Media Studies. He was a dedicated Professional Staff Association member and past president. He stepped in to assist the Part-Time Faculty Union when they needed leadership during a time of transition. He acted as a liaison with student groups, most notably URI-TV, encouraging them to organize and provide content for local URI channels and their own portfolios. Tierney was instrumental in helping to get the Talent Development Program into a regular slot in the TV studio, where the students developed their own programming. He is a friendly and talented individual who excels in customer service, and as a colleague.

Wayne F. Velicer* of Wakefield, Professor of Psychology, College of Health Sciences • 42 years
Wayne Velicer received his Ph.D. in quantitative psychology from Purdue University in 1972 and joined the URI faculty in 1973. An engaging and knowledgeable educator, he taught essential topics in quantitative psychology and pioneered the application of time-series analysis to the behavioral sciences. He was a principal developer of the transtheoretical model of behavior change, and with colleagues at the Cancer Prevention Research Center, was awarded more than $60 million in grant funding. His research refined methods for measurement and expert system development to study and enact change in multiple health behaviors such as smoking cessation, healthy eating, physical exercise, substance abuse prevention, and sun protection. He was identified as one of the highest impact authors in psychology, and his work has been cited more than 48,000 times. Wayne passed away in 2017 but his legacy continues.
*awarded posthumously

Olivia Ross, an intern in the Marketing and Communications Department at URI and public relations major, wrote this press release.