List of presidents of the University of Rhode Island explained

The following is a list of presidents of the university of Rhode Island.^[1]

		President	Life	Tenure	Events
1.		John Hosea Washburn	1859–1932	1892–1902	From 1888 to 1892, Washburn served as founding principal of the Rhode Island State Agricultural School associated with the Agricultural Experiment Station. In 1892 the school was expanded, chartered as a college, and renamed the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.^[2]
-		Homer Jay Wheeler (acting)	1861–1945	1902–1903	Agricultural Experiment Station Director serving as acting president^[3]
2.		Kenyon L. Butterfield	1868–1936	1903–1906	An extension department was organized.
3.		Howard Edwards	1854–1930	1906–1930	Home Economics was introduced and women were admitted to the college. First master's degrees were awarded and the fraternity system was established. In 1909, the institution was expanded and renamed Rhode Island State College.
-		John Barlow (acting)	1872–1944	1930–1931	Named Vice-president and Dean of Men in early 1930 by President Edwards.^[4]
4.		Raymond G. Bressler, Sr.	1887–1948	1931–1940	Rhode Island State College was reorganized into the School of Engineering, School of Science and Business, and School of Agriculture and Home Economics. A number of facilities were constructed including Eleanor Roosevelt Hall, Quinn Hall, Green Hall, and Meade Stadium.
-		John Barlow (acting)	1872–1944	1940–1941	Second time as acting president during presidential transition
5.		Carl R. Woodward	1890–1974	1941–1958	Rhode Island State College was reorganized into the University of Rhode Island.
6.		Francis H. Horn	1908–1998	1958–1967	URI's Graduate School of Oceanography was established.
-		F. Donald James (acting)	1927–2019	1967–1968	Called upon to manage the transition at a time of considerable political turmoil^[5]
7.		Werner A. Baum	1923–1999	1968–1973	Establishment of strong institutional ties between URI and the Department of Commerce and the newly established Environmental Protection Agency with two federal laboratories established near the Graduate School of Oceanography.
-		William R. Ferrante (acting)	1928–2014	1974	Provost and Vice President of Academic affairs 1972-1988^[6]
8.		Frank J. Newman	1926–2004	1974–1983	The general education curriculum was revised to emphasize global perspectives, and he recognized the importance of higher education in the lives of older students.
-		William R. Ferrante (acting)	1928–2014	1983	Second time as acting president during presidential transition
9.		Edward D. Eddy	1921–1998	1983–1991	The research portfolio of the university was greatly expanded.
10.		Robert L. Carothers	1942–	1991–2009	The face of the university was greatly changed with numerous capital building projects.
11.		David M. Dooley	1952–	2009–2021	International research programs were enhanced.^[7]
12.		Marc Parlange	1962–	2021–

Notes and References

1. Web site: Presidents – Office of the President. 2021-08-12. en-US.
2. Web site: Detailed History. 2021-08-12. en-US.
3. Wheeler, C.O.J. (1946). Homer Jay Wheeler 1861-1945. Science 103(2687)751-752. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.103.2687.751.b
4. Chapter 14: p. 237-238. In: Eschenbacher, Herman F. 1967. The University of Rhode Island: A History of Land Grant Education in Rhode Island. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts Division, Meredith Publishing Company. 548pp.
5. Web site: Forrest Donald James Papers. Distinctive Collections and Archives, University of Rhode Island. 21 June 2022.
6. Web site: William Ferrante-obituary. Providence Journal-Legacy.com. 15 June 2014. 26 May 2022.
7. Web site: Twelve Years of Transformation. Diane M. Sterrett. University of Rhode Island Magazine. Spring 2021. 17 May 2022.