KINGSTON, R.I., Nov. 21, 2025 —The University of Rhode Island has launched a national search for its next vice president and director of athletics, appointing a 13-member committee to identify candidates equipped to lead the respected Division I department in a fast-changing college sports landscape.
"URI athletics is a powerful and unifying force for our University and the broader community. It inspires pride, drives engagement, and reflects our highest aspirations of excellence," said URI President Marc Parlange, who will chair the search committee. "We recognize there will be significant interest in this position, and rightfully so. As we begin the search for our next director of athletics, we are committed to identifying a forward-looking leader who not only understands the competitive demands of Division I sports, but who also champions the well-rounded success of our student-athletes—in competition, in the classroom, and in service to our community."
The national search follows an announcement in early November that the University's longtime athletics director
Thorr Bjorn is stepping down from the role. Bjorn joined URI in 2007 and, during 18 years in Kingston, built an athletics culture grounded in excellence, helping position URI as one of the Atlantic 10's most consistent and well-rounded programs.
Brittney Miles, associate athletics director for internal operations, has been appointed interim athletics director.
The search comes at a time of considerable momentum for the University and its sports programs. In October, URI was named the No. 1 public university in New England by The Wall Street Journal for the second straight year and, in February, the University earned the prestigious R1 Carnegie Classification, placing it among the top research universities nationally. URI's athletics teams have won 11 conference titles across six sports in the past three years, one of the strongest competitive periods in school history.
The 13-member search committee will comprise:
- Mark Antonucci, vice president for advancement; URI Foundation CEO
- Abby Benson, vice president for administration and finance
- Chelsea Berry, chief of staff
- Gareth Elliott, men's soccer head coach
- Michael Fascitelli, Board of Trustees member
- Cheryl Foster, professor of political science
- Joe Goodwill, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering (faculty athletics representative)
- Jeff Johnson, associate athletics director for student-athlete development
- Marc Parlange, president (search committee chair)
- Tammi Reiss, women's basketball head coach
- Ellen Reynolds, vice president for student affairs
- Thomas Ryan, Board of Trustees member
- Lily Stasaitis, student-athlete (URI Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president)
The University will engage a national firm with deep expertise in executive searches to help facilitate the hiring process. A review of identified firms is underway, with a selection expected by early December.
URI's athletics program includes 19 NCAA Division I sports and approximately 500 student-athletes, with most teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference and football in the Coastal Athletic Association. With a long and proud tradition of athletic success, including numerous conference titles and NCAA championship appearances, URI teams exemplify competitive excellence, academic achievement, and community engagement.
