Rick Battistoni, Ph.D.
Education
Ph.D, Rutgers University
MA, Rutgers University
BA, University of Southern California
Biography
Rick Battistoni, Ph.D., is Professor of Political Science and Public and Community Service Studies at Providence College. For over 20 years, Rick has been a leader in the field of community service learning, especially as it relates to questions of civic education and engagement. Formerly the Director of the Feinstein Institute for Public Service at Providence College, Rick also developed and directed community engagement efforts at Rutgers and Baylor Universities. He served from 2001-2004 as director of Project 540, a national high school civic engagement initiative funded by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts.
A scholar in the field of political theory with a principal interest in the role of education in a democratic society, he is author of several publications, including Civic Engagement Across the Curriculum: A Resource Book for Faculty in all Disciplines, published by Campus Compact. Another book, Education for Democracy: Citizenship, Community and Service, which he co-edited with Benjamin R. Barber, is a principal textbook used in service-learning classes taught around the country. His most recent research involves a major cross-institutional study of the alumni from three leading undergraduate curricular programs in civic and community engagement, which he will be discussing in his keynote address.
Battistoni is a member of the board of directors of the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation, and has served on a number of community and not-for-profit organization boards, including Serve Rhode Island (the new name for the RI state commission on national and community service), from 2005-2010. In November 2006, he was elected to a four-year term on the Lincoln (RI) School Board. From 1997-2001, he coached a Lincoln Little League Softball team. A native Californian, Rick lives in Lincoln with his wife, Betsy Ritz, and has three politically-engaged daughters: Alyssa (25), Katie (22), and Marielle (22).