Kenneth F. Payne, Ph.D.

Ken Payne
Ken Payne

Ken Payne is a student of the history of the structure of Rhode Island government and a recipient of a lifetime achievement award in 1998 from the Environment Council of Rhode Island for his work on rivers policy and protection.

Ken has been invaluable to CCA in our effort to have the Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass removed from the Federal Railroad Administration’s long term plan for the Northeast Corridor. Ken has generously given his time to help us understand the National Environmental Policy Act, the Environmental Impact Statement process, and Rhode Island and federal government processes in general.

Some of us remember Ken from his days working with United States Senator Claiborne Pell and we are very pleased to be working with him again.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst
  • Masters degree in Community Planning from the University of Rhode Island
  • BA in History from the University of Rhode Island
  • Recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities summer fellowship to study federalism

Current Professional Activities

  • Principal of Systems Aesthetics LLC
  • Co-convener of the Civic Alliance for a Cooler Rhode Island
  • Coordinator of the work of the Rhode Island Agricultural Partnership
  • The gubernatorial appointed chairperson of the Rhode Island Distributed Generation Board
  • Member board of directors and executive committee member of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute
  • Chairperson of the RI Food Policy Council 2014 – 2016

Professional Experience

  • Administrator of the RI Office of Energy Resources (2010-2011)
  • Associate Research Professor at the University of Rhode Island (2008-2009)
  • Senior Policy Advisor to the Rhode Island Senate and Director of the Rhode Island Senate Policy Office (1997-2007)
  • Federal Projects Coordinator in the Office of United States Senator Claiborne Pell (1988-1996)
  • Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns (1977-1986)
  • Executive Director of the Blackstone Valley Council of Governments (1974-1977)
  • Ken has taught at the graduate level at the University of Rhode Island, Clark University, the University of Massachusetts, and Roger Williams University School of Law and has served on the graduate faculty of the University of Rhode Island