The College Crusade of Rhode Island, the state’s largest and most comprehensive college access program, recently elected Jessica Marfeo of Warwick to a three-year term on its board of directors.

Marfeo is the director of product strategy and development for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. In her six years there, Marfeo has launched several innovations within the commercial market segment including network-based products, well-being programs and integrated consumer-directed health programs. She often works directly with employers to craft tailored strategies that manage costs while increasing employee engagement and participation.

Marfeo previously held a variety of managerial roles in finance and operations at within large-scale retail companies Best Buy and the Home Depot.

A lifelong Rhode Islander, Marfeo is a College Crusade alumna and a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with bachelor’s degrees in communications and political science and a Master of Business Administration. She regularly volunteers through the BCBSRI Blue Angel Community program.

She is one of four new board members, including Willie Borkai of Providence, Alaina Restivo of East Greenwich and Kim Perry of Providence.

The board also elected officers. The slate includes Edwin Pacheco of Warwick, chair; Meg Geoghegan of North Kingstown, vice chair; Doug Sherman of Cranston, vice chair; Joe Monteiro of Lincoln, treasurer and Eric Shorter of Riverside, secretary.

The College Crusade, Rhode Island’s largest college access program, supports about 4,000 first-generation, low-income students in middle school, high school and college each year with the one-on-one advising and year-round programs that focus on academic enrichment, social and emotional development, career education, and postsecondary preparation. The College Crusade also has awarded over $43 million in college scholarships to more than 5,000 Rhode Island students since 2001. Sixth-graders who attend traditional public schools and select public charter schools in Providence, Cranston, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Woonsocket and West Warwick are eligible to enroll in the College Crusade.