2017 -- H 6013

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LC002303

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Commissioner of Higher Education in Louisiana; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Distinguished Member Award; and

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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of Alabama; and be it further

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

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

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