Updates from the President

Borough of Manhattan Community College joins CUNY and the international community in marking Yom HaShoah, Israel’s annual Holocaust Remembrance Day which began yesterday at sundown in Israel.

Today is International Women’s Day and we are celebrating this day as a part of our Women’s HerStory Month.

By now our community is gripped with news of the tragic death of Tyre Nichols. This young man, the 29-year-old father of a four-year-old boy, was killed at the hands of five Memphis police officers who brutally beat and pepper sprayed him, their actions captured on body-cam footage and surveillance cameras.

As we honor the life and work of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the federal holiday in his name, many of us will listen again to Dr. King’s powerful “I Have a Dream” speech that was delivered before an audience of more than 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C. as part of the August 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

As 2022 comes to a close, I find myself looking back at all our diverse community has accomplished in the past year. Artists and filmmakers find their calling at BMCC, as do entrepreneurs, teachers, scientists, and nurses. Students as well as faculty and staff discover they have the courage to dream and the drive to aim high.

Alongside our holiday gatherings and group events this season, virus cases that include COVID-19 variants, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are resurging in New York City. Our BMCC community is well versed, by now, in the methods of protecting against COVID-19, but I wanted to remind everyone to heed the message sent out by CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez to mask up and take other measures to protect yourself and those around you.

In higher education, we place value on creating a safe space. We want our classrooms to be places where it is safe to discuss emotionally charged topics. We want our counseling offices to be places where students can share sensitive matters. We want every office and hallway, every point of service to be a place where students, faculty and staff are safe to be their authentic selves, not having to check any part of their identity at the door.

Last week, I traveled to Washington, DC as part of a “Fly In” effort to join college presidents, community leaders, students, and immigration advocates to urge the White House and Congress to pass legislation that would create a permanent pathway to citizenship for beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and other undocumented students.

One of our Thanksgiving traditions at BMCC is the Tree of Thanks. This year our community can either write their message of appreciation for a colleague, friend or family member on the life-sized paper tree outside the Office of Student Affairs or enter their message on a padlet showing a virtual Tree of Thanks.

In the last few days, we have seen violence erupt on two college campuses. In Moscow, Idaho, the brutal death of four University of Idaho students is being investigated as a homicide.

The Borough of Manhattan Community College and the City University of New York (CUNY) are strongly committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity and inclusion.

At BMCC, the anniversary of September 11, 2001 and the attacks on the nearby Twin Towers of the World Trade Center will always bring to mind the immeasurable loss of eight of our colleagues.

Congratulations on starting your Fall 2022 semester at BMCC.

The excitement and energy of the Fall 2022 semester is right around the corner.

The health and well-being of everyone is top priority at BMCC, and as we prepare for the start of the 2022-2023 academic year, I am writing to share information regarding monkeypox.

As we prepare for the start of the 2022-2023 academic year, I am writing to share an announcement regarding one of the key members of BMCC’s leadership and family.

I am pleased to announce Ms. Gulen H. Zubizarreta will be joining Borough of Manhattan Community College as Executive Director of Human Resources (HR) effective August 1, 2022.

The College wishes to express its appreciation to the following individuals who are leaving the BMCC community.

I am pleased to announce Michael Reyes will be joining Borough of Manhattan Community College as Executive Legal Counsel and Labor Designee, effective July 18, 2022.

Today we observe Juneteenth, the oldest national commemoration of the emancipation of slaves in the United States.

Our country is in mourning once again after the devastation that occurred on May 24 when a gunman fatally shot at least 19 children and two adults at a Texas elementary school.

BMCC continues to monitor developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic with guidance from the CDC and CUNY.

On behalf of the BMCC community, I express our deepest condolences for the families of the 10 people who lost their lives on May 14, 2022.

I wish to announce the arrival of Julio W. Izquierdo, CPA, MBA, as Acting Vice President of Finance and Administration, effective May 9, 2022.

Today, April 27, 2022, we celebrate National Administrative Professionals Day!

This morning at about 8:30 a.m., our city fell victim to a horrible shooting which took place in Brooklyn.

