July 2023

This week, I mark the third anniversary of my presidency with even greater appreciation for Queens College and the faculty, staff, students and alumni who make it such a remarkable institution. The college not only transforms the lives of individual students, but also elevates entire communities, as I noted in an essay recently published in the Queens Chronicle. I am deeply proud to lead this college and I’m grateful for everyone’s support and encouragement.

In-person events are once again the norm, but I don’t think I will ever take this practice for granted. Our June 1 Commencement was a joyous occasion for graduates, their families, faculty and staff and yours truly. I was thrilled to share the stage with so many distinguished guests and colleagues, award an honorary doctorate to alumnus and Hollywood icon Jon Favreau, and present President’s Medals to New York State Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado and posthumously to disability rights activist Judith Heumann.

I enjoyed photo ops with Jon Favreau . . .

NYS Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado . . .

and Rick Heumann, who accepted the President’s Medal on behalf of his sister Judith Heumann.

Commencement Highlights

The late Congressmember Shirley Chisholm, who represented Brooklyn in the New York State Assembly and then in the U.S. House of Representatives, made a career of breaking racial and gender barriers. She was also a principal co-founder of the SEEK program—subsequently named after Percy Ellis Sutton—at CUNY. Fittingly, SEEK’s latest initiative at QC is named the Shirley Chisholm Leadership Fellowship (CLF), a professional development program for students engaged in campus leadership. CLF was founded under the direction of Norka Blackman-Richards (SEEK) and alumna Carmine Couloute in partnership with Zavi Gunn (Center for Career Engagement and Internships). The first cohort of 14 QC students was welcomed into the fellowship with a pinning ceremony on June 2. Prominent civil rights leader and longtime NYS NAACP President Hazel Dukes was the keynote speaker.

Envisioned as more inclusive than fraternities or sororities, house plans were a significant part of student life at Queens College from the late fifties to the early seventies. Many students forged lifetime friendships through house plans. Alumni of Big House connected in person on campus and over zoom during a reunion on June 5.

Nathan "Nat" Leventhal '63, former NYC Deputy Mayor and President, Lincoln Center pointing to his image in The Big House group photo.

Because of poor air quality, CUNY Pridefest moved indoors on Friday, June 9. Nonetheless, a fabulous time was had by all. Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul sent proclamations; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz were represented by staffers. Speakers who followed my video message to the microphone included CUNY Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Denise Maybank, New York City Council Member Shekar Krishnan, and VP for Communications and Marketing and Senior Advisor to the President Jay Hershenson. I thank Student Life Events Manager and LGBTQIAA+ Programs Coordinator JC Carlson, associate director of the CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium, and the CUNY Pridefest team for putting together such a wonderful event, with memorable entertainment and an expo highlighting organizations that serve the LGBTQIA+ community. Several days later, Queens Borough President Richards honored the CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium for its outstanding work throughout CUNY and the City of New York. Speaking of Pride Month, I enjoyed reading Charles Blow’s New York Times op-ed about coming out in middle age, illustrated with a photo of former fashion model Audrey Smaltz and her wife, Gail Marquis ’80. Gail has rendered great service to her alma mater as a member of the Queens College Foundation and as a moderator of QC’s annual gala. 

Vice President Kamala Harris touched down in New York City last week to visit the landmark Stonewall Inn, demonstrating her support for LGBTQ rights. I was among the CUNY contingent enjoying a “meet and greet” with her on the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport.

On June 13, the college held a barbecue to bid farewell to William McClure, senior dean of Arts and Humanities; as of this writing he has started a new job as provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at SUNY New Paltz. During nearly 20 years at QC, Bill served as dean, special assistant to the provost for international affairs, interim associate provost, chair of the Department of Classical, Middle Eastern & Asian Languages & Cultures and most recently, QC’s faculty athletic representative—he is a nationally ranked Olympic weightlifter in the master’s category. I wish him all the best at New Paltz.

Andrea Soonachan, university dean for K-16 Initiatives in the Office of Academic Affairs, came to campus on June 20, accompanied by Laura Myers and Marty Forth, university assistant deans for CUNY K-16 Initiatives, and Luis Duany-Blanco, director of CUNY Early College. Over lunch with colleagues, we discussed collaborations with New York City public schools and new opportunities for outreach. 

