Colleagues:
As we move from summer to autumn, I hope that those who celebrated Rosh Hashanah had a joyful holiday. I write with information about recent activities that you may find of interest.
Since I last communicated with you, there have been several important activities both on campus and off. This week began with a lunch with friends from Richmond University Medical Center, where we discussed ways in which our organizations can enhance our commitment to the Staten Island community. The wide-ranging conversation included thoughts about support for student-athletes, health programming, clinical placements, internship and employment opportunities, and other potential ways to partner. I thank the team from RUMC, most notably Drs. Dan Messina and Jeff Leto, for their willingness to have these conversations, and I look forward to the results of this discussion.
Last week saw the inaugural convenings of both the College Council and the Faculty Senate. At the former, we received updates regarding the work of several committees, as well as the state of facilities improvements, our enrollment, and budget. While we remain on CUNY’s list of “campuses of high financial concern” we are trending in the right direction, although we must remain prudent and cautious in our financial planning, particularly as it relates to hiring. We also had a frank and fulsome discussion regarding May’s Commencement, and I heard concerns from some of those in attendance about the way in which certain aspects were handled. I look forward to receiving additional feedback and recommendations. We also heard from new Student Government President Ashley Villalva, who pressed those in attendance for greater engagement with students. We will be focused on student engagement this year under the leadership of Interim Vice President Ruta Shah-Gordon, and to that end I was gratified to learn of such strong turnout at Thursday’s “Block Party” held in 1C. Many thanks to the staff in Student Life and to all the students who showed up and showed out for a great event!
The Faculty Senate meeting saw the election of a new chairperson, Professor Deb DeSimone, from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, who replaces the outgoing Professor Susan Smith-Peter, History Department. I welcome the opportunity to work with Deb and thank Susan for her leadership and partnership over the past two years. Following the meeting, there was a reception to celebrate the opening of Anthroposcenery, a new exhibit by Professor Beth Livensperger of the Performing and Creative Arts Department, in our Center for the Arts gallery. While an off-campus obligation (a conversation with Ted Solane, President of the American Council of Education) prevented me from attending, I subsequently toured the space and encourage you all to do the same, as the show is thought-provoking.
This week also saw a number of off-campus engagements. On Tuesday, I met with the Senior College leaders from across the University system to discuss budget, legal affairs, capital projects, and other matters. It is always great to connect with my peers in a less-formal setting and have frank conversations about frustrations and challenges, but even more so about strategies and best practices. That meeting was followed by the first full board meeting of the CSI Foundation, where we reviewed our investment portfolio, discussed this year’s annual fundraising and philanthropic goals (you can support the annual appeal here), and identified action steps related to our institutional strategic plan as articulated at the Board’s recent retreat. I thank the Board for their dedication and enthusiasm, as it allows us to fulfill our mission and better serve our students.
Speaking of philanthropy, on Thursday I braved the traffic snarl associated with the United Nation’s General Assembly and ventured to midtown Manhattan, where I met with several prospective donors to discuss CSI and higher education as a public good. Cultivation efforts such as these are increasingly important, but this is a “long game.” While I did not secure any seven-figure commitments, I did lay the foundation for future discussion and am confident that by telling our story, we will attract support from those who appreciate our work and are in a position to amplify it.
Telling the story of our College—which we did on Friday when we hosted the annual meeting of New York City college counselors—is easy when you can point to the many accolades that we have recently received. CSI was again ranked by US News & World Report as a top institution for Social Mobility and Return on Investment. and our faculty are garnering international recognition. As just one example, Professor Bilge Yesil (Media Culture) received the National Communication Association’s Distinguished Scholarship Award (International and Intercultural Communications Division) for the best book of 2025! And most recently, Professor Leora Yetnikoff (Psychology Department) received $1 million from the National Science Foundation to explore the links between social isolation, dopamine, and behavior. Congratulations to you both!
The international dimensions and reputation of our campus were further exhibited by a pair of events in the Center for the Arts over the past two weeks. The Center for Global Engagement held a “Study Abroad Fair” last Thursday—thanks for the popcorn! —which was attended by many. Students are clearly curious about the world beyond Staten Island and I love their enthusiasm for applied learning activities—whether that be an internship, clinical rotation, study abroad, or a community service project. This week also saw the campus host a “town hall” for the President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The president and his delegations hosted more than 800 attendees (did you know Staten Island has the largest population of Sri Lankans outside of Asia?) for a moderated discussion and question-and-answer session, and their choice of CSI for this event demonstrates, again, the central role that our campus plays in the life of our borough. I thank the Office of Public Safety for their assistance and coordination with other agencies for making this important event possible.
I wish those who celebrate next week’s Yom Kippur holiday a time of peace and reflection, as I do for each of us, every day.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
President, College of Staten Island
The City University of New York
2800 Victory Blvd, SI, NY 10314
718.982.2400
