Scafariello ’99 Returns to RWU to Lead Alumni Relations

BRISTOL, R.I. – When Kelly Scafariello ’99 graduated from Roger Williams University, the captain of the women’s volleyball team and leader of several student organizations didn’t want to leave behind the community she had built.  

“Roger allowed me to grow into the person I am today,” Scafariello said. “I always thought I would love to come back and give back to the school that gave me so much.”   

This semester, Scafariello began her new role as Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations at RWU, where she’s focused on engaging the more than 30,000 Roger alums across the world as well as current students and campus partners.    

“The future is bright for RWU. I am grateful to be back to help move our institution forward while also honoring the work of the people who brought us to this point,” said Scafariello, a North Haven, Conn., native who majored in Communications and double minored in Marketing and Anthropology + Sociology at Roger.   

Since graduating, Scafariello said she’s stayed connected as an active alumna, including as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. This past May, as the board’s then-Vice President, she spoke at Commencement where she encouraged the new graduates to stay connected and involved with RWU.    

Amy Sullivan Berkeley, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, said Scafariello’s experience on the Alumni Association Board of Directors will serve her well in this role. “Everyone who has met Kelly understands what energy and commitment she brings into any room, let alone a room filled with Hawks,” she said. “She’s a Hawk through and through and is incredibly excited to connect with as many Hawks as possible.”  

In this new role as AVP for Alumni Relations, Scafariello will engage undergraduate, graduate, Law, and University College alumni while working with the Alumni Association Board of Directors for both the undergraduate and Law School alumni associations in their outreach to Roger’s 30,000+ alums around the world.  

“Kelly brings a lot of energy into the role,” said Aaron Buzay, Associate Vice President for the Office of Institutional Advancement. “She’s a strong advocate for Roger Williams and what Roger Williams has to offer.”  

Her work will include driving alumni programs and services; increasing alumni engagement and annual giving participation; launching regional alumni chapters; increasing alumni involvement with mentoring and internship efforts for current students; deepening connections from alumni of both the Bristol and Providence campuses; and engaging with partners across the University as RWU prepares for the next chapter of its Strategic Action Plan.

RWU’s Alumni and Reunion Weekend is June 2-4, 2023, and is open to all alumni with special tributes to classes ending in “3” and “8.”  

In addition to alumni, Scafariello will work with current RWU students, especially members of the senior class as they transition into alumni. Building a pipeline of connection between Roger graduates and current students is important, she said.  

As an undergrad at RWU, Scafariello was a student-athlete and captain for the volleyball team and was part of the first RWU team to win a Commonwealth Coast Conference championship in 1998. She was an editor for The Hawks' Herald and was the Chair of the Campus Entertainment Network and a morning DJ for WQRI.  

“This isn’t just a job to me. This is personal,” Scafariello said. “I’m happy to return home as a Hawk.”