About Us - Board Members

Laura Pisaturo was first appointed as full-time chairperson of the Parole Board in 2014 by Governor Lincoln Chafee. Subsequently reappointed by Governors Gina M. Raimondo and Daniel J. McKee, Chairperson Pisaturo is a seasoned attorney and advocate with prior legal experience in both civil and criminal law, within governmental, private and non-profit sectors. 

In addition to chairing the parole board, Ms. Pisaturo currently serves as treasurer for the Association of Paroling Authorities International. She is an active board member for the RI Mentoring Partnership, the Justinian Law Society of Rhode Island, and RI Bar Association House of Delegates. She also teaches as a part-time adjunct at her alma mater, The University of Rhode Island, within the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department. Other government appointments include 2021 Legislative Commission to Study Reducing Incarceration of Women, 2016 Legislative Commission to Study the Use of Solitary Confinement, 2015 Governor’s Justice Reinvestment Working Group, Rhode Island Supreme Court Disciplinary Board, City of Warwick Planning Board and the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias.

Chairperson Pisaturo's work in criminal justice, child welfare, the LGBTQ community and other social justice issues has been recognized by The University of Rhode Island, the National Organization for Italian American Women, YWCA Rhode Island, the Justinian Law Society of Rhode Island. She was selected as Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, Lawyer of the Year, in 2014.

Victoria M. Almeida is an attorney and former principal in the law firm of Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C. of Providence and Boston. She serves as the attorney-designee to the Parole Board and she is currently designated by the chairperson as vice-chair for the Board. Ms. Almeida has held several terms on the Parole Board, beginning in 1984 when she was appointed by Governor J. Joseph Garrahy. She has been reappointed at various times by Governors Carcieri, Chafee, Raimondo, and Governor Daniel McKee. She is the longest serving member of the Board.

Ms. Almeida has a record of public service having been the first women in RI history to be appointed Assistant Executive Counsel to the Governor. As the former president of the Rhode Island Bar Association, attorney Almeida is a frequent lecturer and author of various publications on trial techniques, legal ethics and has been recognized by numerous civic and charitable groups for her commitment to public service and the community. She received the distinguished Dorothy Lohmann Community Service Award from the RI Bar Association for her volunteer work on behalf of persons with disabilities. 

Ms. Almeida also serves as Chairperson of the RI Health Services Council, the advisory board to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. Other board service has included Dorcas Place, St. Antoine Residence of the Diocese of Providence, St. Mary’s Academy Bay View, and the Diocesan Catholic School Board for the Diocese of Providence.

Bonita G. Cade, PhD, JD is an Associate Professor at Roger Williams University. She teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Psychology. She was first appointed to the parole board in 2016 by Governor Gina Raimondo and re-appointed by Governor Dan McKee in 2021 and 2024 to serve as the board’s psychologist-designee.

Professor Cade earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology at The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan (1974), a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois (1976), a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa (1981) and law degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis Missouri (1982). She is a member of the bar in Missouri, New York, and Massachusetts, licensed to practice law and psychology in Massachusetts.

Dr. Cade has practiced both family and criminal law. She has served as guardian ad litem, a Care and Protection Investigator for the Family Court and for the Juvenile and District Courts in Massachusetts. While in private practice as a psychologist she has evaluated criminal defendants, served as a divorce mediator, investigated allegations of sexual abuse, and worked with adults, adolescents, and children. Dr. Cade has also worked as a Forensic Psychologist in the Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center in Goshen, New York and at Malcolm Bliss Mental Health Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Appointed to the parole board in 2017 by Governor Gina Raimondo and reappointed in 2023 by Governor Daniel McKee, Marilyn Cepeda serves as the Vice President and General Manager of Access Employment of RI, Inc., an employment-placement agency in Providence. She is a member of the City of Providence's Board of Parks Commissioners and has volunteered with a variety of community organizations for over 30 years, including as President of Quisqueya en Accion.

