I hope this final email of the academic year finds you well, as I write with updates and information that you may find of interest.
Next week marks the culmination of another successful academic year! On Thursday, we will celebrate more than 2,200 graduates who will receive their associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. This is an increase over last year and represents the capstone of years of hard work and perseverance on the part of our students (soon, alumni!). Many thanks to all those who helped these students achieve their dreams, and who recognized potential in them when perhaps they were filled with self-doubt and anxiety. It truly takes a village! In addition to our “main event” on Thursday morning, we will have assorted departmental ceremonies, the annual Lavender graduation (thank you to Jeremiah Jurkiewicz), a luncheon for graduating military veterans (thank you to Laura Scazzafavo), and events for our Honors program graduates.
The end of the semester always brings tremendous joy, tremendous relief—and tremendous anxiety! It is also one of the busiest times of the year; this week I attended the monthly CUNY Board of Trustees meeting, where I learned of its forthcoming support for campus construction initiatives, and I met with community leaders to discuss matters of importance for the College. These included interviews with local media partners, conversations with state elected officials, and financial meetings with the CSI Foundation Board of Directors. We also had the final College Council and Faculty Senate meetings, where we approved the list of graduands as supplied by the Registrar, and we received an update on fundraising at the College (this year marked one of our most successful to date). On that front, as we approach the 50th anniversary of CSI, I am pleased to announce that we will be launching an ambitious comprehensive campaign to run from 2026 to 2031. This will align with our Strategic Plan and Middle States reaccreditation timelines, and will conclude with the 75th anniversary of public higher education on the Island.
Thursday also saw the return of one of the College’s most beloved traditions, an annual celebration of those members of our community who have earned tenure, promotion, or certificates of continuous employment (effective this academic year). We recognized more than 35 individuals and highlighted some of our outstanding researchers and recipients of large grants. Congratulations to all on your achievements and accomplishments, and many thanks to the Office of Academic Affairs for resurrecting this ceremony!
Speaking of the Academic Affairs, I am pleased to announce that—pending approval from the CUNY Board of Trustees—Dr. Nathalia Holtzman will serve as our permanent Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, effective July 1. Since joining the campus last summer as interim, Nathalia has brought energy and vision to the role, spearheading retention and student success initiatives, while launching more than a dozen searches for professorial lines. Prior to her arrival at CSI, Dr. Holtzman, who holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Oregon, held various faculty and administrative positions at Queens College. A tenured professor, she has numerous publications, secured extensive funding via internal and external grants, and sponsored multiple graduate students in her lab. Nathalia has been an integral member of our Cabinet, and I look forward to continuing to work with her to advance our mission of providing access to transformational educational opportunities for our students. I want to thank the co-chairs of the search committee, Patty Kahn and Paolo Cappellari, as well as all members of the search process, including those who attended the town halls and open forums, for providing their feedback and perspectives.
I wish you all a restful and restorative Memorial Day weekend. My regular messages are likely to be less frequent during the relatively quiet months that follow Commencement. I do hope you all get to enjoy some well-deserved time away from campus, and I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful summer. Be sure to check out some of the summer programming at the Center of the Arts, or consider enrolling your children in camp on campus!
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D.
