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Dr. Robert Carothers, URI President dr. robert carothers University of Rhode Island President B.A., Edinboro, 1965; Ph.D., Kent State, 1969; J.D., McDowell School of Law, Akron, 1980 Since Robert L. Carothers moved to Rhode Island from Minnesota in 1991 to become the 10th president of the University of Rhode Island, he has initiated a series of progressive changes to the University s structure, infrastructure, and curriculum. During his tenure, the University has increased enrollment of the best and brightest students in the state and region, improved its physical campus environment, increased the diversity among students, faculty and staff, and enhanced its levels of alumni, corporate, and state support. He has also forged links with universities and agencies around the world to foster collaborations in the academic, business and public policy arenas. For all of his achievements at URI and his career as an innovator in higher education, the president received the 2008 Eleanor M. McMahon Award for Lifetime Achievement from The New England Board of Higher Education. In April 2007, President Carothers began his three-year term as chairman of the Council of Presidents of the Global U8 Consortium, a group of eight universities from around the world formed to address emerging issues confronting the global community. Established in 2003, the Global U8 Consortium merges expertise from the eight member institutions to develop a joint education system, conduct collaborative research, and build administrative capacity on such topics as global logistics, marine affairs, advanced technologies and business administration. In addition to URI, Consortium members are Inha University (Korea), the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Australia), Xiamen University (China), Meiji University (Japan), University of Le Havre (France), University of Haifa (Israel), and University of Washington. Building the University s endowment has also been a priority. When he arrived in Kingston, the University s endowment was $12 million and now endowment funds total $95 million, due in great measure to the president s commitment to a comprehensive development strategy that put in place staff and resources to raise funds from alumni, friends of the University, corporations and foundations. In 1992, the president launched the University s first capital campaign with a goal of $50 million. When the campaign ended, it had raised $15 million more than the goal. Now, the University is in the midst of its second comprehensive campaign, which has its public kickoff in October. Already, about half of the $100 million goal has been raised during the leadership gift phase. A direct benefit of the president s focus on building private giving capacity has been an invigorated and more actively engaged alumni. President Carothers determination to transform the University has led to positive national recognition for URI in the academic, student affairs, outreach, and athletic arenas. The Princeton Review named the University a college with a conscience in the spring of 2005. This accomplishment is a direct result of President Carothers efforts to establish a University that links classroom learning to community service. URI was featured in The Princeton Review s Colleges With A Conscience: 81 Great Schools with Outstanding Community Involvement (Random House), which was published in June 2005. Such a designation is related to President Carothers new vision for student education that shifts students from being passive listeners to active learners and that develops in the students a concern for their neighbor, whether across the street or across an ocean, as a top priority of URI s curriculum and Student Life programs. This new culture includes clearly defined expectations that echo Dr. Carothers no tolerance policy toward violence and drug and alcohol abuse. Most recently, President Carothers was selected the 2007 recipient of the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Award for his efforts to reduce student alcohol abuse. Presented by Connie and Howard Clery, co-founders of Security On Campus, Inc., the award honors those who have taken extraordinary actions to make students safe. He has been a national leader in developing learning communities, small cohorts of students in specific majors who are able to collaborate on their coursework and research. This year, 100 percent of the nearly 3,200 freshmen (the largest freshman class in URI s 115-year history) are in learning communities and 40 percent are in living-learning communities, students who share academic disciplines and live in common residence hall space. Overall, total enrollment has grown from 14,319 in 1998 to 15,395 in 2007. And thanks to President Carothers, URI is in demand. More than 14,000 students applied to URI for the 2007-2008 academic year, a 6 percent increase over last year. In concert with his vision, he initiated a Centennial Scholarship program to attract high-achieving students to URI and strengthened programs to assist them once enrolled at the University. The Centennial program rewards