Alumni and Honor Roll Awards 2026 Honorees

Our Alumni Award Recipients

John Nazarian Alumna of the Year

This award will be designated to a Rhode Island College graduate who has given outstanding service to the college and the Alumni Association as represented by their time, talent, or treasure.

Maureen Maigret '74

Maureen Maigret, who earned her B.S.N. at Rhode Island College in 1974, is a respected healthy-aging advocate and policy leader. She currently serves as a policy advisor to the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island and has spent more than 30 years in public service, holding senior government roles, including director of the Department of Elderly Affairs and positions within the Rhode Island Office of Lieutenant Governor.

A five-term member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, she became the first woman in Rhode Island history appointed deputy house speaker. During her tenure, she introduced impactful legislation, including the law that established today’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Maigret has received numerous honors, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhode Island Public Health Association, and she continues to make a lasting impact while remaining deeply committed to family and community.

Charles B. Willard Achievement Award

This award is designed for a Rhode Island College graduate who has brought honor to the college by distinguished achievement in their field.

Jessica Vega '10

Jessica Vega is senior advocacy and community engagement manager at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, where she leads statewide advocacy and coalition-building efforts focused on improving outcomes for children and families. A registered lobbyist and former president of the Central Falls City Council, her work focuses on education equity, economic security, civic engagement and advancing policies that support Rhode Island communities. Vega has helped lead successful advocacy efforts related to youth, RI Works/TANF reform, immigration and housing.

She earned her B.A. degree in psychology (2010) at Rhode Island College and her M.A. in community development (2019) at Roger Williams University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her supportive mother Nilda; her beautiful daughter Sofia; her stepson Raul Jr., an amazing soccer player; and her loving husband Raul.

Alumni Faculty Award

The nominee for this award need not be a graduate of Rhode Island College but shall be employed by the college as a faculty member who has made a unique contribution to the college (e.g., received student commendation for exceptional teaching, produced printed publication, led research initiative, developed a new program).

Dr. Jayashree Nimmagadda

Jayashree Nimmagadda is a professor in the School of Social Work at Rhode Island College, where she has served since 2001. She previously served as dean and chair of the M.S.W. Program, advancing the college's mission of access, opportunity and community engagement.

Nimmagadda is founding director and principal investigator of Atrévete: The Latinx/Hispanic Center of Excellence for Social Work Practice, a $3 million federally funded initiative that supports student success and strengthens Rhode Island’s behavioral health workforce. Over the past 12 years, she has secured more than $9 million in external funding to support workforce development, interprofessional education and community partnerships.

An engaging educator and collaborative leader, Nimmagadda is known for connecting classroom learning with real-world practice and for building partnerships that expand opportunities for students and strengthen communities throughout Rhode Island. Outside of her professional roles, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Alumni Service Award

The nominee for this award need not be a graduate of Rhode Island College but they must have contributed to the college through their time, talent or resources or be an outstanding citizen who has contributed to the state or nation, reflecting the ideal of service to humanity.

Kathleen Kenwood '73, '80 MEd

Kathleen Sullivan Kenwood is a dual RIC degree holder. She earned her B.S. in physical education in 1973 and her M.Ed. in health education in 1980. She taught physical education in Cumberland’s elementary schools for 33 years and mentored many RIC students who were doing their student teaching. In 1996 she was named Rhode Island Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

Active in the community, Kenwood volunteered for many years at the Cumberland Kiwanis Club’s Junior Olympics track meets and was active in organizing the CumberlandFest and Arnold Mills 4th of July Road Races. She continues to volunteer in the town’s Summer Track Program. In 2023 Kenwood was inducted into the Cumberland High School Athletic Hall of Fame. She is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa and is currently the immediate past state president and president of Cumberland’s Eta Chapter.

Alumni Staff Award

The nominee for this award need not be a graduate of Rhode Island College but shall be employed by the college as a staff member. The nominee must also have made a unique contribution to the college (e.g., received student commendation for exceptional service, developed a new program, was recognized for quality of service to the community or campus).

