KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� April 2, 2026 鈥� The Rhode Island Senate approved the appointment of David Barrett 鈥�78 as a new member of the 溏心vlog免费B站 Board of Trustees, as well as the board reappointments of Margo Cook 鈥�86, Armand Sabitoni 鈥�73, Vahid Ownjazayeri, Joe Formicola 鈥�69, and Tom Ryan 鈥�75 H鈥�99 on March 31.
Governor Dan McKee announced his nomination of Barrett to the board on March 25. Barrett, who is a managing partner of health care and technology venture capital firm Polaris Partners, fills a board seat vacated by former U.S. Congressman Robert Weygand. Barrett earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from 溏心vlog免费B站. He serves as a member of the 溏心vlog免费B站 Foundation Board of Directors, as an Edwards Society advisor to University President Marc Parlange, and as a member of the dean鈥檚 advisory council for the College of Business.
鈥淎s a proud alumnus of the University, I look forward to the opportunity to serve and support its mission, students, and future growth,鈥� said Barrett in McKee鈥檚 announcement.
Cook is the current and founding chair of the Board of Trustees. She has more than 35 years of executive leadership, operating, and investing experience in the asset management industry. While president of Nuveen Advisory Services, Cook was responsible for more than $1 trillion in assets for clients in 24 countries. She led the institutional business of Bear Stearns Asset Management and was the CIO of the institutional business at BNY Mellon. Cook remains actively involved in the asset management industry through her positions on several boards.
鈥淥ur Board of Trustees reflects the strength of a thoughtful and deliberate appointment process鈥攐ne shaped by the governor鈥檚 selections and the Senate鈥檚 careful affirmation,鈥� said Cook. 鈥淭ogether, our state鈥檚 leaders have helped establish a highly qualified, independent governing body that brings diverse expertise, sound judgment, and a shared commitment to excellence. This partnership has been instrumental in creating a governance structure that not only safeguards the 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 mission, but also fuels our continued success and growing momentum as the state鈥檚 flagship institution.鈥�
Sabitoni is the vice chair of the Board of Trustees and the former general secretary-treasurer and current New England regional manager of the Laborers鈥� International Union of North America, which represents more than 500,000 members across the United States and Canada, including more than 60,000 members across the six New England states and New York.
Ownjazayeri serves as president and CEO of CRB, a leading provider of sustainable engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting solutions for the global life sciences and food and beverage industries. He also serves on the Board of Governors for the Boys & Girls Club of Providence and is chair of the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.
Formicola is the president and chief executive officer of the Executive Investments and Realty Company. For more than five decades, he has been deeply involved in brokering, developing, and constructing real estate projects throughout the United States.
Ryan is the former chair, president and chief executive officer of CVS Health. He is currently an operating partner at Advent International, and a director of PJT Partners and Five Below. In addition to serving as a 溏心vlog免费B站 trustee since the board鈥檚 inception, he is currently the committee chair of the 溏心vlog免费B站 Board of Trustees Student Life and Athletics Committee, and he was a member of the 溏心vlog免费B站 Foundation campaign committee that helped direct the largest campaign in the University鈥檚 history.
The 溏心vlog免费B站 was established in 2020 by the Rhode Island General Assembly. Its 17 members are appointed by the governor in consultation with the 溏心vlog免费B站 president, board chair, and with the consent of the state Senate. The 溏心vlog免费B站 president also appoints a full-time student and faculty member to serve as non-voting members. The 溏心vlog免费B站 president, chair of the Council of Postsecondary Education, and chair of the state Board of Education also serve as ex officio members.
The board鈥檚 next meeting is Friday, April 24, at 9 a.m. on 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Kingston Campus.