students strictly on academic accomplishments. The program now disburses more than $6 million annually. As a result, the average SAT score for incoming freshman has risen nearly 160 points since 1991. Dr. Carothers has been a pioneer among public universities in providing talented students with the tools to win prestigious awards, opening an Honors Scholarship Office in 1996. In March 2005, the University was named a 2004 Truman Foundation Honor Institution, the first public university in New England to receive the honor and one of three selected nationally. URI, which has had 12 Truman Scholarship winners, was selected for encouraging talented students to pursue careers in public service and for helping students win Truman Scholarships, including three in the past five years. In addition to the Truman awards, URI students have won a variety of national scholarships including the Udall, Goldwater, National Security Education Fellowships, the Madison, and the Fulbright. A URI student-athlete also became the first in University history to earn an NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship in early 2005. A recent alumna became the University s first Rhodes Scholar, the first woman at a four-year public institution in New England to earn the coveted honor. While building a stronger student body, President Carothers has also been building the University s physical plant. Over a 10-year period, he has overseen more than $200 million in new construction and renovation and rehabilitation of existing structures. Among the newest additions to campus are the $4.7 million Alumni Center, the transformed home of the business college, Ballentine Hall, $10.9 million; Green Hall, $6.25 million; the Ryan Center, $54 million and the Boss Arena, $12 million. Currently, the University has a wide-ranging capital improvement program totaling $290 million in active projects. During the spring of 2005, Dr. Carothers helped launch $120 million in projects for a new dining hall, new suite- and apartment-style undergraduate housing, residence hall renovations and 1,483 new parking spaces for students. The three new residence halls and new dining hall opened officially in August 2007 to rave reviews from students, parents and staff. All four facilities are nationally certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Certification recognizes performance in five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. In addition, construction on the $60 million Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences is well under way, and design is commencing for the new $75 million home for the College of Pharmacy. The two facilities will help position the state as a leader in biomedical and biotechnical research and economic development. The tremendous growth in the strength and number of the student body, the major overhaul and expansion of academic, athletic and student-centered facilities, and a growing research enterprise have all come as state support for URI s operating budget continues to wane. Over the past seven years, URI has received a net reduction in state support for operations. Still, with President Carothers leadership, the University has found innovative ways to be a national leader in critical areas of higher education. While leading the physical transformation of the campus, he has continued to pay close attention to the status of women and minorities, issues surrounding substance abuse and the development of future leaders in higher education. Dr. Carothers established the first President s Commission on the Status of Women in December 1999, and implemented a series of steps intended to advance the progress of women at the University of Rhode island. In 2002, he completed three years of service on the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism s Committee on Campus Drinking, which culminated with the publication of a research agenda for the nation. He was one of only six university presidents to serve on the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Prevention Presidential Leadership Group. Dr. Carothers has also been an outspoken advocate of Rhode Island legislation that lowered the legal threshold for drunk driving to.08 percent of blood alcohol. President Carothers is also a mentor to many administrators who aspire to top jobs in higher education. In February 2005, more than 1,000 people gave Dr. Carothers a standing ovation at the annual meeting of the American Council on Education, in Washington, D.C. The applause was prompted by the presentation of the first Council of Fellows Outstanding Mentor Award to President Carothers. Since joining he has mentored nine Fellows, tying a long-held record for the most Fellows during the four decades of the program. The URI President shared the honor with University of Delaware President David Roselle. This was not the first time the two men were honored jointly. Last spring, each administrator received the President s Leadership Group Award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for establishing some of the country s most comprehensive alcohol abuse programs on their campuses. President Carothers is active on the boards of many civic and professional organizations, including the Leadership Council of the American Council on Education, Bradley Hospital, Citizens Bank, The National Conference for Community and Justice, Grow Smart Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council. 120 2008 University of Rhode Island Football
