Di Pasquale staying as CCRI president

Posted 10/14/14

CCRI President Ray Di Pasquale will stay at the helm of the college for the foreseeable future.

On Thursday morning, Di Pasquale emailed the college staff and trustees he had withdrawn his name …

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Di Pasquale staying as CCRI president

Posted

CCRI President Ray Di Pasquale will stay at the helm of the college for the foreseeable future.

On Thursday morning, Di Pasquale emailed the college staff and trustees he had withdrawn his name from consideration for commissioner of higher education in Louisiana.

“Given the nature of this position, I felt that I had to explore the opportunity, but I have decided to stay in Rhode Island and remain your president. I am proud of the good work we are doing at the Community College of Rhode Island. I would like to thank those who have reached out with kind words in the time since it was made public that I was a finalist for the position,” he wrote.

Di Pasquale was one of three candidates for the post and had traveled to Louisiana last week to discuss the opportunity. Also on Thursday, the Louisiana Board of Regents announced the selection of Dr. Joseph C. Rallo as the 8th Commissioner of Higher Education.

According to a release issued by the regents, Dr. Rallo is the Special Advisor for Global Engagement at Texas Tech University. He previously served as the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the Texas Tech University System. In addition to his overall coordination of system academic affairs, Dr. Rallo had specific responsibility for strategic planning, distance education, military/veteran initiatives and international programs.

Rallo will oversee 38 institutions with more than 217,000 students.

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian and the college community greeted the news Di Pasquale would be staying in Rhode Island enthusiastically.

“I am very happy with President Di Pasquale’s decision to stay at the Community College of Rhode Island. He has been a great leader for the college, a tremendous advocate for the City of Warwick, and a close friend to me personally.  It is a big win to keep him at the helm of the college,” Avedisian said yesterday.

College trustees and staff echoed Avedisian’s comments.

With his background having held an elective office in Massachusetts and college president while also serving at the Rhode Island Commissioner of Higher Education, Di Pasquale looked to be well matched for the Louisiana job. Had he been Louisiana commissioner, Di Pasquale would have succeeded Jim Purcell who held the job for three years before leaving in March. Purcell was appointed Rhode Island Commissioner of Higher Education in June.

In his email Di Pasquale said, “I look forward to working with all of you to continue to make our college a truly extraordinary experience for our students and spending the rest of our 50th academic year and beyond with you.”

Di Pasquale could not be reached for comment.

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