HOUSE RESOLUTION HONORING AND THANKING CHARLES KELLEY FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND STUDENT LOAN AUTHORITY (RISLA)

H8399

2026 -- H 8399
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LC004938
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
HONORING AND THANKING CHARLES KELLEY FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND STUDENT LOAN AUTHORITY
(RISLA)

Introduced By:
Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Spears, Chippendale, Kennedy,
Fogarty, Ajello, Fellela, Shallcross Smith, and Serpa

Date Introduced:
April 02, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, Charles Kelley joined RISLA in April of 1991, and was appointed
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Executive Director in 1993, earning him the distinction of being the longest serving Executive
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Director of the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority; and
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WHEREAS, In that capacity, Mr. Kelley has led RISLA to the forefront of the country’s
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premiere non-federal college lending institutions, directed in-house technology development of
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proprietary loan origination software and native mobile applications, and established the first
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nonprofit in the country to offer refinancing of higher education; and
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WHEREAS, Highly regarded among his peers, Mr. Kelley founded and continues to
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sponsor the College Planning Centers of RI, and is credited with working “tirelessly to expand the
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variety of programs and services available to students and their families at all income levels…”
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all of which have afforded thousands of Rhode Island’s high school students with comprehensive
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college planning and financial aid services; and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Kelley attended the University of Rhode Island and earned his Master’s
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degree in public administration from Harvard University. In addition to his work at RISLA, he
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has served on the Board of the Education Finance Council as well as a two-year term as
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Chairman, and is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst; and
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WHEREAS, Active in many endeavors throughout his career, Mr. Kelley is often a
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featured speaker at various finance conferences, is a member of the Investment Committee and
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Finance Committee for South County Hospital and the Investment Committee for the South

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County Land Trust, and is a past mentor in Brown University’s Entrepreneurship Program: and
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WHEREAS, Charles Kelley retired in January of 2026, leaving a legacy of dedicated
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leadership and conscientious civic service, and he is enormously worthy of our emulation and
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acknowledgement; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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recognizes and thanks Charles Kelley on the occasion of his retirement after three decades of
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dedicated service. We moreover wish him good health, fulfillment and continued success in all
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his future endeavors; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Charles Kelley.
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