RICARES Staff
Executive Director
Sandy Valentine, RCP-F
Sandy is a person in long-term recovery who is passionate about bringing recovery tools and practice to those seeking and in recovery from substance use disorders, and their families. Prior to joining RICARES, Sandy led the collegiate recovery program at the University of Connecticut, and was awarded the Association of Recovery in Higher Education’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for her efforts. Sandy also brings over 30 years of experience leading operational, learning, and performance consulting teams at the The Hartford Financial Services Group.
A Recovery Coach Professional since 2019, Sandy is also the co-host of the Recovery Matters! podcast, a certified facilitator for CCAR’s Recovery Coach Academy and a member of the International Association of Recovery Coach Professionals (IARCP). A graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University, Sandy is currently pursuing her graduate degree in Social Work at the University of Connecticut.
Email svalentine@ricares.org
Program Director
Ian Knowles
Ian lives in rural Rhode Island and is in long term recovery from his addiction to alcohol and other drugs. He has worked in the substance use disorder field as direct care staff at the state detox unit, a case manager, an alcohol/drug counselor, Administrator of Community Services at the now Department of BHDDH, and Executive Director, now Program Director, at RICARES. He serves on the Executive Committee of the ACLU, the Executive Committee of CODAC, and is an appointed member of the Governor’s Council on Behavioral Health.
Email iknowles@ricares.org
Recovery Coach
Kieshana Dawkins
Kieshana (she/her) is a dedicated and compassionate professional with over 20 years of experience in the social human services field. With deep commitment to helping individuals overcome substance use disorders and achieve lasting recovery, Kieshana brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to support recoverees on their transformative journeys
In her role as Recovery Coach, Kieshana is eager to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of our clients and their families. Leveraging her own lived experience and combining it with evidence-based practices, Kieshana aims to create a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore their own personal strengths and develop effective coping strategies.
Email kdawkins@ricares.org
Communications Coordinator
Arame Sembene
Arame (she/her) started her tenure at RICARES in 2017 as a high school intern seeking to study psychology and explore the field of recovery. She attended The MET High school at the time, which was a career-oriented high school that encouraged its students to develop their passion through real-world experience while doing internships. Arame has learned a lot about the addiction recovery field, from matters of recovery advocacy and de-stigmatization, to legislation focused on prevention. Arame continues to be a key contributor to our team as she pursues her Psychology degree at Rhode Island College.
Email asembene@ricares.org
Recovery Coach
Kevin Monteiro
Kevin (he/him) is one of our recovery coaches. A native of Providence, Kevin is a person in long term recovery and truly loves helping others. Formally incarcerated for 30 years, Kevin uses his own recovery and that experience to inspire others with substance use disorders to begin a life in recovery and find the hope, happiness, and wellness that he has found.
Email kmonteiro@ricares.org
