Political Quotes

“I rise today to recognize former Congressman Ron Machtley from Rhode Island on his last day as president of Bryant University. President Machtley has led Bryant for almost a quarter century. During that time, he shepherded Bryant's transition from a regionally focused business college to a university that prepares students to succeed in a global economy. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Ron began his career in Active Duty with the Navy and retired from the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1995 with the rank of captain. He practiced law for a time before winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives. After leaving Congress, Machtley stepped into the role of president at Bryant University, where he has served for the past 24 years. Bryant University was founded in Smithfield, RI, in 1863, in the middle of the Civil War. Bryant was originally intended to be a place Civil War veterans could learn the fundamentals of business and get a fresh start. When Ron Machtley moved into the president's office, Bryant College was still narrowly focused on business education. In 2004, President Machtley announced that Bryant would officially become a university with two distinct colleges: the College of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences. President Machtley has put Bryant on the map in many other ways-- increasing enrollment, revitalizing the campus, and joining competitive NCAA Division I athletics.…”