KINGSTON, R.I. – Sept. 8, 2026 – As her family helped move her belongings from Queens, New York, into her residence hall at the University of Rhode Island, the reality of Chloe Breen’s new home away from home began to sink in, making the moment feel surreal for her.
That’s a typical feeling for many new students who are experiencing life on their own for the first time. Even Breen’s father, Kevin, had to do a double take as his daughter’s residence hall room took shape, seeing his child beginning her journey toward conquering the medical world.
“Sending your little girl off into the world is a milestone,” he said. “Seeing her go off to another state is a big change for us. But I know she will do great here.”
And Breen, a first-year student majoring in nursing, is ready for an exciting life on the Kingston Campus. “I like being independent,” she said. “As an older sibling, I feel like I’m always doing things on my own at home. I’m very organized and ready to be on my own.”
Breen was among the approximately 5,400 on-campus residential students who were welcomed by the University Sept. 4-7 during URI’s festive move-in weekend. Hundreds of faculty, staff and student volunteers cheered and aided the new and returning URI students and their families by moving belongings and mementos into residence halls throughout the weekend.
These students, part of the University’s student body of more than 17,000, will live in more than two dozen Kingston Campus residence halls—part of 14 living and learning communities—during the 2026-27 academic year. Another 600 students will live in more than a dozen Greek Life houses, while about 100 more will reside in the Grandin International Engineering, Texas Instruments, and Talent Development Achievement houses.
URI President Marc Parlange and Mary Parlange, Provost Barbara Wolfe, Vice President for Student Affairs Ellen Reynolds, Assistant Vice President for Housing and Residential Life Tom Cooley were among the first to greet students during the weekend festivities, which included grilled hot dogs and sandwiches from URI Police.
Delanie Hill, a junior from Charlotte, North Carolina—and new member of the University’s Atlantic 10 Conference champion women’s basketball team—said that along with providing assistance in moving new students into the residence halls, volunteers also offer a welcoming presence, which helps calm first-day nerves for new students and families.
“It’s all about being nice and willing to help, and also show incoming students that this school is a great place to be,” said Hill, who volunteered near Bressler Hall.
“Making a good first impression to everyone is the most important thing for us,” said volunteer Joey Lussier, a sophomore from Danvers, Massachusetts, majoring in finance and economics. “These first couple of days are critical for students in being on that right path toward a good life. We want to make new friends and be friends for them.”
Settling in
Students and parents commented on the University’s smooth move-in process. “This was awesome,” said Tina Sangiovanni, of North Providence, who was helping her son, DeMarcus Jackson, move into his residence hall. “I brought two cars and everything was unloaded and out in 20 seconds. Everyone was amazing.”
Jackson said URI’s kinesiology program and the opportunity it provided to work with physical therapists was what brought him 45 minutes south to the Kingston Campus, and staying close to home. He hopes to join the University’s DECA program, a student-led organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in business, finance, marketing and management.
“I’m just excited to start a new chapter in my life,” said Jackson, who hopes to work as a physical therapist in professional sports. “I really liked the Quad when I first came here and it looks like a nice space to gather with other students.”
The University’s kinesiology program also attracted both Haley Pistaccio and Anna Hebert from North Providence and Amherst, New Hampshire, respectively. Pistaccio, who hopes to become a physical therapist, admits the feeling of living away from home has not settled in yet, but plans to be active on campus outside of academia.
“I want to try and join club soccer here,” said Pistaccio, who played soccer in high school, “but that will depend on what my workload is from classes.”
Hebert, who earned a Presidential Scholarship, hopes to become an occupational therapist after URI. One student-led club that helps raise service dogs as future guides for those who are visually impaired piqued Hebert’s interest.
“The Puppy Raisers Club is really cute and I’m interested in joining that,” Hebert said. “I also played tennis in high school and would like to join the club tennis team here.”
Being close to home—and to nearby beaches in Narragansett—led Natalie Hoague to choose URI. Hoague, of Somers, Connecticut, who will start taking courses in the College of Health Sciences this fall, plans to join the University’s dance club.
“I’ve been competitive dancing since second grade, and would love to join the club here to continue that,” she said.
Nick Johansen, a freshman from Melrose, Massachusetts, who moved in with help from his family—father Mathias, mother Amanda, aunt Danielle Knight and uncle Eddie Knight—is looking forward to being challenged academically at URI. He’s majoring in wildlife conservation biology, with an early goal to become a conservation officer.
“I really have an interest in animals and want to protect them,” said Johnansen, who is enrolled in URI’s Honors Program and plans to work as an on-campus EMS paramedic. “Plus, getting to know the people here, it became clear that URI was the best fit for me.”
URI’s fall classes begin Wednesday, Sept. 9, and the new year is already in full swing. URI’s O-Week (Sept. 4-8) has already featured hundreds of on-campus events—including URI’s RhodyFest on Sunday—all designed to introduce new students to campus and each other. O-Week will culminate later today with an official class welcome from President Parlange, class picture on the Quad, and class T-shirts.