I hope this first email of May finds you well as I write with updates and information regarding recent activities that you may find of interest. I want to acknowledge the start of Asian/Asian American/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) month and celebrate the contributions of those members of our community who identify as such. Also, as we approach the finish line of the semester, I encourage you to check in on your students and on each other: as the days wane, pressures and anxiety tend to mount. Give yourselves and each other some grace and consideration.
Since my last communication, there has been a tremendous amount of activity. Last week brought our monthly College Council Executive Committee meeting, and a convening of CUNY presidents where we discussed matters of mutual concern and interest. It also saw our annual Administrative Professionals Day reception, an event that I was sorry to miss owing to a longstanding off-campus commitment. I want to thank our dedicated and hardworking staff for the support they provide each and every day. The next day was a particularly busy one: we had a blast at the Fin Fest, with more than 850 students and staff participating in various activities and enjoying a complementary barbecue, and I want to again acknowledge the hard work and planning that went into this event. Many thanks to Student Government for their partnership and to the Division of Student Affairs for the energy they bought to the entire week of activities! That evening, we hosted our annual Spring into Giving gala, and it was wonderful to see so many of you (over 260!) in attendance. While the final tally is not yet available, all signs indicate that the event was our most successful ever! Many thanks to all who participated, to our CSI Foundation Board of Directors, and to all those who worked so hard to organize a truly special event!
This week saw a similar level of activity and engagement. On Monday evening, I attended a trio of CUNY Board of Trustee committee meetings, and I am pleased to announce that several facilities projects (dining servery, utility tunnels, entry doors) have been greenlighted. Even more excitedly, the Committee on Education Policy unanimously approved our request to grant an Honorary Degree to Laura Kennedy, a tireless champion of individuals with disabilities and true friend to the CSI community. The soon-to-be-Doctor Kennedy was instrumental in the campaign to establish the Willowbrook Mile and the transfer of significant archival materials to the campus. There is no better steward of the College’s legacy of place, and no more deserving honoree, than Laura Kennedy.
The week also saw a meeting between the administration and the HEO Steering Committee, where we heard issues germane to employees in that title. We discussed concerns related to professional development, facilities, trainings related to business practices, and other items. It was a positive conversation, and I thank our colleagues for being true partners in making this campus a better place for all, and I look forward to continuing these collegial and productive discussions. I also had the opportunity to represent the campus at the annual gala for the St. George’s Society, one of New York’s oldest and longest serving philanthropic organizations, where I presented CUNY’s mission of access and socioeconomic mobility as consistent with the Society’s own goal of serving and uplifting the city’s marginalized communities. It was a lovely event and one that affirmed our own commitment to meeting our students where they are and of the transformative power of higher education as a public good.
Perhaps the highlight of the week, and one of the true hallmarks of the academic year, was yesterday’s Undergraduate Research Conference, an event that saw more than 240 students present their research, scholarship, and creative works. The event is noteworthy in that it features presentations and poster sessions from a wide range of disciplines, and I was amazed at the breadth and depth of the work on display. Many thanks to the faculty mentors who worked so closely with our students, and to Associate Provost Laxmi Ramasubramanian and her team for all the work that went on behind the scenes!
The week also saw the monthly meetings of the College Council and the Faculty Senate, where we heard updates on our financial situation, reports from various committees, and discussed matters related to this month’s Commencement activities. I also attended a dinner where our own Interim Vice President for Student Affairs, Ruta Shah-Gordon, was feted for her contributions to multicultural dialog and understanding. It was an altogether fitting tribute to the work of an individual who in a short time at CSI has made a meaningful contribution to constructive dialog and improving campus climate. Congratulations, Ruta, on a well-deserved recognition!
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D.