Sara Reilly '11, M.A. '13

Sara Reilly earned dual degrees in English at Rhode Island College – her B.A. degree in 2011 and her M.A. degree in 2013. Currently, she serves as assistant director of RIC’s Office of Academic Advising and as an adjunct instructor at the college. Over the past decade, she has taught courses in first-year writing, college success and health sciences and has co-authored several books on critical film studies.

In her advising role, Reilly promotes best practices through New Faculty Orientation, advising partnerships with the Faculty of Arts of Sciences and other campus involvements. She serves as technical lead for Starfish, RIC’s student support platform, ensuring the technology is used effectively for student success and retention; and she provides key operational leadership for the Office of Academic Advising, along with coaching first-year students.

In her free time, Reilly is an avid reader who enjoys puzzles and gardening.

Young Alumni Award

This award is intended for a Rhode Island College graduate who received their degree within the last 10 years and has contributed to the college and/or Alumni Association since graduation by giving their time, talent or resources (e.g., mentoring current students or alumni, being involved or volunteering in a campus group or activity, providing internship opportunities to current students or job opportunities to recent graduates).

Michael Neal Jr. '16

Michael Neal Jr. completed his B.A. in mass media communications in 2016 at Rhode Island College and is currently enrolled in RIC’s youth development graduate program, with an expected graduation date of May 2027. He is also an academic advisor for the Office of Academic Advising, managing a caseload of 250 students and serving as liaison for both the School of Social Work and Athletics. These opportunities have allowed him to explore leadership opportunities on campus in areas that he is passionate about and with populations he is eager to see grow.

Prior to this position, Neal served at nonprofits, working with youth. He was also a coach of boys’ basketball at both Shea and Tolman high schools. Currently he is associate head coach for the new Pawtucket High School team. 

In his free time, Neal enjoys spending time with his daughters Alaya and Jaila, collecting vinyl records and basketball cards, and taking photographs.

Our Honor Roll Award Recipients

The Honor Roll Awards recognize graduates of each Rhode Island College school who have brought honor to the college by distinguished achievement in their field. The nominees are role models whose success demonstrates the value of a Rhode Island College degree.

Faculty of Arts & Sciences

Sarah Prickel-Kane '13

Sarah Prickel-Kane holds a B.M. in music education, with honors, from RIC and an M.M.E. in choral conducting from Florida State University. She is choral and theatre director at Narragansett High School, where her ensembles have consistently earned superior ratings and first-place honors at regional festivals. Her Advanced Treble Chorus has achieved particular distinction, selected to perform at the ACDA Eastern Region Conference in Boston (2022) and the NAfME Eastern Region Conference in Hartford (2025).

An accomplished guest conductor and clinician, Prickel-Kane has led prestigious honors ensembles, including the Rhode Island Junior All-State Treble Chorus, the Kentucky ACDA Children’s Honor Choir and district honor choirs throughout Massachusetts. She has also guest-lectured in music education at RIC, SUNY Fredonia, the Hartt School of Music and the 2022 NEACDA Collegiate Conference.

Prickel-Kane is past-president of the Rhode Island ACDA and former executive board member of the Rhode Island Music Education Association.

Julie Bjurman '10, '16 M.A.

Julie Bjurman is a two-time graduate of Rhode Island College, who earned her B.A. in film studies and mass media communications in 2010 and her M.A. in media studies in 2016, concentrating in digital design & production.

Bjurman has spent over a decade working in education, including roles in admissions and academic advising at RIC and leading communications and marketing initiatives in the independent school sector.

Currently she serves as student success advisor at Rhode Island College, supporting students who are returning to complete their degrees and advising first- and second-year students as they navigate academic requirements and connect with campus resources.

Grounded in a passion for mindfulness and personal growth, Julie empowers students to build confidence and agency throughout their college experience.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son and shares her passion for wellness by facilitating retreats and sound meditation experiences.

Dr. Ivelisse Sabater '04

Ivelisse Sabater ’04 earned her B.A. in Spanish at Rhode Island College, her M.Ed. in special education in 2022 at Worcester State University and her Doctor of Theology in 2022 at Dayspring Theological University. For more than 20 years, she has dedicated her career to advancing education in Rhode Island through teaching, curriculum development, mentoring and professional learning initiatives that support students, families, educators and early childhood providers.

