Dr. Anthony J. Santoro, Chairman

Dr. Santoro, a resident of Swansea, MA, is a former Chancellor and President Emeritus of both Roger Williams University and Roger Williams University Law School, which he founded. He is presently a Professor of Law at the Law School.

Prior to his tenure at Roger Williams, Dr. Santoro was a Professor of Law at many institutions of higher learning including Widener University School of Law, McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific, University of Bridgeport School of Law, Western New England College School of Law, and the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary.

Dr. Santoro received his Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center and received his B.A. from Boston College.

Dr. William Croasdale, ED.D., Treasurer

Dr. Croasdale, a resident of Kingston, Rhode Island, is Professor Emeritus of Education at the University of Rhode Island and also serves as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Dr. Croasdale serves on the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority, and the Board of Trustees of New England Institute of Technology.

At the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Croasdale was involved in math and science educator training and taught labor relations, mathematics, and collective bargaining. He holds a B.S. from the University of Rhode Island, a M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania, and an Ed.D. from Columbia University. Dr. Croasdale is an adjunct professor in mathematics, management, and labor relations at the University of Connecticut.

John I. Howell Jr., Secretary

Mr. Howell, a resident of Warwick, RI, has been the President of Beacon Communications, Inc. since 1969. Beacon Communications publishes the Warwick Beacon, Cranston Herald, Johnston Sun Rise and the Pennysaver. He is also a co-publisher of East Side Monthly, Providence Monthly and SO Rhode Island.

Mr. Howell is President and founder of the Academic Decathlon of R.I. and President of the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority and is a former board member for the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education. Mr. Howell graduated from American University with a B.A. in political science.

Patricia Doyle

Ms. Doyle has more than 20 years of experience in public relations and advertising and currently serves as the director of public relations and account service for the RDW Group, Inc., New England’s largest independent communications firm. In that capacity, she supervises a staff of 40 and oversees the firm’s consumer and corporate public relations accounts.

Ms. Doyle is the recipient of numerous awards in public relations, including the regional Bell Ringers, the Silver Anvil Award, and is a PR Week national award finalist in the category of community relations for GTECH Corporation.

Ms. Doyle is a 1979 graduate of St. Mary’s Academy, Bay View and a 1984 graduate of Rhode Island College where she received a B.A. in Communications. She and her husband, Michael M. Doyle, reside in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Gina Raimondo, General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island

Rhode Island General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo, elected in November 2010, dedicated her first year in office to redesigning Rhode Island’s state-administered public employee pension system.

Prior to being elected General Treasurer on November 2, 2010 with an overwhelming majority, Gina M. Raimondo worked for a decade as co-founder and general partner of Point Judith Capital, a venture capital firm. She has also served as the senior vice president of fund development at Village Ventures. A firm believer in innovation, Raimondo was involved in dozens of successful start-up companies, primarily in the health care industry.

Raimondo serves as vice chair of the Board of Directors of Crossroads Rhode Island, the state’s largest homeless services organization, where she played a key role in launching a new shelter for women. Raimondo is a native of Smithfield, Rhode Island. Raimondo is a graduate of LaSalle Academy, Harvard University and Yale Law School, and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. She resides in Providence with her husband, and two young children.