Alumni of Color Network 2026 Alumni Panel

The Alumni of Color Network invites students and alumni to hear about the career experiences of alumni in a variety of professions. Join us to listen, learn, participate, and build community!

• 4:30–5:30 p.m. – URI and community partner career resources in the Memorial Union lounge; complimentary headshots by a professional photographer
• 5:00 p.m. – Ballroom doors open
• 5:30 p.m. – Panel discussion and Q&A
• 7:00 p.m. – Networking dinner

This event is open to the entire URI community. Co-sponsored by the URI Foundation, Multicultural Student Services Center, the Division of Student Affairs, and the Fannon Institute for Student Success.

URI strives to provide inclusive access to events. If you need a reasonable accommodation or have a question about accessing this event, please call 401.874.7900 at least five business days in advance. For TTY assistance, please call the R.I. Relay Service at 711.

About the Panelists

Jasmin Acevedo ’13
College of Nursing

Jasmin Acevedo graduated from URI in 2013 with a B.S.N. She was a Talent Development scholar and was involved in the Student Nurse Association at URI. Acevedo is now a registered emergency room nurse, yoga instructor, full spectrum doula, and wellness educator committed to bridging clinical excellence with holistic healing. She has guided hundreds of students, healthcare professionals, athletes, and educators in the principles of lifestyle medicine. Her mentorship work integrates traditional yoga, Eastern and Western medical systems, ancestral wisdom, and evidence-based research to create practical, sustainable pathways to whole-person wellness. Grounded in both clinical practice and lived experience, she translates complex medical knowledge into accessible, embodied tools for everyday life. Acevedo has worked as a travel nurse in healthcare systems across the country including Kaiser Hollywood, Mission Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess, and Massachusetts’s General. She currently serves as an ER nurse on the Brown University Health team within a nationally Magnet-recognized hospital system.

Favorite Books: Power Vs. Force by David Hawkins and A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson, which she describes as “life changing.”

Samuel (Sam) Albert ’14
College of Health Sciences

Sam Albert graduated from URI in 2014 with a degree in human development and family studies, having been involved with Uhuru Sasa as a student. Growing up with a single mother in the inner-city, he has always had his back against the wall and done well under high pressure situations. He is driven by entrepreneurship and taking risks. Creating businesses and building relationships is truly what makes him feel purposeful. He is now Rhode Island’s #1 Black Realtor, helping people buy and sell real estate since 2017. His real estate expertise also funnels into development and construction. He is currently in the process of building off-campus student housing at Providence College, which will also house his second and third restaurant locations. In 2024, Albert opened his first restaurant, Varsity Luxury Sports Bar, which was named RI Monthly’s Best New Restaurant in Providence. He loves to travel, try new restaurants, and is a season ticket holder for the Patriots.

Proudest Accomplishments: Becoming a dad, purchasing a house for his parents, and being awarded the Best New Restaurant in Providence.

Olawale (Wale) Alesh ’09
College of Business

Wale Alesh earned a B.S. in information systems from URI in 2009 and was also a member of the URI men’s basketball team. He holds graduate certificates in cybersecurity and project management. He is now an entrepreneur, creative producer, and technology professional. He is the founder of Yellow Cup Weekend, a lifestyle event series that grew from a small apartment gathering into a DJ-driven cultural experience attracting thousands of guests annually. By day, Alesh is an IT director and consultant specializing in technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, and enterprise systems. His career bridges technology and creative production, building digital systems and real-world experiences with equal fluency. He is currently expanding into media production, developing filmed DJ experiences and cultural programming at the intersection of music, community, and live events. Alesh has also been featured on Bravo’s Love Hotel and The Real Housewives, further establishing his presence in entertainment, lifestyle, and culture.

On his work: “I enjoy building things that bring people together. Whether it’s an IT system or a live event, I’m driven by the process of turning ideas into something people can actually experience.”

Yahaira (Jay) Placencia ’01
College of Business

Jay Placencia graduated from URI in December 2000 with a B.S. in Business Administration. She is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and is currently Senior Vice President and Private Client Advisor with Bank of America Private Bank. For over two decades she has been passionate about addressing the needs of business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations. Placencia has held various roles since joining Bank of America’s business banking division in 2000. She began her banking career in 1993 working for a local non-traditional lender. She is a founding member of the URI Board of Trustees and is the Chair for the United Way of Rhode Island’s Community Advisory Board as well as a member of the United Way Board. Placencia is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and is a founding member of the Advisory Board of the RISE Women’s Leadership Council. When she is not working, Placencia enjoys spending time with her children and her friends.

Proudest Accomplishment: Earning her Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.

Ranika Reyes ’06
College of Arts and Sciences

Ranika Reyes earned a B.A. in communication studies from URI in 2006 and a certificate in nonprofit leadership in 2020 through the Institute for Nonprofit Practice and the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University. Reyes serves as the Director of Financial Education and Constituent Affairs for the Office of the Rhode Island General Treasurer. In this capacity, she spearheads the state’s financial empowerment initiatives and oversees all constituent inquiries. Reyes also manages RISavers, the state-sponsored retirement savings program, and represents the General Treasurer as a board designee for the Rhode Island Student Loan Association (RISLA). Prior to joining the General Treasurer’s Office, Reyes served as the Director of Middle School Success at Onward We Learn (formerly the College Crusade). In this capacity, she provided executive oversight for all departmental programming, managed strategic hiring, and cultivated the key partnerships essential to the organization’s mission.

Best Advice Ever Received: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The older I get the more a see the benefit of asking for help. It’s not a sign of weakness but instead a strategic approach to better outcomes.”