Thorr Bjorn, Director of Athletics THORR BJORN University of Rhode Island Director of Athletics B.A., Massachusetts, 1990; M.Ed., Massachusetts, 1995 In late July, 2007, Thorr Bjorn became the 11th Director of Athletics in University of Rhode Island history. Since that day, he has worked tirelessly to instill a new championship culture in Kingston. "We want to be champions in the three most important areas: in competition, in the classroom, and in the community," Bjorn said. "Our athletics department is wholly committed to making the necessary changes in order to achieve a true winning attitude." In competition, Rhode Island's 2007-08 athletics programs made great strides toward Bjorn's championship culture. The men's track & field program captured its second consecutive - and seventh in the last eight years - Atlantic 10 outdoor championship team title. The rowing program won its first-ever A-10 championship, ending Massachusetts' 12-year run. In December, 2007, Bjorn made another strong commitment to winning when he hired former URI All-American Darren Rizzi as head football coach. Rizzi, who returned to his alma mater after a successful stint at Rutgers, said at his press conference: "Thorr Bjorn's energy, enthusiasm, vision, goals, and his passion for this University is the number one reason why I m standing here today." In the classroom, 204 Rhode Island student-athletes earned a 3.30 grade-point average or better and were named to the Dean's List. An additional 157 Rhody student-athletes earned a spot on the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll for the 2007 Fall semester.vdamian Gresko earned his second consecutive CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American honor, posting a 3.98 grade-point average as a double major in finance and accounting. "It is a true point of pride to have over 200 University of Rhode Island student-athletes earn a spot on the Dean's List," said Bjorn. "To have so many of our student-athletes performing on and off the field of competition is a tribute to the hard work of so many involved with Rhode Island Athletics." Many of the Rams' athletic programs and student-athletes have made an impact in the community. Several teams participated in a National Reading Week promotion this past April, traveling to local elementary schools to read and interact with the students. Additionally, URI athletics sponsored its second annual "Pink Out" during a nationally televised men's basketball game, which raised close to $10,000 for a local breast cancer awareness charity. Bjorn's championship attitude is rooted in a philosophy in which everyone in the URI athletics department is a fundraiser and marketer. We need to be tireless in our efforts to bring in external dollars - not just to sustain, but rather to grow all of our programs, Bjorn explained. As we go out into the community, we have the opportunity to sell URI and our mission to our current and future donors, sponsors and ticket buyers. We have to continue to move forward and become increasingly creative in how we accomplish our goals. In just his first 10 months, Bjorn has overseen donations of close to 1.5 million dollars toward the Student-Athlete Development Center (SADC). Included in that total is a 1 million dollar gift to the baseball program - URI's first-ever seven-digit donation to the athletics department. "To reach that dollar amount in such a short period of time shows the tremendous passion for URI athletics by our alumni and friends," he added. "We expect that this is just the beginning, as we work to raise $3.5 million for the SADC and another $1.5 million for other important athletic facility upgrades under the umbrella of the University's `Making a Difference' capital campaign." A member of the Atlantic 10 television committee, Bjorn is working to improve the local, regional, and national coverage for URI and league teams. Bjorn came to Kingston after spending 15 years at his alma mater - the University of Massachusetts - in a variety of athletic administrative roles. At the time of his hire, Bjorn had entered his fourth year as the senior associate athletic director at UMass, serving as the day-to-day sport supervisor for football and ice hockey, while also overseeing the men's and women's lacrosse programs. He directly supervised the UMass athletic marketing staff, corporate sales - including the UMass Radio Network, coaches shows and signage - and ticket operations. Bjorn also served as liaison between the athletic department and Global Spectrum - the management company for the William D. Mullins Center, home of UMass basketball and hockey. Bjorn played an integral role in UMass' department-wide apparel deal with adidas, oversaw all aspects of the funding and installation of a multi-million dollar video scoreboard system in the