AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor today announced the appointment of Elizabeth Howlett as State President.
“We are delighted that Elizabeth has stepped into this key volunteer leadership position,” Taylor said in a statement. “Her experience, her expertise, her distinguished leadership history, and her passion for our mission make her an outstanding choice.
“I look forward to working closely with her to make a positive difference in the lives of older Rhode Islanders,” added Taylor.
Howlett (Elizabeth Roberts) has had a lengthy career in policy and program development, with a particular focus on health and on quality of life for older adults. After working in health care financing and consulting early in her career, she entered public service, serving ten years as a State Senator and, subsequently, two terms as Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island.
“I am pleased and honored to take on the role of volunteer State President for AARP Rhode Island,” said Howlett. “Working in partnership with State Director Catherine Taylor and her team and the many volunteers who are leading us forward will be a privilege. I especially want to thank Marcus Mitchell who has been a strong leader during the past two years.
“I am excited to continue Rhode Island’s progress in many of the areas that AARP Rhode Island has prioritized -– improving housing options, building a future of economic security, strengthening our livable communities — and accomplishing these goals with the support of a group I am proud to be a part of, AARP volunteers.”
Governor Gina Raimondo appointed Howlett as Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2015. Following her service as Secretary, Elizabeth supported programming that developed health policy and advocacy at The Milbank Memorial Fund and consulted with Rhode Island organizations as they developed strategic plans, and worked to strengthen their administration and programming.
In the spring of 2020, she joined the University of Rhode Island as the Director of the Academic Health Collaborative, focusing on the expansion of interprofessional education and collaborative research across the Colleges of Nursing, Health Sciences and Pharmacy. She recently retired as Director of Special Projects for the Provost at URI, with responsibility for the development and implementation of new initiatives.
Howlett currently serves on the boards of directors for One Neighborhood Builders, a nonprofit housing developer, and Aldersbridge Communities, which provides affordable assisted living and skilled nursing care. She graduated from Brown University and earned an M.B.A. in Health Care Management from Boston University.