I hope this communication finds you well. It is hard to believe that we are approaching the mid-point of September and have already completed two full weeks of classes! It is also hard to believe that a full quarter-century has passed since the attacks of September 11, 2001. It was comforting to see so many of you at yesterday’s memorial and I believe many found solace in being together, sharing memories, and reflecting on that day. I want to thank Michael Pollice (Music major) for his moving guitar performance and English Professor Thomas Fucaloro who shared his original poem: “I have so many ghosts they give me so much.” Special thanks also go to Debra Denmark, Class of 1992, for reading the names of our 27 alumni who were killed that day and Laura Scazzafavo (Director Veteran Support Services and U.S. Navy Veteran) for her poignant closing. My appreciation also goes out VP Tommy Tressler-Gelok and the teams in Student Affairs, Public Safety, Buildings and Grounds, and the Center for the Arts for their assistance in putting together this moving ceremony.
This week saw a number of important events, both on campus and off. I and other members of the CSI team represented the campus and CUNY at the annual WABC Radio Foundation Gala benefiting Tunnel to Towers, where we heard tales of heroism and bravery, as well as those of loss and grief. Partnering with organizations such as T2T elevates our role and demonstrates tangibly that while we are not a community college, we are a college for the entire community. This was also evidenced by our participation in commemoration events at Richmond University Medical Center and elsewhere across the Borough and the City.
On Tuesday the Athletics Program hosted their annual golf outing, and I thank all who came out and participated. It was wonderful to see so many friends of the College, and I thank Mike Mauro, Athletics Director Matt Scally, Coach Eddie Medina, and our many colleagues who participated (for those who are wondering, I played great, but let the others in my foursome beat me so as to not show them up….). Special thanks to our longtime partner and proud CSI alum James McBratney for hosting a post-round celebration at Jimmy Max. Stay tuned for next year’s announcement, as it is always a popular and hugely entertaining event.
Wednesday saw the monthly Council of President’s meeting, where my colleagues and I discussed enrollment initiatives (including the implementation of the SLATE CRM), the advent of shared services (more to come in October), the importance of compliance with various federal and state regulations (including FERPA and HIPAA), and opportunities related to federal work study for our students. We also had a great presentation regarding internship opportunities for our students and received updates regarding CUNY BEYOND, as well as other curricular-to-career initiatives. It was, as always, an enlightening day.
Thursday saw meetings with the College Council Executive Committee where we discussed, inter alia, the start of the academic year and my hopes for what it will bring. We provided updates on enrollment and budget, discussed issues related to various campus infrastructure projects, and “cleared the air” regarding various topics. I appreciate the frankness and candor of these conversations and look forward to working with my colleagues and partners in shared governance to best position this campus and its various stakeholders for continued success. The week concluded with meetings with the Vice Chancellor for Government Affairs Dermot Smyth and with a meeting with various Chancellery staff (Chief Operating Officer Hector Batista, Deputy COO (and CSI graduate!) Gerri Thomas, Trustee Henry Berger, Board Secretary Anne Fenton, and Vice Chancellor and SVC/Chief Financial Officer Ken Godiner). It is always good to get face time with these folks and to celebrate, as well as advocate for the College of Staten Island.
We ended the week strong with the College once again being recognized by Forbes as one of the nation’s colleges offering students the strongest return on their investment. CSI is ranked No. 22 on the magazine’s 2026 list of the 25 Colleges With the Highest Payoff, placing us among institutions nationwide that combine strong earning potential with an affordable cost of attendance.
I close with best wishes for a good and sweet Rosh Hashanah for those who observe, and for a restful and restorative weekend for all.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D.