Mullins Center, and helped to secure funding sources for a new artificial surface at Alumni Stadium - home of the nationally-ranked Minutemen football program. From Sept. 2003-Feb. 2004, Bjorn was the interim athletic director at UMass. In that role, he oversaw all the department, including supervising a senior administrative staff of 10 associate and assistant athletic directors, as well as the head football, men's basketball, and men's ice hockey. During his tenure, he negotiated a contract extension with Don "Toot" Cahoon, head men's ice hockey coach, and was the athletic department liaison in a viability study on elevating to Division I-A (now "BCS") football status. After a three-year stint as the director of regional sales and marketing for Resorts Sports Network in Portland, Maine, Bjorn returned to UMass in April of 2003 as the Associate AD/External Affairs. At RSN - a company which provides cable systems with programming at ski resorts - he was personally accountable for $1 million in television and web advertising revenue. In his role as Associate AD, Bjorn was responsible for soliciting all radio and television advertising and corporate sponsorship dollars for the athletic department, Mullins Center, and UMass Magazine - a total exceeding $1 million dollars. Under his watch, annual sponsorship revenue increased by over 135 percent. Bjorn also directed the department's retail merchandise program, coordinated advertising campaigns and directed the ticket office. He also established "MinuteFan Park," an interactive fan experience at Alumni Stadium. After graduating from UMass and spending six months as an intern in the business office at the University of Connecticut, he returned to his alma mater as assistant athletic director for tickets and game operations in December of 1990, a position he held until being promoted in 1996. A three-year letterwinner for the Minutemen football program, he earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from UMass in 1990, following with a master's degree in higher education from his alma mater in 1995. He met his wife Cyndy at UMass, and the couple has three daughters, twins Stephanie and Robyn, and Rachael. The Bjorn family resides in North Kingstown. Bjorn and his wife, Cyndy, three daughters, twins Robyn and Stephanie, and Rachael and Dr. Carothers - July 25, 2007. Bjorn welcomes new head football coach Darren Rizzi back to Kingston - December 19, 2007. www.gorhody.com 121
URI Athletics Administration 122 Gregg Burke Deputy Director of Athletics Rhode Island native Gregg Burke begins his fifth year at the University of Rhode Island. Most recently, he served in the role of URI's acting and interim director of athletics, from May, 2006-August, 2007. Burke came to the University in September of 2004 as deputy director of athletics. In this role, he served as chief operating officer of the department with special oversight of men's and women's basketball, men's golf, and all external relations of operations. Prior to his arrival in Kingston, Burke had founded his own consulting firm, in 2001, which included client work in golf, event management, media relations, fundraising and business development. Before that, in 1999, Burke joined a group of nationally respected basketball administrators in launching the International Basketball League. As Vice-President of the league, he played an integral role in developing the business plan, marketing organization, and public relations strategy while directing the special events, public relations, corporate sales, licensing, and merchandising staffs. In 1987, Burke was hired at Providence College as assistant director of athletics. He was promoted later to associate athletic director in charge of administrative and external relations efforts where he initiated and developed the corporate partnership program, the campus-wide licensing program, and managed the tickets operations, media relations, marketing, promotions, development, advertising, and licensing staffs. He was responsible for all broadcast contracts, basketball game management, basketball scheduling, and special events. He was named sports information director at Holy Cross in 1982. He went on to engineer the Heisman Trophy campaign of Gordie Lockbaum who is still the only non- Division I player to finish in the top five in Heisman Trophy balloting and one of just a handful of athletes to ever finish in the top five twice. Prior to his work at Holy Cross, Burke was the assistant director of sports information at the University of Michigan where he worked with the men's basketball and football programs in 1981 and 1982. He began his career as a graduate assistant in the Boston College Athletics Department in 1980. Burke was the Tournament Manager for the 1989 and 1996 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship in Providence and the 1995 and 2000 NCAA Hockey Championship in Providence. He also served United States Olympic Committee appointments to the 1987 and 1990 Olympic Festivals and to the 1991 Pan American Games. He has served on numerous campus, Big East, and ECAC committees He was selected and trained by the NCAA as a