SOUTH KINGSTOWN – A 1978 University of Rhode Island graduate and his wife have made a multi-part, seven-figure gift to the state land-grant school to help student-athletes pursue business degrees.
The university announced Thursday that David E. Barrett, managing partner of health care and technology venture capital firm Polaris Partners, and his wife, Kristen Cobb Barrett contributed $5 million that will be made into two parts. Included is URI establishing the David E. Barrett Business Scholarship, which URI says is an endowed fund for student-athletes pursuing MBAs.
The other part, URI says, will be an estate bequest that will benefit long-term interest of both the URI College of Business and the university’s athletic department.
“Rhody left its mark on me,” said Barrett, who also has been a URI Edwards Society advisor for the past year, in a statement. “I’ve got great appreciation for my undergraduate experiences as a student and as an athlete, which helped lay the foundation for my career and life. Our family is pleased to have an opportunity to give something back to future generations.”
URI Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn said in a statement Thursday the new scholarship will enable student-athletes to apply “their purposeful leadership skills” to pursue graduate degrees while also still competing in Division I athletics at the university. “They will be incredibly well-prepared to be tomorrow’s leaders as a result of this unique opportunity,” Bjorn said.
James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on X at @James_Bessette.