Academic Affairs Team

Elizabeth Del Sesto, M.B.A., Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs

Elizabeth (Liz) Del Sesto serves as the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs where she helps coordinate a wide range of responsibilities related to the analysis, planning, and implementation of academic priorities within the Division of Academic Affairs. She has worked for CCRI since 2017 and brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to this role, contributing to the division's growth and success through her responsibilities related to curriculum management, grant-funded initiatives, scheduling, assessment, and academic technologies. Assistant Dean Del Sesto earned her Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Rhode Island. While completing her MBA, she also received graduate certificates in labor relations and human resources. Contact Liz Del Sesto.

 

Suzanne Carr, Ph.D., R.N., Dean of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences

Suzanne Carr serves as the Dean of Health and Rehabilitative Science (HARS) degree and certificate programs, including nursing, dental health, radiography, occupational and physical therapy, radiography, and respiratory therapy, among others. Dr. Carr joined CCRI in January 2019 as the Interim Dean and as the Dean in May 2020. During her tenure at CCRI, Dr. Carr successfully led the re-accreditation for the Nursing Department, Radiography, MLT and Histotechnician programs and oversaw the implementation of the $1.9 million Healthcare Workforce Transformational Grant to advance initiatives of Diversity, Interprofessional Education, Mental Health First Aid and Continuing Education. Under her leadership, CCRI has solidified its role as a regional leader in health care education that meets the workforce needs of our partners in the health care industry. Prior to joining CCRI, Dr. Carr served as an associate professor of nursing and interprofessional education coordinator at New England Institute of Technology. She previously taught nursing at the University of Rhode Island (URI), accumulating more than 16 years of experience in nursing academia. She holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing, a master’s in nursing education and a doctorate in nursing, all from URI. Contact Suzanne Carr.

 

Blair (Harrington) Ruscitti, Ph.D., Interim Dean, Business, Science, Technology and Mathematics

Blair Ruscitti serves as the Interim Dean of Business, Science, Technology and Mathematics. The division includes the following departments: Business and Professional Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Studies and Information Processing, Physics and Engineering, and Mathematics. Dr. Ruscitti began her tenure at the Community College of Rhode Island as the Assistant Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS). She has 16 years of experience promoting student success and equity in higher education and the K-12 system. Prior to joining CCRI, she served as the Director of Academic Advising and Tutoring Services at Manchester Community College in New Hampshire. She also consulted as a Research Data Analyst for EL Education, a national nonprofit, for 10 years. Dr. Ruscitti has taught at several institutions in New England (the College of the Holy Cross, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Greenfield Community College). Her single and co-authored publications focus on understanding how race, class, and gender create inequities in four and two-year college students' experiences of family involvement. In May 2024, she received a citation by the Rhode Island Senate and Governor for this work. Both her Ph.D. and M.A. are in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr. Ruscitti was born in the Philippines, spent most of her childhood in New Hampshire, and now resides in Warwick.  Contact Blair Harrington.

 

William Stargard, Ph.D., Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

William Stargard serves as Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS) (comprised of the following departments: Art, Art History, and Design; Communication and Media; English; Human Services; Library; Performing Arts; Psychology; Social Sciences; and World Languages and Cultures). As Dean, Stargard provides leadership for the development and implementation of programs, initiatives, and projects across the division. Prior to coming to CCRI in 2022, Stargard served as Assistant Dean of Faculty Development and Teaching Excellence and Professor of Art History at Pine Manor College. While at Pine Manor, Stargard served in a variety of administrative roles, including NECHE Accreditation Liaison Officer. Stargard received his Ph.D. in Art History from Columbia University. Contact William Stargard.

 

Beth O'Leary Anish, Ph.D., Dean of Learning Commons and Classroom Technology

Beth Anish is the inaugural Dean of Learning Commons and Classroom Technology (LCCT). The Learning Commons pulls together under one umbrella the Library and other academic support services at the college, including Academic and Career Pathways, the Tutoring and Writing Centers, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and Online Learning and Technology.  In addition to leading the Learning Commons, Anish will provide a bridge from Academic Affairs to IT regarding classroom technology needs. She has been with the college since 2010, first as professor in the English department, and more recently as Director of Guided Pathways. Her work centers around removing barriers to student success, from students' first moment of contact with the college through reaching their transfer and/or career goals. With a master's degree in Higher Education Administration in addition to her Ph.D. in English, she once served Associate Director of Admissions at Worcester State University, in charge of transfer admissions and their Joint Admissions program. She also worked as an academic advisor at Quinsigamond Community College while serving as an adjunct faculty member there for close to a decade. Contact Beth O'Leary Anish.

