Seekonk, MA Roger Williams University and D.F. Pray General Contractors are launching a career training and scholarship program to develop talent and support underrepresented students majoring in construction management. 

According to the university, D.F. Pray’s commitment of $100,000 to establish the D.F. Pray Scholars Program at RWU. The initiative will provide two Roger Williams University students with two-year scholarships spanning their junior and senior years, paid internships at D.F. Pray, career and professional development, and an additional stipend for housing and transportation costs. 

The Pray Scholars will be selected from rising juniors majoring in construction management, with preference given to women and under-represented students, beginning in the Fall 2023 semester. 

“This partnership between Roger Williams University and D.F. Pray is an exciting new way for us to work together to continue to nurture talent and expand access for diverse leaders in the construction management industry,” said RWU president Ioannis Miaoulis. “When you put together our exceptional faculty and hands-on education at RWU’s School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management with the rigorous internship experiences that D.F. Pray will provide, the Pray Scholars Program will deliver a powerful and comprehensive training program that provides our students with successful preparation and transition into careers in construction management.” 

A national single-source contractor providing design/build, pre-construction, construction management and general contracting services, with offices from Massachusetts to New Haven, Conn. (with a new Florida location to be announced in 2023), D.F. Pray has been a leading advocate for diversifying the field of construction management and creating an inclusive workforce. 

“D.F. Pray is committed to leading the effort for greater gender diversity and minority representation within the construction management and design/build fields,” said Kathryn Pray, Esq. L’16 Roger Williams alumni and director of strategic initiatives at D.F. Pray. “As an alum, I am thrilled to work with Roger Williams University on a partnership that links education and industry to make a real impact on creating a talented, inclusive, and diverse future workforce pipeline.” 

Scott Pray, president of D.F. Pray said, “The importance of providing access to opportunities and mentorship to develop the next generation of leaders in our field will make the critical difference between a thriving company and one that our globally interconnected industry leaves behind.” 

Nationally, the construction management industry is facing a significant gap in employment of women. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 9.9% of construction professionals are women. The RWU School of Engineering, Computing & Construction Management (SECCM) is proud to partner with an industry leader such as D.F. Pray on this program that will provide students the opportunity to both undergo the curriculum of our recognized Construction Management Program and gain real-world, practical experience in the construction industry,” said Robert Griffin, dean of the School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management at RWU. “Our school is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion –within both our programs and the industries our students enter. The D.F. Pray Scholars Program only serves to underscore this commitment.”