HEATHER BOUJOULIAN, a Roger Williams University alumna and managing director and head of development at Boston-based real estate firm Berkshire Residential Investments, was recently named chairperson of RWU’s board of trustees. She becomes the first woman in the university’s history to lead its board of trustees.
What are your overall goals for RWU as its board chair? The students are always front of mind for me, and my primary goal is strengthening the commitment of President [Ioannis N.] Miaoulis and the university to academic excellence and student success through our strategic initiatives and programs that prepare students to thrive in a rapidly changing world and partnerships that bring value to our students and the communities we serve. My priorities will be to ensure financial sustainability and responsibly managing resources to continue to offer affordable, high-quality education.
You’re looking to expand access and strengthen commitment to interdisciplinary educational offerings and programs in real estate. Why real estate? Is it to help address workforce needs in that sector? The real estate industry interconnects with everything in our society and economy, shaping and responding to how we live, work and play. That means it is also confronted with our most pressing challenges, from affordability to shifting workforce requirements. RWU has always had strong programs in architecture, construction management, engineering, business, the law, public administration and leadership – which made the real estate program a natural fit. That, combined with deep connections with leading firms and agencies from Boston to New York and beyond, we were able to create a dynamic, interdisciplinary real estate program that prepares our graduates with the skills, knowledge and creativity to tackle those complex challenges.
RWU recently launched an endowed full-scholarship program for trades education at the Providence campus. In what areas of the trades is RWU looking to help close workforce gaps? In the construction management and real estate industries, we can buy and plan for properties all day long, but we also need people to build the structures, repair and renovate, and keep buildings maintained. These are essential skills that lead to meaningful and lucrative careers that are in high demand. RWU aims to close the labor-shortage gap in our region with affordable, accessible certification and apprenticeship pathways designed for working learners.
Along with real estate, what other educational areas do you wish to see RWU expand upon that can benefit students? In addition to our world-class marine biology, aquaculture and aquarium science programs, RWU is developing interdisciplinary blue economy programming across the sciences, business, the built environment, the humanities and the law. RWU is also growing programs that serve working professionals and workforce development through graduate programming, RWU Extension School and RWU [School of] Law.
