FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Laura Hart, 401-456-8977, lhart@ric.edu
Gita Brown, 401-456-8465, gbrown@ric.edu
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Lincoln resident and Rhode Island College alumna Deloris Davis Grant ’88, MAT ’94, will serve as the undergraduate commencement speaker at RIC’s 162nd commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 14, at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence.
The baccalaureate ceremony will begin at 9 a.m., and the advanced degree ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. RIC is expecting to confer more than 1,320 undergraduate and more than 260 graduate degrees.
Grant, an English and drama teacher at Central Falls High School, will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Education degree from the college. A cofounder of the Upward Bound Alumni Scholarship Fund, Grant has been a strong advocate for educational efforts throughout the region.
RIC President Nancy Carriuolo said, “Deloris Grant is a talented alumna and a role model for her students at Central Falls High as well as for RIC students participating in the Central Falls/RIC Innovation Lab.”
RIC alumna Claire Giannamore ’64, M.Ed. ’67, of West Palm Beach, will serve as the commencement speaker at the advanced degree ceremony. Giannamore, who served as assistant director of admissions for many years at the college, is a supporter and former board member of the RIC Foundation. A previous winner of the RIC Alumna of the Year award, Giannamore has been an active fundraiser for the Shinn Study Abroad Program, which provides RIC students with immersive cultural experiences in other countries. Giannamore will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the college.
Carriuolo added, “Claire Giannamore is a successful businesswoman who bursts with energy and goodwill. She is not only an alumna but was also an employee of the college early in her career. Over the years, she has always returned to her beloved alma mater to help whenever and wherever needed.”
Other honorary degree recipients for the 2016 commencement exercises include:
- Doctor of Pedagogy: Smithfield resident Ross McCurdy ’98, M.Ed. ’02, a Ponaganset High School science teacher and renewable energy project leader. McCurdy was named the 2014-2015 winner of the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators, granted on behalf of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. He just successfully completed a cross-country flight in a bio-fueled airplane.
- Doctor of Fine Arts: ALEX AND ANI Founder, CEO and Chief Creative Officer Carolyn Rafaelian. An Armenian American designer, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Rafaelian has been a strong supporter of higher education and the arts at RIC. A $1 million gift from her company, ALEX AND ANI, formed the basis for a successful capital fundraising effort that culminated in the extensive renovation and remodeling of RIC's art center. Upon completion, it was named ALEX AND ANI Hall.
- Doctor of Commercial Science: Providence resident Ann Marie Harrington, M.S.W. ’96, president and founder of the award-winning digital communications group, Embolden. An active member of the Rhode Island Commodores, Harrington has worked to connect RIC students with area business people for professional development and employment opportunities. Harrington serves on a number of boards, including the Rhode Island Foundation.
- Doctor of Fine Arts: Smithfield resident Alan J. Chille ’82, general manager of the Providence Performing Arts Center. An active participant in a number of RIC Alumni Association committees, he is the creator of the Chille Award honoring RIC students who exhibit strong leadership qualities. Chille is also a frequent mentor for RIC students in management and the arts.
Established in 1854, Rhode Island College serves approximately 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students through its five schools: the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, the School of Social Work, the School of Management and the School of Nursing. For more information, visit www.ric.edu.
