I hope this mid-March email finds you well as I write with updates and information that you may find of interest. Since I last communicated, I have been busy with a series of meetings and engagements. The week featured a number of meetings and conversations with visiting teams from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). While we will not know the results of those visits for several months, it was clear that the teams were impressed by our programs, our students, our level of faculty engagement, and by our facilities. Many thanks to those who were responsible for the Herculean tasks that went into these visits, notably Drs. Randelle Sasa and Catherine Paradiso in the Department of Nursing and Dean Susan Holak and Warrick Bell in the Lucille and Jay Chazanoff School of Business. Many thanks, too, to those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to put our best institutional foot forward!
This week, I also met with the Executive Committee of the College Council, as part of our monthly consultation, where we discussed the agenda for next week’s meeting. I also hosted the team from Recruitment and Admissions for “Tea with Tim” to brainstorm ideas about how we can better support our enrollment efforts. It was good to hear their thoughts about how we can better market our campus and programs, and how the administration can enhance these efforts. I also appreciated seeing so many folks at Wednesday’s St. Patrick’s Day buffet at the Park Café and want to acknowledge the efforts of our Dining Services team here. Likewise, it was great to see so many students enjoying themselves at this week’s Winterfest—many thanks to the staff from Student Affairs and the Campus Center for such an engaging program! My obligations to the accreditation visits precluded me from attending the monthly Council of President’s meeting, but my peers shared with me information that was discussed regarding lobbying efforts, enrollment projections, and work on responding to federal initiatives. Similarly, while I could not attend this week’s “Black Angels” event on Thursday afternoon, I am told we had a full house to learn more about the contributions of local nurses to combatting public health catastrophes on Staten Island and beyond.
As March is Women’s History Month, I want to highlight the fact that our very own Professor Ava Chin was recently featured on both Hot 97 radio and Fox 5 as part of a panel featuring “Women Trailblazers” (the television segment can be viewed online. This is but one example of the impact that our faculty, staff, and students have on the local community, an impact that was also on display at CUNY’s Women’s History Month symposia.
In closing, I wish everyone who celebrates a Happy Purim, a joyous Holi, and a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. During these challenging days, may the light of optimism shine bright, and may the wind always be at your back.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
