May 28, 2026

To Our URI Community,

I am writing to share that Bethany Jenkins will be leaving the University of Rhode Island to accept the position of vice president for research and innovation at the University of Oregon. Bethany’s leadership, vision, and commitment to advancing research excellence have had a significant impact on URI and our broader community, and we are grateful for the many contributions she has made to the University during her time here. Her last day at URI will be Aug. 8.

Since joining the URI faculty in 2005, Bethany has been an outstanding scholar, leader, and colleague. An internationally recognized marine microbiologist, she has helped elevate URI’s reputation for excellence in research and innovation while advancing interdisciplinary collaboration across the University. During her tenure as vice president, URI strengthened its research enterprise, expanded strategic partnerships, helped lead statewide NSF EPSCoR programs and Rhode Island’s designation as a national Ocean Tech Hub, and achieved record growth in research funding and economic impact.

Over the past year, Bethany also played a key role as a member of the University’s Leadership Team on Federal Actions, helping URI navigate an evolving federal research funding landscape in close partnership with faculty, government relations colleagues, and external partners.

While we are sorry to see Bethany leave URI, we are excited for her as she returns to the University of Oregon, where she earned her Ph.D. in chemistry, to take on this important leadership role. We are deeply grateful for her years of service, leadership, and dedication to URI’s mission, and we wish her every success in this next chapter.

We will share additional information in the coming weeks regarding interim leadership arrangements for the research division and the process for identifying the University’s next vice president for research and economic development.

Kind regards,

Marc Parlange
President