2017 -- H 6013

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING JIM PURCELL, ED. D., FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE YOUNG

PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND AS COMMISSIONER FOR POSTSECONDARY

EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Morgan, Filippi, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: March 28, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, To the very good fortune of students across Rhode Island, Dr. Jim Purcell

was appointed Commissioner of Postsecondary Education for Rhode Island in 2014; and

     WHEREAS, A native of the State of Alabama, Dr. Purcell attained his Bachelor's degree

in Public Administration from Auburn University, his Master's degree in Counseling from the

University of Montevallo, and his Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from

the University of Alabama. Previous to coming to Rhode Island, he had served as the

Commissioner of Higher Education in Louisiana; and

     WHEREAS, During his tenure as Commissioner in Rhode Island, Dr. Purcell's

responsibilities have included, coordinating the efforts of our state's two public universities, the

University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College, and the statewide community college

system, the Community College of Rhode Island. He has worked diligently to implement

"policies and programs that increase coordination among institutions, respond to workforce

needs, expand access to higher education, and improve student attainment"; and

     WHEREAS, Nationally, Dr. Purcell is a widely-respected leader in higher education and

has been recognized by the University of Alabama’s College of Education with the Harold

Bishop Award for Leaders, and by the Southern Association of Institutional Research with their

Distinguished Member Award; and

     WHEREAS, Extraordinary people never retire, they just begin a new chapter of their

lives. Such is the case with Dr. Purcell who, by virtue of his numerous accomplishments, serves

as a model for all our educational leaders and will be continuing his educational leadership as

Commissioner for Higher Education in the State of Alabama; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby honors and thanks Dr. Jim Purcell for his dedicated service to

higher education as Rhode Island's Commissioner for Postsecondary Education. We moreover

wish him good health and continued success as Commissioner for Higher Education in the State

of Alabama; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Jim Purcell, Ed. D.

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