Peer Reviewer in its Athletic Certification program. During his nearly quarter century work with the Academic All-America Awards Program he has held a number of key positions including time as National Chairman (1989-94). He was one of the two founding fathers of the Academic All-America Hall of Fame and still serves as a voting member. He has served on the board of a number of community organizations including Rhode Island Special Olympics, Rhode Island ALS, and the Holy Cross Club of R.I. Along the way he has been honored by a number of organizations for his work in athletics and in the community. He is the recipient of the 2002 Amby Smith Award for Contribution to Sport in Rhode Island, the 2000 Scoop Hudgins Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to College Football, and the 1999 Providence College Sixth Man Award for contribution to Friar Basketball. In 1994 he was honored with the first-ever Lester Jordan Award for service to the Academic All-America Program and the Student- Athlete Ideal. He has earned 10 Best in the Nation Writing and Publication Awards from the College Sports Information Directors of America. Burke graduated from Holy Cross in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He earned a Master of Education from Providence College in 1998. He is married to ABC Sports and ESPN basketball analyst Doris Burke. The couple resides in North Providence with their children Sarah and Matthew. Sue Bergen Associate Athletics Director/SWA Sue Bergen enters her sixth year at the University of Rhode Island, joining the athletics department in April, 2002. In her role as associate AD for business and finance, Bergen is the department's chief financial officer, working with department heads, head coaches, and administrators in preparing the annual budget. She also manages the dayto-day fiscal aspects of the athletics department, including monthly reporting, budgetary forecasts and all expenditures related to the Athletic Department and the Rhode Island Ram Athletic Association (RIRAA). She also prepares several reports for the athletics department, including the NCAA audit and gender equity reports, as well as the Atlantic 10 Conference salary survey and annual report. 2008 University of Rhode Island Football Bergen is the department's Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) and serves as sport administrator for the men's and women's soccer and softball programs at the University of Rhode Island. Prior to joining the Rhody staff, Bergen served as a Financial Analyst III, in the Strategic Planning and Analysis Department for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. She worked with the tribe from 1993-2002. She earned her bachelor's of science degree in accounting and computer information systems from Northern Michigan in 1986. Bergen is is also a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Rhode Island and is a member of AICPA. Bergen lives in Ashaway, R.I. with her husband Tom and her children, John and Jessica. John Vanner Associate Athletics Director John Vanner enters his 31st year at the University of Rhode Island, having worked in the athletics department since 1986. Vanner serves as sport administrator for the football, baseball, and volleyball. programs He is a graduate of the University and began working at the school in 1977 as a teacher in the physical education department. In 1986, he replaced URI legend Ernie Calverly as the Associate Director of Athletics overseeing the men's program. He is credited with making several coaching hires that helped bring the University's athletics program to the national level. Vanner's first hire was men's basketball coach Tom Penders, who led the Rams to the NCAA Sweet 16 in his second season in Kingston, bringing basketball back to the national spotlight. He also hired former men's soccer coach Ed Bradley, former baseball coach Frank Leoni, and Hall of Fame golf coach Tom Drennan, who have each both guided their programs to postseason NCAA competition. John lives in Johnston, R.I. with his wife Cynthia (URI Class of '82) and their three children, John, Torrey, and Jessica. Kevin McGinnis Associate Athletics Director Dr. Kevin T. McGinniss is entering his second year as the associate director of athletics for development. McGinniss owns a strong educational and professional background which includes over 25 years of experience as an educator, author, coach, athletics administrator and athlete. In his role at URI, McGinniss heads up all aspects of fundraising for the athletics department with a particular emphasis on the athletics component of URI's $100 million "Making a Difference" capital campaign; raising $5 million for the new Student-Athlete Development Center and other important athletics capital projects. Last fall under his watch, the largest outright gift to URI Athletics was procured; $1million for capital improvements to the baseball facility. McGinniss also serves as the department's liaison to the Rhode Island Rams Athletic Association, URI Foundation and URI Alumni Association. Prior to coming to Kingston, McGinniss served as director of athletics