2025 -- H 6152

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY

OF RHODE ISLAND ON THE JOYOUS OCCASION OF REACHING THE MILESTONE OF

5,000 GRADUATES IN 2025

     Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Morales,
Stewart, Giraldo, Kennedy, Tanzi, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: April 01, 2025

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Talent Development Program, currently led by the outstanding

leadership provided by Director Gerald R. Williams, was established at the University of Rhode

Island in 1968, in the midst of the Martin Luther King assassination and at a time in America’s

history when marginalized groups in the United States were fighting for equality and for their

voices to be heard; and

     WHEREAS, The Talent Development Program at the University of Rhode Island was

established as a special admission program for Rhode Island’s students of color and those from

disadvantaged programs. From a start of 13 students, the Talent Development Program currently

has 1,000 scholars enrolled and is proud to have nearly 4,900 alumni; and

     WHEREAS, The mission of the Talent Development Program is to recruit and serve

Rhode Island high school graduates who have college potential and come from disadvantaged

backgrounds. A majority of these scholars are students of color. The core mission of the program

is its commitment to Respect, Academic Excellence, Mental Health & Wellness, and Scholar

Success. Over the past 58 years, the program has had an outstanding 83.6 percent first year

retention rate, and students on average graduate with a degree in 4.62 years; and

     WHEREAS, One of the outstanding contributors to the success of the Talent

Development Program since 1995 has been Senior Academic Advisor Edward Steven “Ted”

Shear, a son of parents born during the Great Depression and who were the first in their families

to attend college. As a young man, Ted’s parents instilled in him the important values of attaining

an education and having an opportunity at living a successful life in America; and

     WHEREAS, Ted Shear earned a Bachelor of English degree in 1991 from the University

of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master's degree in Liberal Studies from St. John’s College in

Annapolis in 1993, and a PhD in English from the University of Rhode Island in 2004. Prior to

joining the Talent Development Program at URI, Mr. Shear worked as a computer analyst,

technical writer and as a college-level instructor; and

     WHEREAS, Ted Shear’s career with the Talent Development Program began in 1995,

when he joined a team that was charged with creating a computer skills instruction program for

the Summer Success Program. Mr. Shear discovered that the Talent Development Program and

its scholars were more than a job, it was a new home for him, and he was welcomed as a member

of the family. Since 2001, he has served with distinction as a full-time academic year tutor within

the program; and

     WHEREAS, The extraordinary success the Talent Development Program has

experienced, and continues to experience, in providing educational and career opportunities to the

marginalized in our society would be impossible without the hard work and tireless devotion

provided by its leadership, including Director, Gerald R. Williams, Pam Rosa, Higher Education

Administrative Assistant II, Kristina Moyet, Ed.D., Associate Director, Academic Programming

and Assessment, Edward P. Givens, Assistant Director for Campus Life, Ted Shear, Senior

Academic Advisor, Corey Fernandez, Academic Advisor/Success Coach, Kevin Smith,

Academic Advisor, Sara Caitlin Potter, Coordinator, Karol Ramirez, Coordinator, Bethania

Badeau, Coordinator, and Kassie Paquette, College Success Coach; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

heartily congratulates the Talent Development Program at the University of Rhode Island on the

joyous occasion of reaching the milestone of 5,000 graduates in 2025; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Gerald R. Williams, Director of the Talent

Development Program at the University of Rhode Island.

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