University’s vice president of administration and finance recognized in PBN’s 2026 Business Women Awards program
KINGSTON, R.I. – June 1, 2026 – Abby Benson, the University of Rhode Island’s vice president of administration and finance, was recently honored as a “Woman to Watch” within education by the Providence Business News.
Benson was formally recognized by PBN during its Business Women Awards ceremony held in late May at the Marriott Providence. The awards program recognizes top businesswomen within Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts for their work in various for-profit, nonprofit and government operations, and beyond. The “Woman to Watch” award honors businesswomen whose noteworthiness and work within their respective sectors is on the rise.
“This award from the Providence Business News, which I am honored to receive, is a testament to all the hard, and often behind the scenes, work done to secure URI’s role as one of the country’s preeminent flagship institutions for now and for generations to come,” Benson said. “It takes an entire community to make URI special for faculty, students, and staff, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Benson, who serves as the University’s chief financial officer, was lauded by PBN for playing a critical role in strengthening URI’s financial foundation during a significantly complex period. She led a University-wide balanced budget initiative to address structural deficits and align spending with institutional priorities, while helping implement a new budget model that will transform how resources are allocated across URI.
Additionally, Benson helped lead the development of URI’s comprehensive campus plan, a bold vision to modernize the University’s campuses and facilities that will enhance the overall URI experience over the next two decades. Benson’s work at URI also includes overseeing more than $1 billion in capital planning and major projects, such as new academic facilities, athletics improvements and critical infrastructure upgrades.
PBN also recognized Benson’s efforts to recruit key senior leaders across finance, facilities, information technology, and procurement to URI, while advancing other major initiatives such as implementing e-procurement and establishing enterprise risk management structures. She also successfully led complex, high-stakes initiatives—including public-private partnerships, and Board-level policy and legislative efforts—demonstrating her ability to lead through complexity and deliver results for URI.
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