Melissa Boyd-Colvin
Assistant Director Student Leadership Development
E-Mail: mboyd@mail.uri.edu

After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1998, Melissa pursued her love of psychology as a Mental Health Counselor at a residential treatment facility for adolescent females, infusing adventure based counseling into her work with teens. After completing her Master of Science degree in Human Development & Family Studies at URI in 2003, she served as the Associate Director at Texas Christian University’s (TCU) Leadership Center as a facilitator, educator, consultant and organizational advisor. While at TCU, Melissa also served as the Strengths Coordinator, where she successfully advocated for the campus-wide use of Gallup’s strengths-based approach to leadership development, and focused on providing individualized development and training opportunities to both students and community members. Currently, Melissa is working to complete a Ph.D. in Higher Education. As the Assistant Director to URI’s Center for Student Leadership Development, she is looking forward to time in the classroom, on the challenge course, and with student leaders.

Robert Vincent
Student Leadership Development Coordinator
E-Mail: rvincent@uri.edu

Robert was born in Brooklyn and raised in New Jersey. He had spent many years in New York in corporate life before deciding to continue his education. It was during his time as a volunteer for the New York Coalition for the Homeless and The Covenant House that he realized his passion for working with youth through service. Robert graduated from Montclair State University with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Counseling and Human Services. He continued his education at Montclair State University earning a MA in Counseling with a concentration in Higher Education. As a nontraditional student he was thrust into the role of leader and began his work with students advocating for underrepresented populations. For the past eight years he has been designing programs, workshops, and retreats for student leaders. He has always been interested in the link between creative programming and the multicultural leadership experience on campus. He has presented workshops at professional conferences on both the national and regional levels and has received numerous awards. His research has included Purpose in Life in Recovering Alcoholics, Service and Leadership, and Mens issues. Robert currently resides in Wickford, Rhode Island.

Ana Barraza
Student Leadership Development Coordinator
E-Mail: abarraza@uri.edu
Phone: 401-874-2561

Ana was born in Guatemala, but considers herself a native Rhode Islander. She earned her B.A. (1993) in English with a concentration in African/African American Literature from the University of Rhode Island. She then went out to work in the public and private sectors. She has had a significant amount of experience as a caseworker for non-profit agencies assisting clients with mental health issues, emotional issues, and substance abuse issues. Ana also worked for several years at Morgan Stanley, it was during her time in corporate America that she determined to return to the University of Rhode Island to earn her M.S. (2004) in College Student Personnel. During her second visit to URI she worked as the Advisor to the URI Panhellenic Council for a semester, interned at the Multicultural Center, advising Multicultural Student Organizations, and was the Graduate Assistant for the Center for Student Leadership and Development. Her accomplishments during graduate school were rewarded, she received the Multicultural Center’s Graduate Student Excellence in Leadership & Service Award. Upon graduation from URI, Ana became the Assistant Director of Intercultural Affairs at Stonehill College in Easton, MA. She worked with multicultural first year students as well as first year international students assisting in their transition to college, as well as provided diversity programming for the Stonehill community. Ana is a General Member on the URI Alumni Executive Board, an active member of the Rhode Island Young Professionals (a branch of the Urban League), and a member of the Providence chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as well as a volunteer for InSight. Ana lives in Providence.

For the past 3 years, she has worked for an experiential education organization in Worcester, MA called Dynamy. As an advisor for Dynamy, she mentored youth from the ages of 13 - 22 through internships, wilderness challenges and leadership development. In 2005, she spent six months in Santa Rosa, CA opening a 2nd site of Dynamy and exploring vineyards, redwood forests and the northern California coast.

Upon returning to the east coast, she decided to apply for the College Student Personnel program at URI to further her education in youth development. In the fall of 2006, she started at URI and is planning to graduate in May 2008. Upon graduation she wants to pursue a career in First Year Experience Programs.

She is a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club and trained in wilderness first aid and to lead youth on summer hiking and winter snowshoeing trips.

Former Staff
Leana Cuellar
Melissa Boyd
Carleen Roy-Butler
Gail Gibbs
Jamal Miller
Victor Capellan
Ann Morrissey
Angela Gugliotta
Christine Wilson