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Emily Gowdey-Backus

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Emily Gowdey-Backus joined Providence Business News as a staff writer in April 2016. She is a native of Connecticut and holds a Master’s Degree in international journalism from Cardiff University. Emily covers the education, workforce development, hospitality and tourism, and nonprofit beats for the newspaper. Photo Credit: Love & Perry Photography
STYLING: Jackie Pace, left, director of Empire Beauty School in Warwick, watches as school educator Corrie Cagnon instructs student stylist Andrew Bretz. He’s cutting the hair of Theresa Perry, of Coventry, who has been coming to Empire for three years. / PBN PHOTO/­MICHAEL SALERNO

R.I. reduces required instruction hours for hairdressers, cosmetologists

Prospective hairdressers and cosmetologists applying for a Rhode Island hairdresser/cosmetician license may have it a little easier thanks to a bill signed into law...
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR of communicative disorders Leslie Mahler has been named director of the University of Rhode Island's Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND/NORA LEWIS

Mahler named director of URI’s Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Succeeding founding director Nasser Zawia, associate professor of communicative disorders Leslie Mahler was named director of the University of Rhode Island’s...
JONATHAN GAY is the executive director of Playworks New England, part of a national organization that brings play and youth-development programming into schools during recess to improve the health and well-being of children and enhance learning through the power of play. /COURTESY PLAYWORKS NEW ENGLAND

Five Questions With: Jonathan Gay

Jonathan Gay has been with Playworks New England, part of a national organization that brings play and youth-development programming into schools during recess to...
BRENDAN KANE has been named board president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State. /COURTESY BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE OCEAN STATE

Kane named new BBBSOS board president

CRANSTON – Brendan Kane was appointed board president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State, according to an Aug. 18 statement by...
PROVIDENCE-BASED ARTS ORGANIZATION Steel Yard is donating 35 artist-designed bike racks in 16 cities and towns across the state. From left, Alex Ellis, Providence planning technician; Jenny Sparks, public projects client relations manager; Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza; Tim Ferland, public projects director; and Wobberson Torchon, principal of the Providence Career & Technical Academy. /COURTESY STEEL YARD

Steel Yard donates 35 bike racks in 16 cities and towns...

PROVIDENCE – On Aug. 24, Providence-based arts organization Steel Yard announced the donation of the first installation of 35 artist-designed bike racks in 16...
THE NEWPORT MANSIONS Wine & Food Festival will be held from Sept. 21-24 with signature events hosted at The Elms, Rosecliff, Marble House and The Breakers. / COURTESY PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY

Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival set for Sept. 21-24

NEWPORT – Returning for its 12th year, the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival will be held from Sept. 21-24 with signature events hosted...

Tribe, Ivy League Brown debate law, morality

On Aug. 20 approximately 50 members of the Pokanoket nation, an indigenous group that claims ties to Colonial-era Wampanoag leader King Philip, or Metacom,...
GENERATING INTEREST: University of Rhode Island graduate student Ben Cromwell demonstrates Party Elements programming. URI professor Mindy Levine started the business to get more people interested in science. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ­ISLAND/MICHAEL SALERNO

Having fun with science

Using shaving cream, cornstarch, lemon juice and other easily accessible materials, University of Rhode Island associate professor of chemistry Mindy Levine hopes to interest...
SUSANNA LOEB HAS been named the next director of the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University./ PHOTO COURTESY BROWN UNIVERSITY

Stanford’s Loeb to head Brown’s Annenberg Institute for School Reform

PROVIDENCE - Stanford University professor of education Susanna Loeb has been chosen by Brown University to head its Annenberg Institute for School Reform, the school...
PROVIDENCE MAYOR JORGE O. ELORZA and state officials have announced a Real Jobs Rhode Island partnership designed to train city residents in the health care and social service sectors. The program is supported by a $300,000 grant from the state Department of Labor and Training. / PBN FILE PHOTO/STEPHANIE ALVAREZ EWENS

Elorza plans minimum $200M investment in city’s school facilities

PROVIDENCE - With the currently-under-construction Mount Pleasant High School as his backdrop, on Monday Mayor Jorge O. Elorza announced a "robust" public-school facilities planning...
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