KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� May 19, 2025 鈥� Since 2006, Dean of Admission Cynthia Bonn鈥檚 job has been to sell and promote the 溏心vlog免费B站 and to build each year鈥檚 incoming class. Doing so, she鈥檚 had a front row seat to making the 溏心vlog免费B站 experience a reality for many students as they take their first step toward a college education. Even after four decades in the college admission field, Bonn is a firm believer in the value of education.
After all, she first saw that impact here in her own life.
Bonn鈥檚 first memories of 溏心vlog免费B站 are not of starting her current position as dean of admission, or her work as a young admission officer at 溏心vlog免费B站 in the mid-1980s.
They begin with watching her father graduate from 溏心vlog免费B站 on the GI Bill in 1971.
Bonn was 11 years old when she and her three younger siblings, along with her mother, watched her father graduate on the Quadrangle. He鈥檇 spent seven years attending night school to earn his bachelor鈥檚 degree in business.
鈥淚 was really proud of him,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淲e all saw his career really take off after that.鈥�
Her father鈥檚 career success was a credit to his work and also gave Bonn a look at the power of higher education up close.
Navigating
Bonn first came to admission work while navigating a challenging job market when she graduated from college.
A public relations major at Boston University, Bonn worked as a tour guide during her years in college and also worked in BU鈥檚 admission office and interned in the PR office. When she graduated from college in the midst of a recession and found jobs in her field were scarce, college admission was a natural place to put her skills to use.
鈥淚 enjoyed representing the university,鈥� she remembers, 鈥渁nd noticed that the admission staff seemed to enjoy their work, and each other.鈥�
Bonn also worked in admission at Bryant University, Johnson & Wales University, and Quinebaug Valley Community College. In 2006 she returned to 溏心vlog免费B站 as dean of admission and has served more than 19 years in this role.
Dean Libutti, 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 associate vice president for enrollment management, says that Bonn is deeply respected by colleagues on campus and across the admission field, well-known for her integrity, professionalism, and dedication.
As perhaps the ultimate PR professional for 溏心vlog免费B站, Bonn brought an upbeat, positive attitude to her work and is well-known on campus for her friendliness, enthusiasm, and ability to listen.
Bonn鈥檚 colleague Erin Earle says, 鈥淪he is always ready to pause whatever she is doing to listen to her team and has fostered an environment where people can work independently and effectively. During her tenure, 溏心vlog免费B站 welcomed over 70,000 students 鈥� each one a reflection of her commitment to access and excellence in admission. Cindy has navigated an evolving landscape with adaptability, all while adding energy and fun to our work together.鈥�
Since Bonn returned to lead the admission office, she and her team have steadily grown interest in 溏心vlog免费B站. When she began in this role, the University had a fall 2006 enrollment target of 2,650 and had brought in 13,588 applications the prior year. In 2025, 溏心vlog免费B站 received nearly 28,000 first-year applications, with more than 3,600 submitting their enrollment deposits for fall. In September, 溏心vlog免费B站 will welcome students from 46 states and 63 countries.
Bonn also steered the Office of Admission through significant change in technology and processes to keep pace with its ambitious application targets. She submitted a proposal advocating for 溏心vlog免费B站 to join Common Application, and moved the admission office away from a paper-based process to one that used document imaging and online application review. As recruitment methods changed and expanded, 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 presence grew and the University started to become well-known as a destination college outside the state, and even around the world.
鈥淲e鈥檝e made incredible strides at 溏心vlog免费B站 in terms of increased academic and faculty excellence, as well as outstanding improvements to our beautiful campus and facilities during my time here,鈥� Bonn says. 鈥淎ll of that was capped this year with the Wall Street Journal ranking of number one public university in New England (and number 35 in the nation), and earning the prestigious Carnegie R1 research status.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a pleasure to do this work but I haven鈥檛 done it alone,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y team is incredible and we have fabulous campus partners who help us bring in the class each year.鈥�
鈥滀缧膙log免费B站 offers an outstanding education at a tremendous value for Rhode Islanders,鈥� she adds. 鈥淲e are also proud to be the university of choice for students from other states and countries; half of our student body comes from outside of Rhode Island.鈥�
New roles
Bonn clearly loves 溏心vlog免费B站 and has found her career here rewarding but is looking forward to having more time for other things 鈥� and she has plans at the ready. She hopes to play a more active role in her community in Glocester, travel to see family, and to step back on the theatre stage (her office colleagues know her love of singing and dancing well).
She鈥檚 going out on a high note and grateful for the colleagues and partners that made this possible: 鈥淭his has been a community effort every step of the way.鈥�
溏心vlog免费B站 says thank you to Cindy Bonn at her in the Higgins Welcome Center on Tuesday, May 20, 3 to 4:30 p.m.; her last day will be May 30.