Ms. Cepeda has an associate's degree in accounting from the Community College of Rhode Island and a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Johnson & Wales University.

Dr. Tonya Glantz serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Education in Healthcare at Rhode Island College. She holds a Doctorate in Education and a Master’s Degree in Social Work and was appointed to the parole board in 2024 by Governor Daniel J. McKee. For more than 30 years, Dr. Glantz's work has focused on serving and developing training for human service professionals serving vulnerable populations. Her practice and research interests include creating opportunities for collaboration across consumer and service organizations, empowerment work with disenfranchised fathers, school success for children involved with child welfare, organizational development within faith-based communities, and the evolution of spiritual identity in young children. She has served as a presenter at local and national conferences as well as a member of the adjunct faculty for Providence College’s Department of Social Work and Rhode Island College’s Elementary Education Department. She is currently a member of the adjunct faculty at Johnson & Wales Doctoral Program for Education Leadership. 

As part of her service and social work career, Dr. Glantz has been named the recipient of a host of awards, including the 2023 East Bay Community Action Vision Award, the 2018 Bertram Yaffe Award for Excellence in Public Health through the RI Public Health Institute, and the Youth Pride, Inc. Community Angel Award for Outstanding Contributions and Advocacy for 2000 and 2001. 

Timothy O’Hara serves as the Deputy Chief of Police for the Providence Police Department. He was appointed to the parole board in 2023 by Governor Daniel McKee.

First sworn into the department in August of 1995, Commander O'Hara has served in various positions throughout his career. In 2000 he was promoted to the rank of Detective then to the supervisory position of Sergeant in 2005, working in the Patrol Bureau. He later became the Commander of the Violent Crime Task Force.  Promoted to Lieutenant in 2010, he worked several roles within the Patrol Bureau including Shift Commander, Commanding Officer of the Downtown District, and Commander of the Mounted Command Unit. In 2015 he was transferred to the Investigative Division and supervised major crimes. He was promoted to Captain in 2017, serving as the commanding officer of the Detective Bureau, and was later promoted to the rank of Major in 2022. 

Cmdr. O’Hara is a highly decorated officer and the recipient of numerous awards and commendations including the First Place Rhea Archambault Award in 1997 for Police Officer of the Year, the Rhea Archambault Awards in 1996, and 2001, the City Council Award, the F.O.P. Award, and the Outside Agency Award. He has been a member of the Gang Intervention Unit and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, the chairman of the Providence Police Commendation Board from 2014 to 2017, board member of the Downtown Improvement District and Co-Chair of the Downtown Security Network. In 2018 he attended the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) at Boston University and is an alumnus of Leadership R.I. 2020.

Peter Slom, LICSW, recently retired after 25 years of service with the Department of Children, Youth and Families for the State of Rhode Island. He has served as an associate director of the Rhode Island Training School (RITS), the State’s juvenile detention center, and in 2018 became the Department’s Associate Director/Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Liaison. He was appointed to the Parole Board in 2021 by Governor Dan McKee (as the board’s designee in social work/corrections) and he is the first formerly incarcerated person appointed to serve on the Rhode Island Parole Board.

Mr. Slom earned his undergraduate degree from Providence College (1978) and his Master of Social Work Degree from Rhode Island College (1996) as well as completing the University of Rhode Island’s Substance Use Certification Program in 1994. From 2004-2006, he chaired the Right to Vote campaign that successfully worked to allow individuals on probation or parole the right to vote in all elections.

Currently Vice President of the Board of Directors of the WARM Center in Westerly, Peter also serves on the Board of Directors for the Re-entry Campus Program. He has received numerous community awards including the 2021 Ocean Tides LaSallian Service Award, the 2020-2021 Social Worker of the Year-Addictions from National Association of Social Workers (RI Chapter) and the 2020 RI Parent Support Network Prevention Partner of the Year. In addition to his service on the Parole Board, Mr. Slom manages a private counseling practice focusing on substance use disorders, mental health, and anger management.