URI Names New Director

The University of Rhode Island has named Steven Mello director of dining and retail food operations. He had served as interim director since November and was an associate administrator for the university’s dining services since 1995. He was named director following a national search.

Mello succeeds Kathleen Gianquitti, who served as the director of Dining Services for 23 years before stepping down at the end of last September. Mello has been with URI Dining Services since 1990, serving in a variety of management capacities.

The Dining Services operation feeds 10,000 individuals daily. It operates two main dining halls, 10 retail outlets, one catering operation, a warehouse and a satellite center that processes meal plans and identification cards for the entire campus.

“Steve has the ability and motivation to provide outstanding leadership to an existing strong management team in dining services and I am confident he will continue to provide high quality and award winning food service to the students, faculty and staff of the University,” says URI Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Dougan.

Earlier this month, Mello and the dining services department were honored by the National Association of College and University Food Services with the Loyal E. Horton Dining Gold Award in the large school division of residence hall dining. The organization later awarded the school's new Hope Commons the grand prize winner as the nation’s top performer in the category for schools of all sizes.