About Us - Board Members

Laura Pisaturo has been Chairperson of the Rhode Island Parole Board since 2014, following her appointment by Governor Lincoln Chafee, with reappointments by Governors Gina M. Raimondo and Daniel J. McKee. A seasoned attorney and advocate, she brings expertise in civil and criminal law across governmental, private, and nonprofit sectors.

As Chairperson, she has advanced training initiatives for the board through the National Institute of Corrections, Bureau of Justice Assistance, the RI Ethics Commission, and Center for Effective Public Policy. Ms. Pisaturo has served as Treasurer of the Association of Paroling Authorities International and contributed to various RI community boards including the RI Mentoring Partnership, the Justinian Law Society of Rhode Island, and the RI Bar Association House of Delegates. Additionally, she teaches as a part-time faculty member in the Criminology & Criminal Justice Department at The University of Rhode Island, her alma mater.

Her government appointments have included commissions focused on reducing incarceration of women, the effects of solitary confinement, and the state's justice reinvestment initiative. Her commitment to equity and social justice is reflected in her career work on criminal justice reform, child welfare, and LGBTQ rights, and she has been recognized by the YWCA Rhode Island, the National Organization for Italian American Women, and the Justinian Law Society. Ms. Pisaturo was named Lawyer of the Year by Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly 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. 

Dennis O’Brien is a Captain with the Providence Police Department and Commanding Officer of the Detective Bureau. In 2026, he was appointed to the Parole Board by Governor Daniel McKee.

He was sworn into the department in May 1997 and served as a Patrol Officer in the Patrol Bureau, Gang Unit, and Violent Crime Task Force. After his promotion to Sergeant, he worked as a district sergeant and later as night Detective Sergeant, supervising investigations including those of the Robbery Squad.

Promoted to Lieutenant in 2019, he served as a Patrol Shift Commander and later as Commanding Officer of the Downtown District. In October 2021, he returned to the Detective Bureau to supervise major crimes investigations and was promoted to Captain in 2024, continuing as Commanding Officer.

Captain O’Brien holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University. He served in the Rhode Island Army National Guard from 1994 to 2000, achieving the rank of E-5.  A highly decorated officer, he graduated first in his class as Honor Graduate of the 57th Providence Police Academy. He is a three-time recipient of the Rhea Archambault Award (2003, 2004, 2008) and has also received the Commissioner’s Award, Chief’s Award, Outside Agency Award, three City Council Awards, and a Unit Citation.

In June 2021, he completed the 90th Session of the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), and has also attended the Henry Williams Homicide Seminar and the First Line Supervisor Course at Roger Williams University.

Dr. Jill Harrison is a sociologist and Professor of Sociology and Justice Studies at Rhode Island College (RIC), where she also serves as Director of the Justice Studies undergraduate program. In 2025, she was appointed to the Parole Board by Governor Daniel McKee.

She previously worked as a consultant and researcher with the Culture of Wellness program at Maine State Prison and has provided meditation and cognitive behavioral training to incarcerated individuals at the RI Department of Corrections. She continues to deliver on-site Title VII and DEI training to DOC cadets.

Dr. Harrison is a registered Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer, an active member of Jamestown’s Juvenile Hearing Board, and chaired RIC’s Student Conduct Board from 2012 to 2023.

She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of New Hampshire, an M.A. from George Mason University, and a B.A. from Wells College.