Richard Salit, an environment and health reporter at The Providence Journal, was recently named co-director of the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting. In this role, he will provide guidance on institute programs and share his professional experience with journalists who are new to environmental reporting. He holds a B.A. degree in English with a concentration in journalism and creative writing from the State University of New York at Binghamton. more

What do you do if your cellphone rings while at a business dinner? more

Johnson & Wales University will unveil on Monday the design and details for its new Center for Physician Assistant Studies to be housed in a Clifford Street building the university purchased earlier this fall. more

EAST GREENWICH – The New England Institute of Technology will serve as the only regional location for Pixar Animation Studios’ “Masterclass in Animation and Story Development,” a two-day workshop on Oct. 12-13 at the school’s campus. more

University of Rhode Island Professor Kerry L. LaPlante has been awarded a $703,000 grant from the Pfizer Medical Education Group. more

Having established a career as a consultant for Fleet Bank, Brendan McNally was hired in 2009 for his knowledge and contacts in the business community as the first director of the Rhode Island Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Until closed earlier this year, it was a collaborative effort supported primarily by Brown University, as well as the R.I. Economic Development Corporation, the R.I. Science and Technology Advisory Council and the Slater Technology Fund. more

Providence College broke ground on June 7 on its Ruane Center for the Humanities, which will be the home of its Development of Western Civilization and Liberal Arts honors programs upon completion in fall 2013. more

Two groups have submitted applications to the R.I. Department of Education to open their own charter schools. What sets them apart from other charter schools is their proposed reliance on technology and the Internet. more

The University of Rhode Island has received roughly $2.5 million from the estates and bequests of URI alumni brothers John and David Parker, the University of Rhode Island Foundation announced Tuesday. more

Rhode Island’s capital city has been named a finalist in the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge, a competition designed to inspire American cities to generate innovative ideas that solve major challenges and improve city life, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras announced Monday. more