KINGSTON, R.I. – March 24, 2026 – Joseph F. Matthews ’80, a member of the University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees and a URI alumnus, has made a $1.6 million gift to the state’s land- and sea-grant institution to establish a permanent endowment fund to expand access to engineering education for capable, motivated Rhode Island students.

The Matthews Family Engineering Scholarship will support undergraduate students in the University’s College of Engineering, with priority given to third- or fourth-year students who have transferred to URI from the Community College of Rhode Island. Those who are from Rhode Island and are first-generation higher education students will be considered for the scholarship.

The new scholarship program’s mission is to aid qualifying students who have demonstrated perseverance through the transfer pathway and may lack the financial resources needed to complete an engineering degree without assistance. 

“Joe Matthews represents the very best of URI—deeply engaged and fully committed to our mission. Whether at athletic events, academic lectures, performances, or campus milestones, Joe is a constant and visible champion of this University,” URI President Marc Parlange said. “This gift not only reflects his generosity, but more importantly his belief in URI and his desire to see it continue to grow and thrive.”

“Joe’s generous donation to the University of Rhode Island will help engineering students in so many ways,” said Anthony Marchese, dean of URI’s College of Engineering. “Along with easing the financial burden of obtaining a high-quality education, this scholarship will support students who began their undergraduate studies at CCRI in achieving their goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering and finding academic success at URI.”

In conjunction with the URI Office of Enrollment Services, the College of Engineering will annually award two students up to a two-year scholarship through the Matthews Family Engineering Scholarship program to fund in-state tuition and associated fees. 

Along with maintaining at least a 2.9 grade point average after transferring from CCRI to URI, scholarship recipients must remain enrolled full-time in an undergraduate engineering program at the University, and maintain satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible for renewal for the second year.

“We love seeing alumni from the University of Rhode Island step up and give back to help future alumni seek their career goals,” said Bill Koconis ’89, the University of Rhode Island Foundation’s senior director of academic initiatives for the College of Engineering and the Graduate School of Oceanography. “Joe fully understands what an education from URI can lead to and we’re grateful of him supporting current and future students here.”

A Rhode Island success story

URI and engineering are deeply entrenched in Matthews’ family. Matthews—a URI trustee since 2023—graduated from the University in 1980 from the College of Engineering, 30 years after his father, Merton, earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from URI. Matthews’ son, John, earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University in 2010—and then his master’s degree in the same field in 2014.

Matthews subsequently became inspired by other notable URI alumni who have given back to their alma mater, and wanted to make his own mark on paying it forward to the University.

“I was blessed with this life and want to try to help enrich other people’s lives in any way possible,” Matthews said. “It was the way I was raised.”

Matthews was president of Westerly-based Maxson Automatic Machinery Co. from 2000 until last year—he is now the company’s chairman. Matthews first joined the company in 1983 as a sales engineer. Maxson is a firm that designs and builds capital equipment for the paper and printing industries.

Matthews’ drive to give back to URI was spurred when he hired a new engineer at Maxson about seven years ago who went to CCRI for his associate’s degree in engineering and then took out loans to transfer to URI to pursue his bachelor’s degree. The new engineer made the lengthy daily trip to his job in Westerly from his Woonsocket home at the time, eager to build his engineering career, Matthews recalled.

“One of the things that struck me was his persistence of realizing the dream,” Matthews said. “He was devoted to that kind of betterment and wanting to be the best he could be. I hope my gift can lead to similar graduates carving their own successful paths.”

Along with hoping other URI community members give back to the University in their own way, Matthews hopes the new scholarship program can create a pipeline of engineers for local businesses. He says he has hired at least a half dozen engineers who graduated from URI.

Under Matthews’ leadership, Maxson was named Manufacturer of the Year by the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association in 2020. Matthews has also earned several individual career accolades, including receiving the 2019 URI College of Engineering Distinguished Achievement Award.

“Joe Matthews is a quintessential Rhode Island success story,” said Mark Antonucci, vice president for advancement and CEO of the URI Foundation. “Not only has Joe been beneficial as a University trustee in helping us deliver high-quality education to all, but he is also giving back to an institution that launched his success. Plus, this gift allows us to create opportunities for CCRI students to further their education here. We are extremely grateful for Joe’s ongoing efforts to lift all Rhode Islanders.”

Continuing engineering success

Matthews’ gift to URI builds on the University’s commitment to offer educational opportunities for all students. Plus, it continues the ongoing success the University’s engineering program has had over the years.

Many of the most successful URI engineering alumni in recent years began their education at community college, including Camila Cersosimo ’24, who transferred from CCRI and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University in chemical engineering. Cersosimo in 2023 received the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, and is now a Ph.D. student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

URI also offers local engineering students the Jonathan K. Farnum Scholarship, thanks to the generosity of the Simon W. Wardell Foundation. The scholarship is awarded to applicants from Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley—which includes Central Falls, Cumberland, Pawtucket and Lincoln—to both help offset education costs and help engineering students launch their careers.

In October 2025, all eight of the College of Engineering’s undergraduate programs were accredited by ABET, the recognized global accreditor for college and university programs in applied and natural sciences, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET accreditation assures that programs meet quality standards to prepare graduates for entry into critical technical fields, contribute to innovation, and protect public welfare and safety. 

Of the engineering students who transfer to the University to continue their studies, about half come from CCRI. Also, 97% of engineering graduates from URI are employed within six months of graduating, earning an average starting salary of $75,000.

“Ensuring student success is a major focus of what we do at URI, and our transfer opportunities are an important aspect to providing students that opportunity for success,” Marchese said. “Without scholarships such as what Joe is providing, many students would be unable to complete their degrees and do great things in the world.”