Top

Student Spotlight: Davila Jackley

Davila JackleySept. 5, 2019

Davila Jackley, this year’s Student Government President for the Community College of Rhode Island Liston Campus, never needed much of a push to get involved in activities outside the classroom.

As a high school student at the Academy for Career Exploration in her hometown of Providence, RI, Jackley became drawn to student outreach while watching classmates participate in bake sales and fundraisers.

The cordial, 19-year-old eventually joined her high school’s student council and has continued to serve the student body ever since. Now she’s prepared to lead in a much greater capacity as the Liston Campus President, beginning what she refers to as a “rollercoaster” year with countless charitable endeavors and responsibilities on her calendar.

“The journey is worth it,” she said.

Her focus at the Liston Campus is student retention. As someone who has taken advantage of CCRI’s resources, Jackley is confident fellow classmates will be encouraged to continue their education if the college promotes its most valuable assets – clubs, scholarships, transfer opportunities, internships and career opportunities, or anything students might not realize is there for their benefit.

“I want our students to know there is so much to look forward to when they come back to school,” Jackley said. “CCRI is a great place to be and we need to let them know why it’s a great place.

“Students don’t always take the time to explore what’s offered at campus. If we do a better job of promoting that, I really think the students would take advantage of what we have.”

Connecting and networking is a top priority for Jackley, which is why she enrolled in the College Leadership Rhode Island (CLRI) program, a year-long workshop for a group of up to 75 students designed to teach important leadership skills to prepare them for life beyond the classroom. CLRI is a nine-week commitment with classes each Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., so Jackley is balancing her time wisely. Her schedule also includes her part-time job as a counselor at the Boys & Girls Club’s Southside Clubhouse in Providence.

The pace is hectic, but the networking opportunities will help her develop stronger connections in her role as Liston Campus President. She has become more active within the CCRI community since enrolling last year and continues to be a vocal presence at various on-campus events, including the college’s third-annual Raising Opportunities benefit this past summer. The opportunity to interact and speak with donors, faculty and staff has helped her sharpen the soft skills she feels will help her this year in her effort to gauge the pulse of the Liston student body.

“I want to know what drives them and what pushes them beyond the classroom,” she said. “If we can get a better idea of what resources they’d like to have on campus, or what type of clubs or events they’d like to see, they’ll be more likely to come back.”

Jackley’s long-term goal is to transfer to a four-year college after earning her associate degree at CCRI and pursue a career in public service. Time management is an important asset, and it’s admittedly been the most difficult phase of adjusting to life as a Student Government President, but walking into the Atrium of the Liston Campus each day for class inspires her to continue to push for a more unified, interactive student body.

“I joined Student Government as a way to get involved, because I noticed during my first year on campus there wasn’t a lot of student involvement,” she said. “I felt I needed to take that initiative, join Student Government and show the students there are ways to get involved in addition to everything else we have to offer on campus.”

Share this story

Latest News

Governor McKee, CCRI Announces Launch of Associate Degree in Culinary Craftsmanship

Governor McKee, CCRI Announces Launch of Associate Degree in Culinary Craftsmanship

March 07, 2025

NEWPORT, RI – Governor Dan McKee and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) today announced the launch of an associate in arts degree in Culinary Craftsmanship on CCRI’s Newport Campus in fall 2025. To support this initiative, Governor McKee is proposing $850,000 to create a Culinary and Hospitality hub at CCRI’s Newport Campus. The hub will serve as a state-of-the-art learning environment designed to meet the growing demand for skilled culinary professionals in Rhode Island’s workforce.

Read More

CCRI Metallica Scholars: Forging Paths to Success in Healthcare

CCRI Metallica Scholars: Forging Paths to Success in Healthcare

March 05, 2025

For students like Esther Duran, of Providence, Wanda Wrobleski, of Cumberland, and Richard Garcia, of Providence, the journey to a fulfilling career in healthcare has been transformed thanks to the Community College of Rhode Island and the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Funded by a $75,000 grant from the legendary rock band’s foundation, All Within My Hands, this initiative provides financial support to students enrolled in CCRI’s Medical Assistant and Patient Support Specialist workforce training programs—helping to alleviate financial burdens and empower students to focus on their education and career goals.

Read More

CCRI Women's Basketball Team Punches Ticket to National Tournament

CCRI Women's Basketball Team Punches Ticket to National Tournament

March 05, 2025

Warwick, RI- The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Women’s Basketball teamshowcased their dominance once again in the NJCAA Region XXI Conference, securing the regional title for the fourth year in a row and, punching their ticket to the National Tournament.