From left: Interim Associate Dean of Education Trina Yearwood; Interim Associate Provost for Innovation and Student Success Nathalia Holtzman; Dean of Education Bobbie Kabuto; CUNY Early College Director Luis Duany-Blanco; University Dean for K-16 Initiatives in the Office of Academic Affairs Andrea Soonachan; University Assistant Dean for CUNY K-16 Initiatives Marty Forth; President Frank H. Wu; AVP for Facilities, Planning and Operations Zeco Krcic; University Assistant Dean for CUNY K-16 Initiatives Laura Myers; VP for Communications and Marketing and Senior Advisor to the President Jay Hershenson; Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Jennifer Jarvis

I’m proud of the many ways Queens College participates in the life of the borough. One example: the college serves as an early polling site for New York elections. I didn’t need to leave my workplace to vote in the primaries. QC is also a location for many school graduations; I appreciated bringing greetings at the recent LaGuardia Community College commencement on June 21. Thanks to the Office of Enrollment Management, an information table was provided for potential transfer students. 

As some readers may remember, the Tech Incubator was chosen to participate in the Venture Access NYC Founder Fellowship, a program created by the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Through the fellowship, the incubator has been helping a dozen entrepreneurs develop their businesses. The program concluded on June 22 with Demo Day, a showcase of exciting innovations in fintech, health tech, entertainment technology, e-commerce, and other sectors. Perhaps in a few years I’ll have the opportunity to brag about cutting-edge companies that honed their products and services on this campus. Apart from the Founder Fellowship, the incubator offers courses throughout the year. Coming up this month is Design Thinking for Innovators, a two-day workshop presented on campus July 21- 22. Reserve a place here.

Speaking of technological advances, CUNYBuy is replacing CUNYFirst. Among other improvements, the new system makes it possible to filter searches, which should make life easier. So many QC users signed up for the introductory “road show” on June 26 that it had to be presented in Rosenthal 230. I thank everyone who attended the session.

Cynthia Carvajal, a former undocumented immigrant herself, is CUNY director of Undocumented and Immigrant Student Programs, the first position of its kind in New York State. During a meeting on June 26, we explored ways to support undocumented and immigrant students on this campus.

From left, standing: Interim AVP for Student Affairs Sean Pierce; Director of Undergraduate Admission Chelsea Lavington; AVP of Human Resources Lee Kelly; President Frank Wu; Interim Dean of Students Dwayne Jones; Program Coordinator of the Immigrant Student Support Initiative Ethan Jenkins; Executive Director of Development David D'Amato

Sitting: Jan Heli Bautista, a student; CUNY Director of Undocumented and Immigrant Student Programs Cynthia Carvajal; Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission Arpita Paulemon; Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Jennifer Jarvis; Vice President for Institutional Advancement Laurie Dorf

Cutting the ribbon at the Armstrong Center

Reaching a young visitor

Opening windows on Satchmo's life and legacy

Looking out from inside

Making music on the stoop

Over 20 years of planning and construction culminated in a ribbon-cutting at the Louis Armstrong Center, part of the Louis Armstrong House Museum campus, on Thursday, June 29. Comprising the extensive Armstrong archives as well as exhibition and performance spaces, the center is a tremendous cultural and educational asset. Last week, ”CBS Sunday Morning” ran an extensive piece that informed viewers about the iconic career of Louis Armstrong and the new Armstrong Center across the street from the original Armstrong House in Corona, Queens. The center will undoubtedly become the jazz center of Queens and serve our city, state, and nation as a wonderful platform for new artists and renowned musicians. You can visit, too; it opened to the public today, July 6.

Last week, I wrote to the college community about the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding affirmative action. Please take a few moments to read my statement if you have not already done so. We are working with Chief Diversity Officer and Dean of Diversity Jerima DeWese on opportunities this fall for campus dialogue on the impact of the ruling on CUNY and society. 

In a week—July 13—QC’s School of Education will host a one-day symposium in the Patio Room for the My Brother’s Keeper Teacher Opportunity Corps. The corps encourages people from underrepresented or economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue careers in education, so it’s appropriate that the symposium, “We Learn So That We May Serve: Living the Legacy of Dr. Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe,” honors QC’s first tenured Black faculty member. She went on to become the first African American to serve as education chief for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor. In that capacity, she helped create Head Start, financial aid, and community colleges. The symposium starts at 9 am; I look forward to being there.

The following Thursday, July 20, I will participate in Asian American Ceilings: Obstacles in Academia, a webcast presented by the Committee of 100, a non-partisan leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, and the arts. Gordon H. Chang, a history professor at Stanford University, and Guiyou Huang, president of Western Illinois University, will join me as panelists.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990, recognizes that disability rights are civil rights. Since QC is operating on a four-day summer schedule, we’ll celebrate the anniversary a day early, Tuesday, July 25, with a barbecue next to the Student Union. Hope to see you there!

Enjoy the summer!

PS: Live at the Gantries—a free concert series presented by the Kupferberg Center in collaboration with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, with generous support from the Mathis-Pfohl Foundation—returns to Gantry Plaza State Park for six consecutive Tuesdays starting July 11. Here’s a chance to watch the sun set over the East River accompanied by some of the best sounds in town.