at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. In recognition of his efforts, he was nominated to receive the 2007 National Association of Collegiate Athletics Administrators (NACDA) Division II Athletics Director of the Year Award. From 2001-05, McGinniss served as the director of athletics development at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. He was responsible for coordinating all fundraising and the annual giving program for athletics - including the New Millennium Campaign - a $25 million campaign for a state-of-the-art athletics center. McGinniss' experience in higher education administration also includes serving Southern Connecticut State University as its director of athletics development and director of alumni affairs. He has also served as the director of athletics and recreation at Lehman College, The City University of New York. In addition McGinniss was the director of athletics development and executive director of the Blue & Gray Club at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY. A former men's basketball coach, McGinniss' was the head coach at Lehman College and led a program with just eight wins over the previous four years to the CUNYAC North Division title. He also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, helping lead SCSU to a 20-win season and a postseason berth in 1992. Active in professional organizations both locally and on the national level, McGinniss has served as Vice-Chair for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District I Board of Directors, is a member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics,
URI Athletics Administration National Association of Basketball Coaches Research Committee, and serves on the ECAC Board of Directors and ECAC Marketing Committee. McGinniss earned his bachelor's degree in health, master's degree in physical education/athletics administration and a sixth year professional diploma of advanced graduate studies in educational leadership all from Southern Connecticut State University. He received his doctorate in education from the Teachers College Department of Health and Behavior Studies at Columbia University. Kevin and his wife Amy have a son, Kyle, and daughter, Kelly. Gina Sperry Associate Athletics Director Gina Sperry begins her first year as associate director of athletics at the University of Rhode Island. She will serve as the sport administrator to the men's and women's cross country and track, rowing, and women's swimming programs. Sperry will also oversee the NCAA/ Champs Life Skills Program, serve as an academic liaison with URI Advising Programs for Student-Athlete's while monitoring the academic performance of student-athletes. Sperry will also serve on the following committee's: Student Affairs Diversity Committee, URI President's Commission of the Status of Women, Association for Professional and Academic Women (past president), URI Harassment Committee, and Rhode Island Association of Intercollegiate Athletes for Women (RIAIAW). Prior to her appointment, she was an academic advisor/learning specialist for the men's basketball and men's track & field squads. In addition to her academic work with student-athletes, Sperry is committed to assisting student-athletes overall development. She currently serves as the coordinator for the Rhody Life Skills Program. Prior to her arrival at Rhode Island, Sperry was an academic coordinator and CHAMPS/Life Skills coordinator at Arizona State. While in Tempe, she developed programming to enhance student-athlete welfare in such areas as study skills, career planning, health & wellness, and leadership & character. Her CHAMPS/Life Skills program was honored in 2000 with a Program of Excellence Award by the NCAA Division I Athletic Directors' Association. She served in a similar capacity at the University of New Hampshire prior to her stint at ASU. Sperry moved into academic advising and life skills enhancement following a successful career as a collegiate cross country and track & field coach. She was the head coach of the New Hampshire's women's track & field/cross country team from 1992-99. She was named the 1997 America East Cross Country Coach of the Year. From 1988-92, she was head women's cross country and assistant women's track & field coach at the University of Vermont, twice earning North Atlantic Conference Cross Country Coach of the Years honors while at UVM. Sperry earned her B.S. in physical education (coach specialization) from Eastern Illinois University in 1983. She also earned her M.S. in physical education (adult fitness and cardiac rehabilitation) form EIU in 1984. During her own athletic career, Sperry was a national-class distance runner. She was a National Amateur Champion at 10-kilometers in 1986. Sperry also qualified for the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the Marathon and finished 18th at the 1986 Boston Marathon. Sperry resides in Newport, R.I. Walter Boyle Assistant Athletics Director Walter Boyle begins his 30th year at the University of Rhode Island and seventh as assistant athletics director. In his current role, Boyle handles all aspects of game operations, including its annual