PBN Leaders & Achievers Awards 2026
AMY KEMPE
Community College of Rhode Island chief of staff
Amy Kempe, the chief of staff at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, believes in what education can do for people. She said it feels more like a calling than a career choice.
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She has led crisis communications at the state level and directed the college through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that the leadership’s priorities are explained and turned into actions.
“I’m drawn to mission-oriented institutions, and there’s nothing quite like working in higher education, where you can see the tangible results of that mission in the lives of the people it serves,” she said. “When that works well, it ripples outward: employees understand the ‘why’ behind decisions, departments move in the same direction and, ultimately, students experience a college that’s organized around their success, from the classroom to graduation and beyond.”
She’s supported efforts to improve enrollment and long-term growth after the pandemic, as well as the Rhode Island Promise Program, which expands access to higher education by covering two years of tuition for elgible students.
Kempe advised people to say yes to opportunities.
“Show up every day and work hard – there’s no substitute for that. Just as important is staying open to continuous learning. Don’t be afraid to try new things or to make mistakes; what matters is taking accountability when you do, and staying humble enough to learn from it,” she said.
Kempe has worked to improve the college’s digital presence, increasing students’ interest through social media, and she’s worked on a public-facing campaign to showcase CCRI across the state.
“To me, leadership isn’t about achieving something on your own – it’s about building and supporting the people around you so that they can be successful,” Kempe said. “The best leaders I know aren’t the ones with all the answers; they’re the ones who make sure their teams have what they need to find the answers themselves. That means investing in people, celebrating their wins as much as your own, and creating an environment where they feel supported enough to take risks and grow.”
