Commission Members

By appointment of the Governor of Rhode Island, the following individuals serve on the leadership board of the Rhode Island Commission for National and Community Service d/b/a ServeRI [updated 4/1/2025].

  • Amy Albert, Workforce Development Director, Rhode Island Free Clinic

  • Dana Borrelli-Murray, Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England

  • Amanda Cantrell, Chief of Staff, Rhode Island Department of the Environment

  • Susan Cheesman, Senior Portfolio Manager, AmeriCorps Office of Regional Operations (ex-officio)

  • Brian Darrow, Chief for Innovation, Improvement, and Data, Rhode Island Department of Education

  • Daniela Fairchild, Director of Operations and Special Projects, Rhode Island Commerce

  • Carlon Howard, Chief Impact Officer, Equity Institute

  • Kelly Powers, Director of Community Engagement and Service, Center for Community Engagement and Service, Salve Regina University

  • Lindsey Ravizza, Director of National Service Operations, Campus Compact

  • Kristin Read, Director Warren Health Equity Zone, East Bay Community Action Program

  • Stephan Rodriguez, Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager, FIRST, New England

  • Kayla Rosen, Chief of Staff, Rhode Island Department of Housing

  • Elise Swearingen, Interdepartmental Project Manager, RI Division of Information Technology

FAQs

How do I join the Commission?

ServeRI, seeks leaders who believe volunteer service is a strategy to meet community needs and to support Rhode Islanders on their path to leadership, education, and careers. Please complete a self-nomination form to be considered for appointment. You may not receive an immediate reply to your form submission, but we will keep all nomination forms for consideration in the next appointment opportunity.

What are the responsibilities of Commissioners?

The general responsibilities include:

  1. Develop and carry out the State Service Plan

  2. Award and support AmeriCorps State grants

  3. Act as a service ambassador to form partnerships, engage service alumni, and recruit AmeriCorps members

Commissioners are appointed by the Governor of Rhode Island typically for a three-year term. The Commission meets four times a year and follows the public transparency guidelines of the Open Meetings Act. Each Commission Member is encouraged to support activities in one of three chosen areas: community outreach and engagement, program development and grant review, or AmeriCorps member and alumni support.

When does the Commission meet?

Visit the RI Department of State Open Government Center for past and upcoming meeting information. When navigating the website, the commission is identified as the “National and Community Service, d/b/a ServeRI, Rhode Island Commission for.”

How do I request public records?

ServeRI meeting agendas and minutes are posted on the Secretary of State website in the Open Government Center located at https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/open-government.

ServeRI is administered by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE). In order to facilitate the expeditious response to your request, RIDE asks you to complete the Request for Inspection and/or Copy of Public Records Form. This form is sent to APRA@ride.ri.gov, and ServeRI suggests copying serveri@ride.ri.gov to notify ServeRI directly of the request.