Sabater is co-founder and chief operating officer of SabaterLAB and president and executive director of SabaterLAB Foundation. Alongside her husband, Julio Sabater, she helped create the SabaterLAB Ecosystem, an innovative model that combines education, behavioral health services, workforce development and community engagement to expand opportunities across Rhode Island.

She is author of “El Andamio” and was recognized in 2025 as an education industry leader by the PBN Business Women Awards for her impact on education, workforce development and community advancement.

Feinstein School of Education & Human Development

Carina L. Pinto De Chacon '01

Carina Pinto de Chacon is a first-generation college graduate of Rhode Island College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education/Spanish in 2001 and completed certifications in ESL, bilingual/dual language education and foreign language. In 2015 she earned an M.Ed. in administration at Providence College.

A proud Providence Public Schools graduate and former multilingual learner, Chacon has dedicated her life to public education and community service. For more than 25 years, she has served Providence students and families as a classroom teacher, school administrator, supervisor of multilingual learner programs and services, and now as chief of family and community engagement.

In her current role, Chacon leads districtwide efforts in family engagement, community partnerships, attendance supports, advisory councils and wraparound services. Her leadership is rooted in lived experience, service and a deep commitment to education, community and student success.

School of Business

Lee Anne Clift '92

Lee Anne Clift is a finance executive with more than 30 years of experience in healthcare and nonprofit financial management. She earned her B.S. in accounting at Rhode Island College in 1992 and her M.B.A. at Bryant University in 1998. 

Clift joined Lifespan in 1995 as a financial analyst and advanced through a series of leadership roles over her 29-year career, ultimately serving as director of finance for Gateway Healthcare, a Lifespan affiliate. During her tenure, she developed a strong commitment to community-based organizations, including The Autism Project and Friends’ Way.

In 2024 Clift was recruited to serve as vice president of finance at Child & Family, where she continues to combine her financial expertise with her passion for community service and helping others.

Clift met her husband while attending Rhode Island College. Together, they raised three sons in Providence’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

Zvart Onanian School of Nursing

Dr. Christie Bowser '07, C.N.S. '16

Christie Bowser is a two-time Rhode Island College nursing graduate, earning her B.S.N. in 2007 and her M.S.N. in 2016. In 2022 she began serving as adjunct faculty for the college. In 2025 she earned her D.N.P. at Capella University and was made assistant professor of nursing that same year, teaching in the undergraduate program.

Prior to her professorship, Bowser had spent her entire nursing career at The Miriam Hospital. She started out in the medical-surgical unit and soon discovered she had a passion for teaching and precepting. After obtaining her D.N.P., she began educating nurses and sharing her knowledge and passion for geriatrics through professional development. As an educator, she underscores the importance of mobility as medicine and role models that behavior through her own swimming, hiking and strength training activities.

Outside of teaching, Bowser is the mother of two amazing sons and is married to an incredibly supportive husband.

School of Social Work

Dr. Vilna Tejeda '12

Vilna Tejeda is a licensed independent clinical social worker and assistant professor at the Rhode Island College School of Social Work. She serves as the M.S.W. interprofessional education director and the M.S.W. curriculum chair, leading curriculum innovation that strengthens culturally grounded, equity-centered, professional preparation.

A committed community practitioner, Tejeda brings more than a decade of experience supporting students, families and communities through her work in the juvenile legal system and community mental health. Her practice is rooted in advancing employment and housing equity and in providing direct support to unhoused individuals, immigrants, refugees and other marginalized groups. Tejeda is equally dedicated to student development, mentoring M.S.W. and B.S.W. students through clinical supervision, field education and collaborative learning initiatives.

Her scholarship centers on anti-racist, historically informed pedagogy. Through her private practice, she offers evidence-based counseling and community-focused workshops. She earned her M.S.W. in 2012 from RIC and her D.S.W. from Simmons University.