Elizabeth Francis leads Rhode Island Humanities’ promotion of public history, cultural heritage, civic education and community engagement. She has expertise in building partnerships and initiatives that bring together humanities scholars, community members, public humanities practitioners, and policymakers in economic and cultural development. Deeply interested in the connection between public participation in cultural activities and overall civic health in communities, Elizabeth recently co-authored “Culture is Key: Strengthening Rhode Island’s Civic Health Through Cultural Participation” (2022), an initiative that led to the development of the state’s first Civic Health Index (2022) by RI Humanities.
Elizabeth earned a Ph.D. in American studies at Brown University and a Bachelor of Arts at Hampshire College. She is the author of “The Secret Treachery of Words: Feminism and Modernism in America.” She worked at Brown for more than 10 years in Corporate and Foundation Relations. She currently serves on the College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Council at Johnson and Wales University and is a member of the board of the Grantmakers Council of Rhode Island.
Elizabeth also serves on the newly created board of the local public media entity created by the merger of The Public’s Radio and Rhode Island PBS. She is serving as Secretary of the State Commission of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.