Thank you for joining me in-person and online for yesterdays’ State of the College.

Our institution is continuing to monitor the developments related to the pandemic.

I hope you will join me for our annual State of the College address, which will be held in-person on Wednesday, March 9 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon in Theater I, located in the 199 Chambers Street building, as well as livestreamed.

We are now in our fourth week of Spring Semester 2022, and I am delighted to see more students, faculty and staff back on campus.

I hope your Winter Break was restful and you are prepared to start the semester feeling reinvigorated and ready to engage in new experiences.

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As a Baptist minister and social activist, Dr. King led the U.S. civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968.

The pandemic remains fluid, and as we continue to monitor developments carefully, we are emerging with great optimism and with determination to bring back life to our campus this Spring 2022.

As we prepare for the start of the spring 2022 semester on January 28, I want to share details about our efforts to keep the BMCC community healthy and safe on our campus.

The 2021 fall semester is coming to an end, and we are encountering an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections due in part to the Delta and Omicron variants.

Our city is quickly seeing an increase in positive cases of COVID-19, due to the Delta and Omicron variants that continue to spread.

As we look forward to the upcoming holiday and the end of the Fall 2021 semester, I would like to convey my appreciation and well wishes to all students, faculty and staff of the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

The holidays are here, and for many of us it will be a time to gather with family and friends. While we are enjoying our reunions, it is also important to continue to be vigilant about the developments surrounding COVID-19.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and soon many of us will be spending the holiday with friends and loved ones.

#CUNYTuesday has started, and Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) needs your donations and support!

As we step into a critical time for fundraising and community engagement, I wish to announce the arrival of Karen C. Wilson-Stevenson, EMBA, CFRE, who will begin serving as BMCC’s Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement, effective November 16, 2021.

In my first town hall last year, I indicated that institutional assessment and accountability must be prioritized. After presiding over BMCC for a year, I have become aware of our strengths, areas for improvement, and opportunities to enhance student success.

The Borough of Manhattan Community College and the City University of New York (CUNY) are strongly committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity and inclusion.

I am writing to share some much-anticipated news about the projects that were selected to receive funding through the President’s Fund for Excellence and Innovation

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the horrific events of September 11, 2001, when almost 3,000 people lost their lives during the terrorist attacks at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and aboard United Airlines Flight 93.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. Many college students were not yet born on that day — but in the weeks, months and years that followed, their families and neighborhoods felt the impact of those attacks.

Today begins a new semester at BMCC! It will be a semester of optimism – but more importantly – with opportunities!

As we begin to welcome our students, faculty and staff to our campus, I want to take a moment to recognize and reflect on the devastation that occurred in Haiti recently.

Fall semester is fast approaching, and we continue to plan for a safe and in-person welcome for you and our students.

I would like to announce that Sanjay Ramdath will serve as Acting VP of Enrollment Management and oversee the operations of Admissions, Enrollment Services and Financial Aid, effective June 28, 2021.

Today we observe Juneteenth, the oldest national commemoration of the emancipation of slaves in the United States.

The students have voted, and the following students have been certified as Officers and Senators of the 2021-2022 Student Government Association and will begin their term on July 1, 2021.

I am writing to share with you that Jim Berg, Associate Dean of Faculty, will be leaving BMCC, effective May 31, 2021.

As we prepare for the end of the semester, final exams and Commencement, I invite all of you to let us know what BMCC can do to help you prepare for Fall 2021.

Developments regarding the pandemic continue to evolve.

Please join me and the members of Cabinet in extending best wishes to John Montanez, Dean of the Office of Sponsored Programs, who has recently decided to retire.

I would like to announce that Erwin J. Wong has been named BMCC’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective May 3, 2021.

As the Spring semester continues, we move forward with our efforts to enhance academic and programmatic services for our students. With this in mind, I would like to welcome David P. Barnet, PhD, as our new Acting Dean of Academic Affairs, effective May 17.

I wish to thank all of you for continuing to share your interest and enthusiasm for The President’s Fund for Excellence and Innovation (PFEI).