budget, hiring and training event staff personnel, and as a liaison between all ancillary agencies (police, fire, etc.) as well as lands & grounds crews. Boyle arrived at URI in 1978 as assistant director of athletics, tickets & promotions, where he handled all aspects of tickets for events as well as special promotions and marketing venues. In 1991, he was also placed in charge of the University's Athletic Volunteerism Program. A 1970 graduate of Providence College, Boyle was an administrative assistant to the executive director and box office supervisor at the Providence Civic Center for six years. With a Bachelor of Arts in English, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, graduating the PC ROTC program. He rose to the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Field Artillery Officer. Active in student affairs at Providence, Boyle was elected to 'Who's Who' and the 'National Student Register' as an undergraduate. As a senior, he served as Vice President of the Student Congress. He is currently a member and past officer of the Narragansett Lions Club and is a member of the Board of Canvassers for the town of Narragansett. Boyle and his wife, Janet, were married in 1983 and reside in Narragansett. The couple has two children - Peter and Karen. Art Tuveson Assistant Athletics Director Art Tuveson begins his 28th year at URI and his third year as assistant athletics director, in charge of facilities management and planning. Tuveson is responsible for facility management and planning with respect to the intercollegiate, club and recreational sports programs. He handles all facility maintenance issues while serving as the athletic department s liaison with architectural firms. Tuveson is responsible for special operations/projects which may be on-going or short-term and which require planning, coordination and supervision. He served as assistant director for recreational services and facilities from 1990-2004. Most recently, Tuveson was instrumental in the completion of the $12 million Bradford Boss Ice Arena in 2002 while also helping with the plans for the Ryan Center. He has also helped with the planning and construction of Mackal Field House, Arrigan Sailing Pavilion, and Campanella Rowing Center. Tuveson came to Kingston in 1980 as Director of Recreational Services, a post which he held until his promotion in 1990. During that time, he was responsible for the planning, organization, and coordination of a comprehensive and diverse recreational services program that would meet the needs of the URI community. This included open recreation, club sports, fitness/wellness, aquatics, sailing, and intramurals, as well as maintaining a master schedule of all indoor and outdoor events. After serving as the coordinator of club sports and the assistant director of recreation and student activities as both an undergrad and post-graduate at UNH, Tuveson was named director of recreation at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1978. While at UWs-Stout, he was responsible for the administration, organization, and development of the intramural and club sport programs. Two years later, Tuveson relocated to Kingston. A 1972 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Tuveson received his master s degree in recreation administration from the University of Oregon in 1977. Vinny Turco Assistant Athletics Director Vinny Turco begins his 12th season as assistant athletics director for operations at the University of Rhode Island. In this role, Turco oversees all game operations for men s and women s home athletic contests, coordinates the athletic master schedule, and manages the administrative purchasing process of athletic material and equipment for all 18 URI varsity sports. Turco is also responsible for the management and planning of daily practice and team travel equipment requirements, facility set-up and breakdown for football, men s and women s basketball, and volleyball home events, and administration of athletic material sports budgets. He is the department s liaison to the Ryan Center. A former defensive back on the URI football team, Turco returned to Kingston following a two-year stint as assistant director for athletic equipment at Ohio University. While at Ohio, he helped coordinate game day operations and event management for athletic contests and also controlled the purchasing and inventory of team athletic equipment and budgets. Turco graduated from Rhode Island in 1990 with a bachelor s degree in physical education and earned his master s degree in athletic administration from Ohio University in 1994. In addition to his duties at URI, Turco also works as a field producer and does specialty statistics for Fox Sports and works in conjunction with Dorna USA, with his primary responsibility being the operation and maintenance of rotating marketing signs at men s and women s basketball games. He also served as the public relations/statistical distribution crew supervisor at Super Bowl XXVII, XXVIII, and XXVIV. Turco and his wife, Cheryl, reside in Kingston with their two children Rae and Joseph. www.gorhody.com 123
124 2008 University of Rhode Island Football