University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees Appointments Approved

Rhode Island Senate approves URI trustee appointments 

David Barrett named to the board; five board members reappointed 

The Rhode Island Senate approved the appointment of David Barrett ’78 as a new member of the University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees, as well as the board reappointments of Margo Cook ’86, Armand Sabitoni ’73, Vahid Ownjazayeri, Joe Formicola ’69, and Tom Ryan ’75 H’99 on March 31.

David Barrett, who is a managing partner of health care and technology venture capital firm Polaris Partners, fills a board seat vacated by former U.S. Congressman Robert Weygand. Barrett earned a bachelor’s degree from URI. He serves as a member of the URI Foundation Board of Directors, as an Edwards Society advisor to University President Marc Parlange, and as a member of the dean’s advisory council for the College of Business.

“As a proud alumnus of the University, I look forward to the opportunity to serve and support its mission, students, and future growth,” said Barrett.

Margo Cook is the current and founding chair of the Board of Trustees. She has more than 35 years of executive leadership, operating, and investing experience in the asset management industry. While president of Nuveen Advisory Services, Cook was responsible for more than $1 trillion in assets for clients in 24 countries. She led the institutional business of Bear Stearns Asset Management and was the CIO of the institutional business at BNY Mellon. Cook remains actively involved in the asset management industry through her positions on several boards.

“Together, our state’s leaders have helped establish a highly qualified, independent governing body that brings diverse expertise, sound judgment, and a shared commitment to excellence. This partnership has been instrumental in creating a governance structure that not only safeguards the University of Rhode Island’s mission, but also fuels our continued success and growing momentum as the state’s flagship institution,” said Cook.

Armand Sabitoni is the vice chair of the Board of Trustees and the former general secretary-treasurer and current New England regional manager of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, which represents more than 500,000 members across the United States and Canada, including more than 60,000 members across the six New England states and New York.

Vahid Ownjazayeri serves as president and CEO of CRB, a leading provider of sustainable engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting solutions for the global life sciences and food and beverage industries. He also serves on the Board of Governors for the Boys & Girls Club of Providence and is chair of the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.

Joe Formicola is the president and chief executive officer of the Executive Investments and Realty Company. For more than five decades, he has been deeply involved in brokering, developing, and constructing real estate projects throughout the United States.

Tom Ryan is the former chair, president and chief executive officer of CVS Health. He is currently an operating partner at Advent International, and a director of PJT Partners and Five Below. In addition to serving as a URI trustee since the board’s inception, he is currently the committee chair of the URI Board of Trustees Student Life and Athletics Committee, and he was a member of the URI Foundation campaign committee that helped direct the largest campaign in the University’s history.

The URI Board of Trustees was established in 2020 by the Rhode Island General Assembly. Its 17 members are appointed by the governor in consultation with the URI president, board chair, and with the consent of the state Senate. The URI president also appoints a full-time student and faculty member to serve as non-voting members. The URI president, chair of the Council of Postsecondary Education, and chair of the state Board of Education also serve as ex officio members.

The board’s next meeting is Friday, April 24, at 9 a.m. on URI’s Kingston Campus.