KINGSTON, R.I. – March 27, 2026 – Keaney Blue was on full display in, around and above the Rhode Island capitol yesterday as dozens of state leaders and hundreds of University of Rhode Island students, faculty, and staff celebrated the University’s success and impact during URI Day at the State House in Providence.

URI students, faculty and staff publicly presented interactive exhibits from colleges across its campuses. Those exhibits not only showcased to URI Day attendees what the University offers both academically and in research, but they also represent what is possible with continued investment in the University and the impact URI has—and will have—on the community.

“Rhode Island is in a place right now where we’re in lock step with URI making sure that this state not only provides opportunities for young people in our state, but also raises incomes for our families and makes sure we’re healthy enough to enjoy the opportunity to live in a great place like Rhode Island with a premier university leading the charge,” said Gov. Daniel McKee, who also lauded URI President Marc Parlange for being a “champion for URI.” 

Along with supporting multiple critical investments in URI, both House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Valarie Lawson acknowledged the Rhode Island General Assembly’s plan to create the state’s first public medical school. An independent study released in October 2025 by a Rhode Island Senate special legislative commission found that establishing a medical school at URI is both viable and necessary to meet the state’s pressing health care needs, and would be an “essential investment” by the state into URI.

“We want to see this medical school become reality because we think it’s good public policy for Rhode Island,” Lawson said. “We’re grateful for all that you do for Rhode Island and we’re looking forward to this next path to make our state even stronger in health care.”

The return on investment by URI, which once again was named the No. 1 public university in New England by The Wall Street Journal and maintains the prestigious R1 research designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, has been significant, according to URI Board of Trustees Chair Margo Cook ’86. A new URI economic impact study released yesterday reveals that the University generates $2 billion in annual economic activity across Rhode Island.

Additionally, the study noted that for every $1 invested by the state of Rhode Island in URI, $17.39 is returned to the state’s economy—one of the highest returns on investment of any public university in the U.S. And, the University supports 17,799 jobs statewide, meaning one out of every 33 jobs in Rhode Island is connected to URI.

Cook said robust and sustained investment in URI’s operating budget, capital infrastructure and general obligation bond will drive economic growth for all Rhode Islanders.

“Our work together is paying off—the numbers show it—and despite the challenges in the world, we can make our own future,” Cook said. “We must continue this momentum in order to unlock the full potential of the University for the state.”

Parlange told those at the State House the milestones that URI has achieved reflect decades of hard work by University faculty, staff and students. What URI achieved also demonstrates that the renewed investment in Rhode Island’s flagship land- and sea-grant university by state leaders is paying off, Parlange said.

“It is clear—URI is the best investment the state can make—because of the return it provides to all Rhode Islanders,” Parlange said. “With the leadership of our Board of Trustees and the support of state leaders, URI will continue this momentum and unlock the full potential of the University for the state.”

Parlange also acknowledged the ongoing support URI has received from elected leaders, including Gov. McKee, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, Speaker Shekarchi, Senate President Lawson, Secretary of State Gregg Amore, and Treasurer James Diossa. The Washington County delegation—Sens. Susan Sosnowski and Alana DiMario, and Reps. Carol McEntee, Kathleen Fogarty, Teresa Tanzi and Tina Spears—was also recognized by Parlange for their continued partnership with and support of the University.

There’s also a special culture at URI, according to RJ Fatorma—a senior from Cranston double-majoring in nursing and psychology. Fatorma recalled he had to choose between more than 20 schools when it came to deciding where he wanted to further his education. 

Fatorma, a Talent Development scholar, chose URI because the nursing students told him that he could both double-major and be part of a community, Fatorma said. Subsequently, that positive culture came to fruition for Fatorma as all the clubs, organizations and jobs he had on campus helped him build lasting friendships and community at URI.

“From day one, I’ve had a community of support around me, from my peers and classmates to my advisors and all the Talent Development alumni around the state,” said Fatorma, who will graduate as one of more than 3,000 health care professionals from URI this year. “I have grown so much as a person, student, and a leader during my four years at URI. I believe every Rhode Island student should have the opportunity to come to URI and have the same education and opportunities I’ve had.”

The opportunities that URI offers to students, and their societal benefits, were on full display near the respective Senate and House of Representatives chambers. College of Pharmacy students spotlighted the Community First Responder Program, which offers Narcan training to help educate communities about opioid misuse.

Nimra Imdad, a URI graduate biomedical engineering student, displayed the NeoTex Baby Belt, a monitoring device that is wrapped around babies born premature to help check vital signs, including heart rate and body temperature. Jason Noel, operations executive for Narragansett-based Juice Robotics and a URI Ph.D. student, showed off the “High Dive,” a drone he helped design to fly and drop sensors into the ocean that could help industries, such as marine biology and offshore energy, collect various data.

Career opportunities via internships were also highlighted. D’Juan Alexander, a senior from Providence majoring in criminology and criminal justice, is currently interning with the Rhode Island State Police and hopes to one day become a state trooper.

“Professors brought in law enforcement professionals and I got to see first-hand how they operate and helped shape my goals. That motivated me to intern with the State Police,” Alexander said.