Sept. 22, 2026

To Our URI Community,

I am writing to share that Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Wolfe has informed me of her decision to retire from her role at the conclusion of the 2026-27 academic year, effective June 30, 2027.

Barb has served as URI’s chief academic officer since January 2023, following six years as dean of the College of Nursing. In both roles, she has been an extraordinary colleague and a dedicated advocate for our students, faculty, staff, and the academic mission of the University.

When Barb became provost, URI was embarking on an important new chapter. Together, we launched Focus URI, our 10-year strategic plan, with an ambitious vision for strengthening our academic enterprise, expanding our impact in Rhode Island and beyond, advancing student success, and elevating our research and scholarship. Barb has been an essential partner in turning that vision into action.

Under Barb’s leadership, URI’s academic enterprise has continued to grow in strength and distinction. She has worked closely with deans, faculty, staff, and students to advance academic programs, support faculty development, strengthen graduate education, enhance student success, and position the University for continued growth. She also has played an important role in the University’s remarkable progress as a research institution, including our achievement of Carnegie R1 status in 2025. At the time of that recognition, Barb noted that URI faculty had increased research expenditures by 25 percent over five years.

Barb’s contributions to URI began well before her service as provost. As dean of the College of Nursing, beginning in 2016, she helped advance the college’s research enterprise, strengthen scholarship support, expand graduate offerings, and recruit a more diverse community of students and faculty. She also launched the psychiatric mental health nurse-practitioner program and helped guide the college through a period of significant academic growth and increased national recognition.

I am particularly grateful for Barb’s leadership during a period of extraordinary opportunity and change for the University. She has brought to her work the perspective of an accomplished scholar and educator, a deep commitment to public higher education, and a genuine concern for the people who make URI such a special place. She has approached every challenge with thoughtfulness, integrity, and generosity, and she has been a trusted partner to me and to colleagues across the University.

Barb will continue to serve as provost through June 30, 2027, and I look forward to working with her throughout this academic year as we continue the important work before us. While we will have many opportunities in the coming months to celebrate her contributions, I know I speak for the entire University community when I say how grateful we are for all that she has done—and continues to do—for URI.

Looking ahead, we will soon begin an international search for our next provost. This will be an important opportunity to consider the leadership URI needs for its next chapter, and we look forward to engaging the University community meaningfully throughout the search process. We will share additional information about the search as the process gets underway.

For now, please join me in thanking Barb for her extraordinary service to the University of Rhode Island and in celebrating all that she has helped us accomplish together.

Kind regards,

Marc Parlange
President