I write with updates and information that you may find useful and interesting, regarding activities since my last communication.
I hope that the recent Lincoln/Presidents’ Day holidays and the advent of Lunar New Year—and a Happy Year of the Horse to all who celebrate—allowed for some rest and relaxation with families and loved ones. I, for one, spent the weekend at the annual Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus in Albany (Happy Valentine’s Day to ME!) where I heard lots of love for CUNY from elected officials (including Mayor Zohran Mamdani) as campus leaders advocated for increased funding for the system and our students. The conference allowed networking, lobbying, and celebrating transformative programs such as the Percy Ellis Sutton SEEK Program, celebrating its 60th year! Many thanks to Director Stephanie Allen and her dedicated team for the work they do to amplify the SEEK Program at CSI! The theme of celebrating our individual and collective impact continued this week as I hosted CUNY’s new Vice Chancellor for Government Affairs, Dermot Smyth, and Senior Vice Chancellor Sascha Owen. Our conversations underscored just how hard we are working—across every division—to position the campus for long‑term success and to ensure our students, faculty, and staff have the resources they need to thrive. In the coming weeks I will be meeting with borough, city, and federal representatives to do the same: it is an easy ask, given how compelling and indisputable our mission is, and how clearly our collective efforts demonstrate that CSI is moving forward with purpose and momentum.
This week I had the pleasure of representing the College and CUNY at the opening of the Museum of Disability History (MDH), an organization on whose Board of Directors I serve. The MDH is the first institution of its kind in the United States, and our partnership with that organization (through its umbrella sponsor, The Viscardi Center) allows us to leverage our “legacy of place” here at CSI—and our sprawling archival collection and academic expertise—to the betterment of the field of disability studies and the history of those with disabilities. I was proud to remind state representatives of the work we are doing at our Willowbrook campus to foreground the missions of inclusion and stewardship: this will be made manifest even further at this May’s Commencement exercise when CSI awards an Honorary Doctorate (pending CUNY Board of Trustees approval) to Laura Kennedy, ARC changemaker and longtime champion of disability rights, and at the Spring Into Giving Benefit where we are honoring journalist Geraldo Rivera.
Speaking of Board activities, this week also saw a meeting of the CSI Foundation’s Finance and Investment Committee, where we analyzed recent market performance, assessed our portfolio, and strategized about the coming year. The Foundation and its various committees enable critical support to our institution, allowing us to fulfill our mission of providing access to transformational educational opportunities. As Board members are volunteers, their commitment is clear and admirable—many thanks to all who give of their time and talent.
This week also saw the first Spring meetings of the College Council and Faculty Senate, where we heard a spring enrollment (up) presentation, updates about facility issues (improving), and questions related to Commencement, as well as recent news regarding a think tank report on affordable housing (citing the campus). The conversations were, as usual, frank and fulfilling. That evening, the Art Gallery hosted a reception for a solo exhibition of installation work featuring video, musical collaboration, and photography by Valerie Tevere (Media Culture) and her artistic collaborator of more than 25 years, Angel Nevarez. The exhibition is part of a year-long series commemorating the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Department of Media Culture.
The week concluded with the first spring meeting of the Institutional Planning Committee, where we discussed the ongoing implementation of our Strategic Plan, Bridge to Success. We also hosted a robust and well-attended (despite the rainy day) legislative meeting with representatives from CUNY Central, the Governor’s Office, and our local state elected officials. Our administration continues to work hard to advocate and position the campus for increased funding and partnership across the state.
Next week will be even busier, with a CUNY Board meeting, a cultivation mixer for prospective donors, required Workplace Violence Prevention Training (take yours on Brightspace) and tabletop exercise, meetings with Congressional representatives, and a trip to Washington DC for the American Council on Education (ACE) annual meeting. Wish me luck!
To end, I want to acknowledge our community members observing Ramadan or Lent. We recognize the significance of this season and wish you strength, peace, and renewal.
Until Next Time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D.
