Honorary Degree Recipients & Commencement Speakers

Meet Our Honorees

These exceptional individuals will receive honorary doctorate degrees, with two also serving as speakers, at our Commencement 2026 ceremonies.

Elizabeth Beisel | Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters | Advanced Degree Speaker

Elizabeth Beisel is a three-time Olympic swimmer, two-time Olympic medalist, World Champion, two-time Emmy winner and NBC/ESPN broadcaster. She was born and raised in Rhode Island and continues to reside here today.

At 15 years old in 2008, she qualified for her first Olympic Games, making her the youngest competitor on the U.S. Olympic Team. Four years later, at the 2012 Olympics, she won two individual medals; a silver in the 400m Individual Medley and a bronze in the 200m Backstroke. At her third Olympics in 2016, she was named captain of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team alongside Michael Phelps.

Beisel attended the University of Florida, where she won two NCAA titles and 14 SEC titles. She earned a Bachelor of Science in telecommunications and was named the 2011 and 2013 NCAA Division I Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

In 2021 Beisel became the first – and still only – woman in history to swim to Block Island. Her 20km swim, named Block Cancer in memory of her father Ted Beisel who passed from pancreatic cancer, raised funds for cancer research and clinical trials. As of April 2026, Block Cancer has raised over $900,000 for cancer research.

Beisel currently works as a media correspondent for the Olympic Games and NCAA Championships. Her coverage at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris won her two Emmy’s.

Alongside her career in athletics, music has remained a constant. A classically trained violinist and pianist, Beisel has performed as a soloist with orchestras that include the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Rhode Island Philharmonic. She has performed at the Newport Folk Festival, on The Today Show, on the CBS Morning Show and played the National Anthem in NFL and MLB stadiums.

Darlene Allen | Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters | Baccalaureate Degree Speaker

Darlene Allen is an experienced nonprofit leader who has dedicated her 40+ year career to helping vulnerable children, youth and families. She has worked in both public and private agencies in areas that include adoption, child welfare, children’s behavioral health, foster youth education and the prevention of youth homelessness.

For the last 26 years, she has served as CEO and executive director of Adoption Rhode Island, a private nonprofit that provides a range of trauma-informed, evidence-based services for foster and adopted children, transition-age youth, young adults and families. The agency also provides education, training and technical assistance to professionals who work with these populations.

A frequent presenter and public speaker, Allen has tirelessly advocated – locally and nationally – for legislation and resources to address the educational, housing and mental health needs of children and youth impacted by foster care. The results of her efforts include passage of legislation that establishes requirements for the Office of Child Advocate regarding fatality reviews. Allen was also appointed a member of the Rhode Island Child Fatality review team.

Allen has also been a long-time partner in education with Rhode Island College. In 2006 she was instrumental in establishing the Adoption and Foster Care Certificate program at RIC, which successfully served hundreds of students for more than 14 years. With the support of RIC, Adoption Rhode Island also launched an online certificate course called “From Lived Experience to Informed Practice,” open to students and professionals. In 2024 she worked with RIC, along with members of the legislature and the governor’s office, to establish the Foster Care Youth Scholarship Program. This program is currently serving its second cohort of former foster youth. For her work, Allen has received numerous awards, including a Congressional Angel in Adoption award.

Oscar A. Mejías | Honorary Doctorate of Business

Oscar Mejías is a nationally recognized business leader, economic development strategist and community advocate with more than two decades of experience driving entrepreneurial growth, workforce development and inclusive economic expansion in the United States.

Born in Venezuela and trained as a computer engineer, Mejías immigrated to the United States in 2003 and quickly established himself as a bridge between technology, business development and community empowerment. Over the past 20+ years, he has played a pivotal role in strengthening Rhode Island’s small business ecosystem, particularly within underserved and Hispanic communities.

As the founder and CEO of the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Mejías has built one of the most impactful minority business organizations in New England. Under his leadership, the Chamber has grown to serve more than 1,000 members, delivering technical assistance, access to capital, training programs and strategic advocacy that have directly contributed to business growth, job creation and increased economic participation across the state.

His leadership extends across multiple sectors. He has served as an IT Implementation Project Manager for a global financial institution (Santander Group). He is also the CEO of OM Consulting Group, a Rhode Island-based firm with a national footprint, specializing in business development, strategic marketing and organizational growth. He advises entrepreneurs, nonprofits and institutions on scaling operations, strengthening revenue models and building sustainable business strategies.

A respected voice in policy and economic development, Mejías has contributed to numerous advisory boards and committees, including the Rhode Island AI Task Force, Workforce Development Board (Providence/Cranston), RI Public Expenditure Council and various diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at both city and state levels.

His contributions have earned him multiple recognitions, including the SBA New England Minority Business Owner of the Year award and acknowledgment by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.

Mathies J. Santos | Honorary Doctorate of Public Service

Retired Lt. Col. Mathies Santos served for more than 31 years with the U.S. Air Force and the R.I. Air National Guard. His last assignments included a 2008-09 deployment to Afghanistan in support of “Operation Enduring Freedom,” where he worked on the rebuilding of the Afghan National Army Air Corps and as commander of the 143rd Airlift Wing's Force Support Squadron.

During this period, his outstanding professional skill, leadership and ceaseless efforts resulted in major contributions to the success of the U.S. Air Force Advisor Mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. For his outstanding accomplishments, Santos was awarded the Air Force’s Meritorious Service Award with 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster.

Santos is a native Rhode Islander and product of the Providence Public Schools. A 1965 graduate of Hope High School, he holds a degree from Brown University, ’77, in Italian Studies and Secondary Education and from Rhode Island College, ’82, in managerial economics.

Santos retired from state service in 2003 as executive assistant to the commissioner and director of equity and access at the Rhode Island Department of Education. He also formerly worked at Rhode Island College, the Executive Branch and the Department of Administration.

Appointed to the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education in 2011, Santos chaired the board’s Appeals Committee and served on a year-long National Association of State Boards of Education study group called the “Role of Technology in Schools and Communities.”