Dr. Kathy Collins is a seasoned higher education professional with more than 25 years of experience in leadership, supervision, change management, and organizational development. She currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Rhode Island, where she oversees a comprehensive Student Affairs division that includes counseling, health services, campus recreation, housing and residential life, and more. As a direct report to the president, Dr. Collins is regularly involved in university-wide decision making, fundraising, and representing the university both regionally and nationally. She has also provided leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitating cabinet meetings, authoring URI's Reopening Plan for the RI Department of Health, and regularly meeting with RIDOH.

Dr. Collins has a doctoral degree and a broad range of international experience, ranging from working as a consultant at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia to being a keynote speaker at a Learning Community Seminar at the University of Botswana. She has also held senior leadership roles at multiple universities and has experience in new construction and renovation projects.

Dr. Collins serves on the New England Board of Higher Education and is Co-Editor of the NASPA publication, Learning is Not a Sprint: Assessing and Documenting Student Leader Learning in Cocurricular Involvement. She has a proven track record of successfully hiring senior leadership, creating division-wide strategic plans, and utilizing data in decision making.