Read More

CCRI Players Present Stephen Sondheim's Assassins

CCRI Players Present Stephen Sondheim's Assassins

March 04, 2025

WARWICK, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Players continue their 2024–25 season with a bold and thought-provoking production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, running March 6–9 at the Bobby Hackett Theatre on CCRI's Knight Campus.

Read More

CCRI Players Celebrate 50 Years of Excellence

CCRI Players Celebrate 50 Years of Excellence

February 14, 2025

The Community College of Rhode Island's (CCRI) student-run theatre group, the CCRI Players, proudly marks half a century of participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 1, held this year at Central Connecticut State University. Over the five-day event, the Players distinguished themselves by securing 10 awards across various disciplines, including acting and properties design.

Read More

Black History Month

Black History Month

February 10, 2025

February marks  Black History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans in this country; a time to acknowledge the lasting achievements of the people of the African diaspora who have shaped American history; and a time to walk alongside today’s Black leaders as they lead the work to create a truly anti-racist, inclusive community for all.

Read More

Fall 2024 Dean's List

Fall 2024 Dean's List

January 08, 2025

The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Fall 2024 Dean's List. Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher this semester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.

Read More

World Languages student and Rhode Island native wins fifth Emmy Award for film-editing technology

World Languages student and Rhode Island native wins fifth Emmy Award for film-editing technology

December 13, 2024

Cranston, RI, native Thomas Ohanian, a World Languages & Cultures student completing his independent study, recently won his fifth Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Award for co-inventing the Avid Multicamera System, a technology that has revolutionized the film-making and editing industry.

Read More

College's Division of Workforce Partnerships earns 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award

College's Division of Workforce Partnerships earns 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award

December 12, 2024

The Community College of Rhode Island’s Division of Workforce Partnerships has won the 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award for its work in developing free training programs to help upskill more than 50 employees through online trainings and in-person courses at PACE’s East Providence, RI, headquarters and CCRI’s Providence Campus.

Read More

CCRI Players tackle themes of doubt and uncertainty with final production of fall semester

CCRI Players tackle themes of doubt and uncertainty with final production of fall semester

December 12, 2024

Beginning today, the CCRI Players launch a four-day run of John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable, produced by CCRI Performing Arts Professor Luke Sutherland and scheduled for five performances at the college’s Providence Campus Auditorium. Showtimes are 7:30 pm Thursday through Saturday with 2 pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday.

Read More

Employee Spotlight: Michael Marrapodi

Employee Spotlight: Michael Marrapodi

November 27, 2024

Michael Marrapodi has joined CCRI as the new Executive Director of Online Learning. He has been involved with education since teaching music at a private school during his senior year of college in 1976 and is now an innovative leader in the online learning sector.

Read More

Second-year Biology student, PTK scholar helps feed the homeless one sandwich at a time

Second-year Biology student, PTK scholar helps feed the homeless one sandwich at a time

November 26, 2024

Eighteen-year-old Rhode Island Promise scholar and Warwick, RI, resident Lucas Johnson revived an old family tradition this past summer with Sandwich Party Sundays – a unique opportunity to spread joy and good cheer to Providence's homeless population each weekend at Kennedy Plaza. 

Read More

Alumni Spotlight: Flavia A. Albert, M.A.

Alumni Spotlight: Flavia A. Albert, M.A.

November 25, 2024

A Providence, RI, native, and Community College of Rhode Island Class of 2011 alumna, Flavia A. Albert, M.A., is on the verge of releasing her first children's book next month to combine her passion for behavioral health and early childhood development with her love for storytelling.

Read More

CCRI announces partnership with Building Futures to deliver new Apprenticeship Readiness program

CCRI announces partnership with Building Futures to deliver new Apprenticeship Readiness program

November 22, 2024

With the support of a $250,000 workforce investment from the RI Department of Labor and Training (RI-DLT), the college will begin offering apprenticeship readiness programming in January through the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), a comprehensive apprenticeship readiness curriculum that delivers an industry-recognized credential.

Read More

CCRI recognized as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting

CCRI recognized as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting

November 20, 2024

For the past two election cycles, the Community College of Rhode Island has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as part of its Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognition program.

Read More

Upcoming Events
Jan.
1

Maritime Electric Boat Programs - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Westerly Education Center (WEC)

Jan.
1

Driver Ed for Teens - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR Courses - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Fast Track to CNC Manufacturing - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Liston Campus

Jan.
1

Global Wind Organization - Basic Safety Training - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Flanagan Campus

Jan.
1

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Motorcycle Rider Education - Ongoing Seasonal

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Para-Pro Review Classes and Testing - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Bridge Program - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Liston Campus

Jan.
1

English Language Studies (ELS) - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day