As the spring semester winds down, I hope that you have been keeping your heads above water, figuratively and literally, given our recent weather. As we enter Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, I write with updates as to recent activities. For planned events related to AAPI Heritage Month, please see May is AAPI Heritage Month! | CSI Today . Additionally, I want to draw special attention (and congratulations!) to a recently published book by English Professor Ava Chin, whose Mott Street has garnered widespread and effusive praise. (https://nypost.com/2023/04/15/this-chinese-american-family-has-lived-at-37-mott-street-for-5-generations/). It is another example of the excellent scholarly and creative work produced by CSI faculty.
This week, in addition to my regular slate of activities, I had a productive meeting with the Disability Justice Working Group of the PSC (a meeting with the full PSC Executive Board was slated for Tuesday but was postponed). Members of the administration listened to concerns related to campus accessibility, gratitude for services rendered, and suggestions for improvements. It was a thought-provoking and fruitful conversation that I am sure will lead to improved conditions for all members of our community. The following day, our Office of Accessibility Services sponsored a Webinar titled “Total Access: Intersectionality and Disability Justice,” which is indicative of the programming that our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is looking to broaden next academic year. Please be sure to complete their survey https://forms.microsoft.com/r/u3HpmJ2q45 and share any programs you would like to see at CSI. They would love to hear from you!
On Tuesday evening, the Provost and I attended the annual gala for our sister institution, The City College of New York. With 175 years of activities, CCNY has a wealth of alumni on whom to draw, and their level of charitable giving is enviable. In a similar vein, we have recently launched our own alumni-focused (but by no means exclusive) campaign, with a modest goal of raising $25,000 by June 30. I thank the Office of Institutional Advancement for their initiative here, and I encourage you to visit the site and make a small contribution so that we can reach our target: https://www.givegab.com/campaigns/fund-for-csi?bblinkid=269168636&bbemailid=47389596&bbejrid=-1606945205 .
Next week brings my monthly meetings with the College Council Executive Committee and the Council of Presidents gathering at CUNY Central. Following these, I will be traveling—my daughter is graduating from college, and I get to see the results of her hard work (and my tuition payments) as I attend her commencement–so I need to take a temporary hiatus from these updates, but will check in upon my return.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