 

Lindsey Gwozdz, Assistant Dean of Library

Lindsey Gwozdz joined CCRI in 2024 as the Assistant Dean of the Library, having spent 11 years prior as an Associate Professor and the Scholarly Communications Librarian at Roger Williams University. She also serves as the Fellow for Open Education at the New England Board of Higher Education, leading its open education initiatives and helping to expand the awareness of Open Educational Resources from a cost-savings tool to be more inclusive of pedagogies that create systemic changes for more representative and equitable information creation, evaluation, and access. 

Lindsey has co-authored articles and book chapters that center social justice and pedagogical innovation with respect to open education, most recently a new framework for open education research that centers social justice: SCOPE of Open Education: A New Framework. Contact Lindsey Gwozdz.

 

Lauren Webb, Ph.D., Director of Academic Program Review and Accreditation

Lauren Webb is the Director of Academic Program Review and Accreditation at CCRI, where she facilitates the assessment and academic program review processes. Since joining CCRI in 2017, she has led several initiatives, including the launch of the P-Tech early college program, the implementation of several academic data platforms, the expansion of professional development opportunities for faculty focused on assessment, and the college's comprehensive evaluation for reaccreditation in 2024. Prior to her current role, Lauren was a research analyst at Eduventures, a higher education consulting and market research organization, and contributed to the growth of assessment in the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University. Lauren holds a BA in Sociology from Drew University and a PhD in Sociology from Northeastern University. Her doctoral research explored the evolution of the legitimacy of online learning in higher education.  Contact Lauren Webb.

 

Sarah Beth Gable, Assessment Coordinator

Sarah Beth Gable joined CCRI as Assessment Coordinator in 2024. Prior to this role, she held positions in Student Services and Institutional Research at Bradeis University including Assessment Coordinator and Program Manager for the Brandeis Undergradtuate Group Study (BUGS) program. She also contributed to data analytics and knowledge management projects for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She is the recipient of multiple teaching fellowships and has taught College Writing and History courses. She is currently finishing her dissertation on the Committees of Correspondence and Political Violence in rural Massachusetts during the American Revolution. Prior to her academic career, she worked in corporate sales and client management for BASF and Givaudan Fragrances Corportation. She is ABD at Brandeis (History), received her MSc. from the University of Edinburgh and BA from the Randolph-Macon Womans' College. Contact Sarah Beth Gable

 

Rachel A. Rogers, Ph.D., Director of Center for Teaching Excellence

Rachel A Rogers first joined the CCRI community in 2011 as a Psychology professor, and she currently serves as Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). CTE is the hub of faculty professional development opportunities at CCRI. Rogers focuses on faculty-led offerings that build a community of continuous development, championing high-impact and equitable teaching and learning practices. She strives to collaborate with any group on campus that wants to offer workshops or information to CCRI’s excellent faculty. Rogers holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with a Cognate in College Teaching from the University of New Hampshire. Contact Rachel Rogers.

 

Maya R. Geraldo, Manager of Academic and Faculty Initiatives

Maya Geraldo serves as the Manager of Academic and Faculty Initiatives. Geraldo joined CCRI in 2017 and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the division including cross-functional collaboration with Human Resources and Institutional Equity, Finance and Strategy, and Marketing & Communications. She manages academic procedures pertaining to State reporting, budgeting, hiring, and professional development. She also leads the work of the Academic Master Plan, ensuring goals are evaluated effectively and remain on track. Geraldo serves on CCRI’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council and the inaugural Staff Assembly, working to build a more diverse, inclusive and transparent CCRI. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island, a Psychology of Leadership Certificate from Cornell University and is completing her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Rhode Island.   Contact Maya Geraldo.

 

Dana Lemoine, Assistant to the Interim Vice President

As the assistant to the interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dana is responsible for all aspects of administrative support for the VPAA. In addition to his regular duties, he also serves on the Commencement Planning Committee and is a resource for the academic deans, assistant deans, faculty, staff, and the general public. Dana is a graduate of CCRI with an associate's degree in General Studies. Contact Dana Lemoine