Dr. Meghan Hughes, who became the first female and fifth President of the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) on February 1st, 2016, is being honored upon her retirement after seven and a half years of service. CCRI, founded in 1964, is the largest community college in New England, serving 22,000 students annually with a mission to provide opportunities for intellectual, professional, and personal growth. Dr. Hughes, a Yale University magna cum laude graduate with a Doctorate from New York University, brought over thirty years of experience in higher education and the nonprofit sector to her presidency at CCRI.

During her tenure, Dr. Hughes implemented a strategic plan aimed at student success and closing equity performance gaps, leading to the highest graduation rate at CCRI in eighteen years. She has been recognized with several awards, including the “Trailblazer in Education” award in 2018, and has served on numerous boards and commissions. The Senate of the State of Rhode Island honors Dr. Hughes for her exemplary service and contributions to education, wishing her success in future endeavors, and directs the Secretary of State to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to her.