Costigan officially named president of CCRI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education unanimously voted to name Rosemary Costigan the president of the Community College of Rhode Island in a meeting on Wednesday.

Costigan had been serving as the school’s interim president since May 3, 2023, after former president Meghan Hughes stepped down.

The council said that Costigan led CCRI “through a time of great change and challenge” during her tenure as interim president, pointing out that she led the college through a successful 10-year accreditation and significantly rose the college’s two- and three-year graduation rates– raising the two-year rate from 4% to 18% and the three-year rate from 15% to 30%, respectively.

Her official appointment follows a nationwide search that produced 44 candidates and two finalists.

Costigan is the first CCRI alum to serve as the school’s president.