I hope that you have been enjoying the warm summer weather, and I write with a brief update as to campus activities. This week, I had the pleasure of welcoming students to both the University’s SEEK/College Discovery programs and to our own Summer Bridge/NYC Men Teach initiative. Opportunity programs such as these speak volumes about the access component of CUNY’s mission and those who participate—to say nothing of those who lead them—which are true testaments to the transformative power of public higher education. I am pleased to support these programs and proud of the work that the program leads (Stephanie Gonzalez Allen and Dr. Jonelle Knox, respectively) and their staff play in these important initiatives.
I also had the pleasure of attending a local Chamber of Commerce event at the Richmond County Country Club, where our own Dean Balsamini was among four honorees recognized for their contributions to supporting the larger Staten Island community. Dean’s work with the Small Business Development Center was highlighted for its role in helping local businesses stay afloat during the pandemic, and serves as a testament to the impact that CSI has on the larger community of our Borough and of our City. It was wonderful to meet with local business and community leaders, all of whom praised the campus for its influence, and many of whom desire closer relationships with our academic and cultural programs. We clearly have friends on the Island!
Thursday brought the long-awaited news that our Athletics program has been accepted into full NCAA Division II membership. I know this has been a long and difficult process, so I want to acknowledge the hard work of our fantastic Athletics staff—and our terrific student-athletes—who made this possible. I am confident that the move to DII will pay dividends when it comes to recruitment and retention, and look forward to seeing the results of this move, both on the field and in the classroom. DII promises to be a magnet for community engagement and for future enrollment growth. Congratulations to all involved!
I also had the pleasure to meet informally with faculty governance leaders, and look forward to continuing collaboration with them and their constituents in the coming weeks and months. I am committed to transparency, accountability, and accessibility, and appreciate the opportunity to engage with my colleagues on matters of importance to us all.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
