I hope you have been enjoying the beautiful weather and that this mid-month update finds you well. I write with information regarding recent activities that you may find of interest.
This week began with a lengthy “deep dive” meeting between members of the College’s Administration and the Chancellor’s Cabinet. For the better part of Monday morning, we discussed the state of operations on our campus as it relates to benchmarks tied to the Performance Management Plan (PMP). Among other items we discussed enrollment, academic programs, budgetary and fiscal matters, and facilities concerns. It was an extraordinary exercise that required introspection and reflection on our part, and resulted in our campus receiving appropriately—kudos on several fronts. I was proud and pleased to hear that the hard work of so many folks on this campus was being recognized by the Central Office. Although we still have considerable work to do to address our structural deficit, the path forward is better than expected on most fronts.
On Tuesday, I attended the annual Athletics Program Golf Outing fundraiser at Silver Lake Golf Course. It was a gorgeous day and I had the opportunity to meet with nearly 150 supporters of our student-athletes. Many thanks to head Baseball Coach Mike Mauro for organizing the event, and to all those who came out to (net)work with me and build closer and stronger relationships with our community. My attendance at the golf outing prevented my participating in Tuesday’s Club Fair on Alumni Walk, but by all accounts, that was similarly spectacular. Many thanks to those in Student Affairs for coordinating that event! That evening, I met with the presidents of the other senior colleges to discuss matters related to campus climate, lobbying strategies, and ongoing preparations for the fall term. It is always good to share best practices with these colleagues, and I will be doing the same this Monday evening, too.
Wednesday saw poignant ceremonies marking the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, with events held on campus and off. Many thanks to Professor Lewis Dimmick of the English Department for his beautiful poem, student-musician Mano Merca for his guitar solo, alumnus Andrea Curry for reading the names of 27 CSI graduates who were lost that day, and Mario D’Alessandro for orchestrating the commemoration at the 9/11 Memorial Site on our Willowbrook campus. That afternoon CSI represented at a borough-wide memorial held at Richmond University Medical Center, attended by many local dignitaries and elected officials. The somber reason for the gathering aside, it is always good to spend time with our friends and supporters in the community.
Thursday saw a series of meetings with various stakeholders, including the Executive Committee of the College Council, where we discussed the agenda for next week’s general meeting and where I provided updates on staffing, budget, transportation, and other topics. This largely mirrored a meeting the Provost had with the Faculty Senate Executive committee where he also spoke to institutional support for faculty scholarship, research, and creative activities. We know these are important considerations and are confident that we will continue to provide ongoing and adequate resources to support these important initiatives. That afternoon also saw the second annual “Shalom CSI” event where, in partnership with Hillel Staten Island, Hillel International, the JCC, and with colleagues from Wagner College, we reaffirmed our commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students.
My busy week concluded with delivering remarks at “Collaborating for a New Education Paradigm” conference, where I discussed the relationship brokered by Professor Ken Gold and our team in Recruitment and Admissions to build pipelines to enrollment at CSI’s School of Education. The work in this space—including partnerships with Realign Education —reflects an innovative and nimble approach to growing our student population while simultaneously serving students from historically marginalized communities. Like so many other events I attended this week, this one underscored the impact that our school and its mission of access and excellence play in the broader Staten Island context.
This weekend marks the second anniversary of the opening of the Willowbrook Mile on campus. To commemorate this date, this Saturday, September 14 from 10:00am to 2:00pm, the Willowbrook Legacy Project is hosting a special event on campus, featuring an exhibit in the 1P Atrium and free guided tours of the Willowbrook Mile outdoor installations. They will also be joined by The Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice. This is just another great example of how the College of Staten Island continues to gives back to the community and honor its legacy. All are welcome to attend. If you plan to join, please pre-register at Eventbrite.
In closing, I would like to acknowledge Shannon Cammarano, who has recently been appointed Director of the Center for Career and Professional Development. Shannon takes over for the recently retired, Caryl Watkins. Shannon’s tenure at CSI totals an amazing 35 years, with the last ten serving as Director of Enrollment Management. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this new role. I am sure that you join me in wishing Shannon and the entire CCPD team much success as they continue to cultivate meaningful career and networking opportunities for our students.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
