merrill sherman

Chair, Presidential Search Committee
RISD Board of Trustees Chair

Merrill Sherman is President and CEO of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc., a publicly traded bank holding company, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Bank Rhode Island. Sherman spearheaded the 1996 creation of Bank Rhode Island, the second largest de novo bank in American history. Since opening its doors, the bank has grown to $1.5 billion in total assets. With 16 branches in the Greater Providence area, Bank Rhode Island has become a force to be reckoned with in the commercial and retail markets that it serves.

Prior to her work at Bank Rhode Island, Sherman served as President and CEO of two other New England banks, and also spent 17 years practicing law at a major Providence firm.

In March 2008 Bryant University honored Sherman as its fifth New England Businesswoman of the Year.

Sherman is a director of the Providence Journal Company. She serves on the Board of Trustees of Rhode Island School of Design (Chair), the Board of Trustees of the Providence Foundation (Executive Committee), the Board of Trustees of Crossroads Rhode Island (Chair 2001-2004), Board of Directors of Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. She also is Chair of the RISD Museum Board of Governors and chairs the Old Harbor Committee of the Providence Foundation. She co-chairs the 2007 Pell Awards to benefit Trinity Repertory Company and the Individual Gifts Committee for Women & Infants Hospital Capital Campaign. In 2007, she was named Citizen of the Year by the March of Dimes and in April was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. She is a member of the Rhode Island Commodores.

She holds an A.B. from Mount Holyoke College and a J.D. from the University of Denver, College of Law, and a D.B.A. (Hon.) from Johnson & Wales University.