We braced for a verdict and accompanying civil unrest that mirrored the protests that took place last summer; but today is a needed step toward justice.

Developments with the President’s Fund for Excellence and Innovation continue to move forward in support of the College’s strategic investment in innovative projects, initiatives, and programming that advances BMCC’s mission, and honors Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s intent to focus on basic needs, equity and inclusion, economic mobility, and support for the demographic population served by BMCC.

As a leading institution in New York City, Borough of Manhattan Community College continues to evolve in order to meet the needs of its students.

Please join me and the members of Cabinet in extending best wishes to Diane K. Walleser, Vice President of Enrollment Management, who has recently decided to retire.

BMCC is inviting faculty, staff and students to serve as members in one of three focus area  committees supporting this year’s review of proposals for funding from  The President’s Fund for Excellence and Innovation ("The Fund").

The Spring 2021 Semester continues with a variety of programs and activities designed to enlighten, educate and engage our diverse community; however, you might have seen on the news, heard from friends or family members, or experienced yourself, harassment and hate crimes towards Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have risen during the COVID-19 crisis.

We are a few weeks into the Spring 2021 semester, and I continue to be grateful for our college community’s ability to unite with persevere, offering classes and services virtually during these stages of the pandemic.

I want to take this opportunity to announce that Anthony Watson, Executive Director of the Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center, has accepted the appointment of Acting Dean of Adult Continuing Education and Workforce Development (ACEWD) at BMCC.

Today is a day that we celebrate, congratulate and welcome Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States of America and Kamala Harris, who is the first woman, first black and first Asian-American to serve as our country's Vice President.

Observed each year on the third Monday in January, MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

The spring 2021 semester is fast-approaching, and I am writing you to share an announcement regarding one of the key members of the BMCC’s leadership.

On January 6th, our country witnessed an attack on our democracy and the continuation of the unsettling circumstances that waver around racial injustice and lawlessness.

There is tremendous gratitude, pride, and enthusiasm around the college in light of our receipt of a $30 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott.

As part of The City University of New York’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CUNY has allowed all colleges to extend a version of the Spring 2020 COVID-19 Flexible Grading Policy-Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) for Fall 2020.

Traditionally, the winter holiday season is a time to gather with family and friends — and while COVID-19 has disrupted that tradition, there continues to be much to be grateful for.

#CUNYTuesday, part of National Giving Tuesday, is an opportunity for all faculty, staff, alumni and friends to support BMCC programs and services that are critical to helping students succeed.

Thanksgiving week is upon us, in a year that has presented many unforeseen challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the uncovering of racial injustice and tense political shift of our country.

So much is happening in the world around us. We stand witness as new leadership prepares to guide our country through the deep ramifications of a world-wide pandemic and the resulting economic turmoil while we grapple with the rawness revealed in our country’s racial and social unrest.

Please join me for a BMCC Town Hall that will be LIVE STREAMED on Thursday, October 8, from 10 to 11 a.m.

On September 23, 2020, BMCC’s Academic Senate nominated four members of the BMCC faculty for consideration into the Rapid Response Enrollment Management Task Force, which was recently announced.

I am pleased to announce that for the 2020-2021 academic year, the following faculty, students, administrators, and community members will serve on the Boards of the BMCC Association and the Auxiliary Enterprises Corporation

As we enter our fourth week of the fall semester, I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy during these unprecedented times, which are redefining our lives at home and at our wonderful institution.

Today, on National Voter Registration Day, I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage you all to register to vote, if you haven’t already, before the upcoming voter registration deadline on October 9th.

As schools throughout New York City and across the country reopen for the 2020-2021 academic year, challenges related to COVID-19 continue to surface.

On behalf of Borough of Manhattan Community College, I wish to thank Dr. Karrin E. Wilks, Senior Vice President and Provost, for her leadership and contribution to the college and its diverse community.

In response to fall 2020 enrollment declines, BMCC is launching a Rapid Response Enrollment Management Taskforce.

I am profoundly honored and humbled to have been selected as the President of Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC).