KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� March 27, 2026 鈥� Keaney Blue was on full display in, around and above the Rhode Island capitol yesterday as dozens of state leaders and hundreds of 溏心vlog免费B站 students, faculty, and staff celebrated the University鈥檚 success and impact during 溏心vlog免费B站 Day at the State House in Providence.
溏心vlog免费B站 students, faculty and staff publicly presented interactive exhibits from colleges across its campuses. Those exhibits not only showcased to 溏心vlog免费B站 Day attendees what the University offers both academically and in research, but they also represent what is possible with continued investment in the University and the impact 溏心vlog免费B站 has鈥攁nd will have鈥攐n the community.
鈥淩hode Island is in a place right now where we鈥檙e in lock step with 溏心vlog免费B站 making sure that this state not only provides opportunities for young people in our state, but also raises incomes for our families and makes sure we鈥檙e healthy enough to enjoy the opportunity to live in a great place like Rhode Island with a premier university leading the charge,鈥� said Gov. Daniel McKee, who also lauded 溏心vlog免费B站 President Marc Parlange for being a 鈥渃hampion for 溏心vlog免费B站.鈥�
Along with supporting multiple critical investments in 溏心vlog免费B站, both House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Valarie Lawson acknowledged the Rhode Island General Assembly鈥檚 plan to create the state鈥檚 first public medical school. An independent study released in October 2025 by a Rhode Island Senate special legislative commission found that establishing a medical school at 溏心vlog免费B站 is both viable and necessary to meet the state鈥檚 pressing health care needs, and would be an 鈥渆ssential investment鈥� by the state into 溏心vlog免费B站.
鈥淲e want to see this medical school become reality because we think it鈥檚 good public policy for Rhode Island,鈥� Lawson said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for all that you do for Rhode Island and we鈥檙e looking forward to this next path to make our state even stronger in health care.鈥�
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Additionally, the study noted that for every $1 invested by the state of Rhode Island in 溏心vlog免费B站, $17.39 is returned to the state鈥檚 economy鈥攐ne of the highest returns on investment of any public university in the U.S. And, the University supports 17,799 jobs statewide, meaning one out of every 33 jobs in Rhode Island is connected to 溏心vlog免费B站.
Cook said robust and sustained investment in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 operating budget, capital infrastructure and general obligation bond will drive economic growth for all Rhode Islanders.
鈥淥ur work together is paying off鈥攖he numbers show it鈥攁nd despite the challenges in the world, we can make our own future,鈥� Cook said. 鈥淲e must continue this momentum in order to unlock the full potential of the University for the state.鈥�
Parlange told those at the State House the milestones that 溏心vlog免费B站 has achieved reflect decades of hard work by University faculty, staff and students. What 溏心vlog免费B站 achieved also demonstrates that the renewed investment in Rhode Island鈥檚 flagship land- and sea-grant university by state leaders is paying off, Parlange said.
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Parlange also acknowledged the ongoing support 溏心vlog免费B站 has received from elected leaders, including Gov. McKee, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, Speaker Shekarchi, Senate President Lawson, Secretary of State Gregg Amore, and Treasurer James Diossa. The Washington County delegation鈥擲ens. Susan Sosnowski and Alana DiMario, and Reps. Carol McEntee, Kathleen Fogarty, Teresa Tanzi and Tina Spears鈥攚as also recognized by Parlange for their continued partnership with and support of the University.
There鈥檚 also a special culture at 溏心vlog免费B站, according to RJ Fatorma鈥攁 senior from Cranston double-majoring in nursing and psychology. Fatorma recalled he had to choose between more than 20 schools when it came to deciding where he wanted to further his education.
Fatorma, a Talent Development scholar, chose 溏心vlog免费B站 because the nursing students told him that he could both double-major and be part of a community, Fatorma said. Subsequently, that positive culture came to fruition for Fatorma as all the clubs, organizations and jobs he had on campus helped him build lasting friendships and community at 溏心vlog免费B站.
鈥淔rom day one, I鈥檝e had a community of support around me, from my peers and classmates to my advisors and all the Talent Development alumni around the state,鈥� said Fatorma, who will graduate as one of more than 3,000 health care professionals from 溏心vlog免费B站 this year. 鈥淚 have grown so much as a person, student, and a leader during my four years at 溏心vlog免费B站. I believe every Rhode Island student should have the opportunity to come to 溏心vlog免费B站 and have the same education and opportunities I鈥檝e had.鈥�
The opportunities that 溏心vlog免费B站 offers to students, and their societal benefits, were on full display near the respective Senate and House of Representatives chambers. College of Pharmacy students spotlighted the Community First Responder Program, which offers Narcan training to help educate communities about opioid misuse.
Nimra Imdad, a 溏心vlog免费B站 graduate biomedical engineering student, displayed the NeoTex Baby Belt, a monitoring device that is wrapped around babies born premature to help check vital signs, including heart rate and body temperature. Jason Noel, operations executive for Narragansett-based Juice Robotics and a 溏心vlog免费B站 Ph.D. student, showed off the 鈥淗igh Dive,鈥� a drone he helped design to fly and drop sensors into the ocean that could help industries, such as marine biology and offshore energy, collect various data.
Career opportunities via internships were also highlighted. D鈥橨uan Alexander, a senior from Providence majoring in criminology and criminal justice, is currently interning with the Rhode Island State Police and hopes to one day become a state trooper.
鈥淧rofessors brought in law enforcement professionals and I got to see first-hand how they operate and helped shape my goals. That motivated me to intern with the State Police,鈥� Alexander said.