External affairs

Functions

Legislative Liaison

• Represent the interests of public higher education in all matters related to legislation at the state and federal levels
• Monitor the introduction of legislation affecting public higher education; advise Commissioner and Board of Governors of potential impacts; recommend options
• Coordinate lobbying efforts and/or testimony on behalf of public higher education interests as necessary
• Coordinate, facilitate and otherwise provide staff support to the Board of Governors’ Government Affairs Committee

Public Relations

• Represent the Board of Governors and the Office of Higher Education in state, federal and community relations
• Serve as liaison to the state association for Rhode Island’s private colleges and universities and leverage the relationship through programs and activities that benefit all institutions of higher education in Rhode Island
• Design and facilitate outreach activities to low-income and minority communities about the benefits of a college education and how best to prepare for one
• Develop and implement presentations to middle school and high school students, as well as to community groups and populations served by non-profit social service agencies, on “Preparing for College”
• Prepare position papers, publications and speeches for the Board Chairman, the Commissioner and others, as relevant, that articulate the Board’s goals and priorities in promoting the need for and benefits of public higher education
• Work with area media and with the individual public institutions of higher education to promote the successes of Rhode Island public higher education and the return on investment made by the taxpayers of Rhode Island
• Write, design and distribute a Board of Governors newsletter to help communicate with external audiences and provide information on Board activities as well as those at Rhode Island’s public institutions of higher education
• Develop innovative and creative solutions to help solve problems and address issues within the State’s public higher education system
• Develop, implement and publicize programs and activities that help underscore the critical linkage between higher education, economic development and workforce development in Rhode Island

Affirmative Action

• Coordinate affirmative action and ADA activities

 

Name	Title	E-mail	Number
Maurano, Steven	Associate Commissioner - External Affairs	smaurano@ribghe.org	456-6004
Geier, Jessica	Dual Enrollment Coordinator	jgeier@ribghe.org	456-6025

 Biographical Sketch of Associate Commissioner for External Affairs

 

 

 

 

 

Last updated June 5, 2008