Convocation Ceremony Celebrates Class of 2028 and Transfer Students

RWU community welcomes 925 new first-year students and 85 new transfer students; university leaders encourage them to dive into hands-on learning and community engagement opportunities.

August 27, 2024By Jordan J. Phelan '19

Members of RWU's Class of 2028 gather to take part in the Convocation ceremony.

BRISTOL, R.I. – At last week’s Convocation ceremony, President Ioannis N. Miaoulis encouraged the 1,010 new undergraduate students to fully engage in the vibrant and inclusive community at Roger Williams University, diving into a real-world education and the opportunity to design powerful combinations of academic credentials, work and leadership experience that will help them discover their passions and develop into the leaders and changemakers the world needs now.

“Remember your call to action to dive deeper and soar higher,” Miaoulis said in his address to the new students. “This is the challenge and the opportunity of joining Roger Williams. Roll up your sleeves and try new things, do research and explore ideas that tackle global challenges and confront issues around equity and justice.”

With clear skies overhead, students clad in blue Hawk T-shirts processed to the athletic field on Friday, Aug. 23, for the formal ceremony, a lively event that celebrates the incoming students and their families as they become the newest members of the RWU community to embark on their academic journey.

This fall, RWU welcomes 925 new first-year students and 85 new transfer students, who hail from 29 U.S. states and are citizens of 29 different countries. With 24 percent of new students identifying as Black, Indigenous, and people of color, this is the most racially and ethnically diverse undergraduate class in RWU’s history.

As part of the ceremony, all incoming first-year and transfer students participated in the time-honored tradition in taking the Academic Integrity Pledge, led by Stephen White, Dean of the Cummings School of Architecture.

With Cabinet members and faculty by his side, President Miaoulis welcomes the incoming undergraduate class. — With Cabinet members and faculty by his side, President Ioannis Miaoulis welcomes the incoming undergraduate class, ushering in a new chapter at Roger Williams University.

Acknowledging the culture of mentorship and support at RWU, Miaoulis assured the new students that faculty and staff are fully committed to their success and will guide them throughout their journey, encouraging them to build strong relationships within the close-knit community. With over 45 majors, 70 minors, and numerous opportunities for research, internships, and leadership, students are poised to craft a powerful combination of skills and experiences that will set them apart.

“The beauty of a university environment is that you get to learn from and with others,” Miaoulis said. “You will have the opportunity to meet people from all states and many countries around the world and learn from their different experiences in a community built on mutual respect, discourse, and a higher education. At Roger Williams, we all soar higher together!”

Amy Tiberio, Vice President for Enrollment Management, introduced the entering class of new first-year and transfer students. In addition to being one of the most academically talented classes RWU has ever had, she said the new class consists of a person who preserves and restores historical cemeteries; a former member of the Rhode Island State House; an award-winning artist; a humpback whale researcher; a restorative justice practitioner; and many children and siblings of RWU alumni.

"I can only touch on the talents and experiences you are bringing to us. Individually, each of you will make us a better institution, and collectively, you are an amazing class. We cannot wait to see how you will challenge us and help us grow,” she said.

In his opening remarks, Vice President for Student Life John King emphasized that learning and community-building are at the heart of the university experience, calling for every student to invest in one another and actively enrich campus life.

“We need everyone in your row and starting in your seat to take their place on campus and establish your own legacy. You and your classmates are our future. This is now your university,” King said. “Bring your ideas for improving academic and campus life forward and volunteer to improve what exists and create what is missing.”

The Class of 2028 begins their academic journey at Roger Williams University with a proud procession to the Convocation ceremony. — The Class of 2028 begins their academic journey at Roger Williams University with a procession to the Convocation ceremony.

Joanna Ravello Goods, Vice President for Equity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, brought to life the storied past of our namesake Roger Williams, explored the town of Bristol’s historic place in the American narrative, and empowered students to embrace their new environment and connect with the flourishing Indigenous communities that call the area home.

“Despite enslavement, oppression, forced removal, and documented genocide, Indigenous Peoples are still here. They maintain unique, complex, and important relationships to the lands, waters, non-human creatures, and beings that surround us here on campus and beyond,” Ravello Goods told students. “So, whatever your major, I encourage you to take classes in the humanities to learn more.”

In her address, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Everett affirmed that the general education curriculum provides exceptional opportunities for exploration and growth, allowing students to chart their own path and build a unique combination of skills and knowledge. She noted that this curriculum is centered on self-exploration, helping students craft a meaningful educational experience aligned with their personal and professional goals.

"Your undergraduate experience as a student, and more importantly your development as a human being, begins with the RWU general education curriculum. It is the glue or connector of whatever powerful combination you build for yourself,” Everett said. “Use the choice you’re offered to take risks and try something you know nothing about. Enjoy the journey.”

Addressing the families, Michael O’Brien P’19, P’27, a licensed real estate professional and founder of Galaxy Development LLC, said that as parents, the most important thing they can take away is the assurance that the journey is now in the hands of the young adults they’ve raised, who are fully prepared for it.

“Students, you will always have the support of your family, but today you start a new journey, one where you will be accountable to yourself to succeed on your own efforts, to work through mistakes and problems you may incur. You will be rewarded with a level of confidence, and we will watch it grow,” O’Brien said. “You have made a wonderful decision to attend this university. It's been a great experience for my family.”

Student Senate President Zoey Cormican, a senior from Rochester, N.H., motivated new students to participate in campus activities and make the most of the many options to enhance their college experience.

“Being an active member of the Roger community is what you make of it,” said Cormican, a Political Science and Legal Studies double major. “Here at Roger Williams, you have an amazing opportunity to be who you want to be and to pursue your goals and aspirations. Don’t be afraid to take the steps to find those amazing experiences.”