I hope that this weekly communication finds you well. I want to begin with an apology that I did not properly acknowledge last weekend’s observation of Orthodox Easter for those who observe. This week also saw the commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah) and Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan for our Muslim friends and neighbors. I hope that each of these offered time for reflection and growth.
This week, members of the Administration and I had the pleasure of attending a press event at the Amazon loft in lower Manhattan, where we celebrated the establishment and growth of partnerships between CUNY and major New York City employers as it relates to applied learning opportunities such as internships, apprenticeships, and workplace-based learning. Such activities, coordinated by the NYC Jobs CEO Council, allow students to not have to choose between “earning and learning,” establish connections between curricula and careers, and demonstrates a tangible return on educational investment for those who might be questioning that value proposition. I am heartened by the work being done around this space, particularly in our Computer Science and Engineering degrees, and feel that such relationships will make us increasingly competitive in the higher education landscape.
I had great conversations with the Presidents and Athletic Directors from the East Coast Conference, as we discussed a path forward amid a challenging NCAA environment. Issues such as “name, image, and likeness,” the complexities of transgender competitors, and the desire of some to classify student-athletes as employees dominated the discussion. It was a spirited conversation, for sure: thankfully, the Department of Performing and Creative Arts’ Music Program faculty ensemble that afternoon allowed me to decompress following the meeting! Speaking of decompression and relaxation, I encourage as many of you as possible to sign up for the weekly walks organized by our Office of Human Resources as a way to recharge our mental and physical batteries. (See info here)
This week also saw the monthly College Council and Faculty Senate meetings, where the campus learned more about current and planned activities facilitated by our new Executive Chief Diversity Officer and inaugural Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity, Dr. Jonathan Wesley. It is encouraging to see concrete actions taking shape around building a more welcoming and inclusive campus environment, and I am sure that we will be able to advance on several important initiatives related to these imperatives. We also discussed the state of the budget, faculty scholarship, and this Sunday’s “Admitted Student Conference.” On Thursday evening, I attended the annual “CSI Athletics Hall of Fame” induction ceremony. It was wonderful to welcome back to campus so many of our illustrious alums and hope that we can better cultivate relationships with our graduates: to that end, we are pleased to announce the hiring of Jacqueline Lamberti, Interim Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving in the Office of Institutional Advancement. Jackie is a key addition to our burgeoning efforts to build donor relationships with our alumni, and cultivating major donor prospects as we grow our institutional “culture of giving.” To that end, in the coming weeks you will see the launching of our “Strong College, Strong Community” campaign, and I hope you will join me in supporting this philanthropic initiative.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
