Lois Wims is the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for Worcester State University and a Trustee of Trinity Washington University. She has previously served as the Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for CCRI, its largest division in the largest community college in New England. She previously served as a Dean at Mercy College and as an Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Alabama. She has been in higher education for over 30 years and has been a tenured faculty member, senate president, department chair, and an American Council on Education Fellow. She holds the Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island, a Master’s in Criminal Justice from Salve Regina University and a Bachelor’s summa cum laude from Bryant College. She received the American Council on Education Fellowship in 96-97. Dr. Wims was appointed by then Governor Lincoln Almond as Executive Director of the RI Select Commission on Race and Police and Community Relations in 2000, serving for two years investigating and making recommendations in the aftermath of a tragic death by friendly fire on the Providence Police Department. Dr. Wims has received awards from Common Cause and was named a Local Hero by the Providence Phoenix, and began her career as the first and only female police officer with the Central Falls (RI) Police.