Keith Stokes of Newport, Rhode Island, head of Rhode Island’s diversity office, has been named the state’s second historian laureate. Chosen from a field of eight candidates, he will take over the voluntary role of delivering lectures about Rhode Island’s past at special events and formal ceremonies.
The state created the position of historian laureate in 2012. It’s a five-year position, so Stokes will serve through April 30, 2030.
“I am profoundly honored to be appointed as Rhode Island’s historian laureate,” Stokes wrote in a post on LinkedIn. “Historical interpretation has long served as a beacon of guidance, particularly during times of social, economic, and cultural transformation.”
Stokes earned a master’s degree in social policy administration from the University of Chicago. From 2010 to 2012, he served as head of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation — now Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.
Stokes was named director of economic development for the city of Providence in October 2021 and served for over a year until Mayor Brett Smiley took office.
Last May, he was named the as new associate director of the Rhode Island Department of Administration’s Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Stokes serves on the RI250 Commission, as a consulting historian for the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society and is former state advisor for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He was also the lead researcher and author of the 2024 publication “A Matter of Truth,” which examines and documents the role of the state and city of Providence in supporting a “separate and unequal” existence for people of color.
“My mission,” Stokes said, “is to illuminate Rhode Island and America’s past in a way that inspires us all, nurturing a collective sense of identity and purpose.”
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