ACN Alumni Panel 2025

Students are invited to grow your personal and professional skills at the Alumni of Color Network Alumni Panel. Alumni panelists from a range of careers are returning to campus to discuss their experiences and challenges as professionals of color. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen, learn, participate, and build community with alumni during the complimentary networking dinner!

URI and community partners will be on hand from 4:30–5:30 p.m. to share information about career readiness and resources. A photographer will be available during this time to take complimentary professional headshots.

Alumni are invited to attend this event to network with students during the dinner following the panel.

Schedule:
4:30 p.m. doors open; headshots and campus resources available
5:30 p.m. panel discussion
7 p.m. dinner

Business casual dress is recommended but not required.

Cost: Complimentary. Registration is required. This event is expected to reach capacity.

Register by: Friday, March 21, 2025

Special thanks to our partner, the Multicultural Student Services Center (MSSC). Fostering an inclusive and welcoming community is at the heart of the MSSC’s work. All events hosted by or in collaboration with the MSSC are open to the entire URI community. We are committed to making URI a place where everyone feels valued, included, and has a true sense of belonging. We look forward to welcoming you!

URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement strives to provide inclusive access to events. If you need a reasonable accommodation or have a question about accessing this event, please call 401.874.2242 at least five business days in advance. For TTY assistance, please call the R.I. Relay Service at 711.

Meet the Panelists

Andres C. Brito ’17

Andres Brito earned a B.S. in kinesiology at URI with a minor in leadership studies, then went on to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Northeast College of Health Sciences in 2021. While at URI, Dr. Brito was a Talent Development scholar and vice president of Brothers on a New Direction (BOND). He is now the owner and clinical director of Ascend Chiropractic Clinics in Cranston, RI, where he evaluates and treats patients with the goal of helping them achieve the best clinical outcomes. Before opening his own practice, he was a clinic director at Ameriwell, a chiropractic and medical facility in Maryland. When he is not treating patients, Dr. Brito stays active playing basketball and golf and enjoys traveling and cooking.

Peter J. Brown Jr. ’10

As a senior engineer at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Peter Brown directs and oversees quality improvement initiatives across the company. Since earning his B.S. in electrical engineering from URI in 2010, he has been a quality or manufacturing engineer for medical devices at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Medtronic, and Haemonetics. While at URI, he was a Talent Development scholar and member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Outside of work he plays basketball, is an avid gamer, and enjoys listening to 90s and 2000s hip-hop, funk, and dembow.

Persjha Conry ’05

A Talent Development scholar and resident advisor, Persjha Conry graduated from URI with a B.S. in human development and went on to earn multiple advanced degrees in education. She earned dual master’s degrees in childhood education and special education from Metropolitan College of New York, followed by a master’s degree and Ph.D. in education from Walden University. She also holds eight professional licenses across three states and is in the process of completing licensure for Board Certified Behavioral Analysis. She is the clinical director and co-owner of Elevating Minds ABA, LLC and is a special education chairperson in the Houston Independent School District. Outside of her professional life she enjoys spending time with her son and has many interests, from basketball, hiking and fishing to taking classes and studying black history and culture.

Princess E. Garrett ’20

Princess E. Garrett is an educator, researcher, and youth liberation activist who has served Rhode Island communities for more than 20 years in public schools and youth-led spaces that impact Black and Brown communities. She is a founding member of the State of Black Rhode Island Community Action Board and works as a professional development provider for 21st Century Community Learning Centers with the RI Department of Education. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in journalism from URI in 2020, she earned a master’s in youth development from Rhode Island Collage and is currently a Ph.D. student in social justice education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is also an independent consultant and an instructor at UMass Amherst. Outside of academia, Garrett is an avid reader, record collector, visual artist, and crafter.

McFrances George ’07

McFrances George earned her B.S. in nursing from URI followed by a master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), a post-master’s certificate, and a Ph.D. in nursing education from Walden University. As a family nurse practitioner, she is passionate about community health and strives to educate patients on the benefits of both alternative/complimentary and Western medicine. George is also a professor of nursing and is committed to preparing students for success, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on healthcare. While at URI, George was a Talent Development scholar and an active member and vice president of Uhuru Sasa. Beyond her professional life, she is an entrepreneur, managing her holistic skincare line, Lulus Lovess Holistics, and enjoys spending time with her two sons and family.

Wayne J. Montague Jr. ’10, M.B.A. ’11

Wayne Montague participated in the Talent Development program at URI and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in entrepreneurship management. He earned an M.B.A. from URI a year later. He was inducted into five academic honor societies, and true to his entrepreneurship major, co-founded FEDEA Gaming and Entertainment, URI’s first multicultural e-sports organization aimed at increasing diversity in the gaming space. Montague is a vice president, financial planning and analysis at Sony Music Entertainment’s US Frontline Label Group in New York City, having held previous finance roles at PwC and Madison Square Garden Entertainment. He has many interests and hobbies, from art and music to gaming, running, and traveling with family.

Wilfredo J. Tangui ’18

As a student at URI, Wilfredo Tangui was a biological sciences major with minors in leadership studies and Japanese. He studied abroad in Japan as a Gilman Fellow and was involved in the URI Honors Program, Leadership Institute and many other activities including being a founder of the club tennis team. After URI, Tangui was a Fulbright Scholar, studied at Temple University, and earned a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2023. He is now a data scientist and analyst at Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. He continues to play tennis competitively as well as offering private instruction and enjoys other sports as well as traveling.