Updates from the President: Announcements

At Borough of Manhattan Community College, we pride ourselves on being a safe haven for students, faculty, and staff from all walks of life.

The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) and the City University of New York (CUNY) have a long-standing commitment to diversity and equal opportunity in all aspects of employment. At BMCC, we value the rich diversity of experience and knowledge that the entire community brings to the College.

Columbia University School of General Studies (GS) recently announced a significant commitment of $30 million to enhance financial aid for students at Columbia GS, particularly those who transfer from community colleges like BMCC.

Please be advised that Mr. Michael Reyes, Esq., has resigned from his position as Executive Legal Counsel and Labor Designee at BMCC.

I am writing to inform you about an important development within our institution. After four decades of dedicated service, Dr. Erwin J. Wong, our esteemed Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, has made the decision to retire.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Liesl B. Jones as Associate Provost at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY), where she will serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Corey Cush as the new Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), where he will serve in the President’s Cabinet. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to Amish Batra for serving as the interim CIO.

I want to share additional information about the very disturbing incident that occurred at BMCC last week.

We were recently apprised of a disturbing incident that occurred at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). On behalf of BMCC, we offer our deepest and sincerest apologies to anyone who was offended and felt unsafe.

As we enter the Spring 2024 semester, I’d like to welcome you to our college and thank you for entrusting your educational needs to us.

I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, Dr. Musa Elbulok will serve as Acting Assistant Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning at BMCC – Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics.

It is my great pleasure to welcome Joy B. Tolliver, Esq., as Acting Assistant Vice President for Legal Affairs and Labor Relations.

It is my great pleasure to welcome Michelle Hernandez as Assistant Vice President of Communications, Marketing and External Affairs in the BMCC Office of Public Affairs.

This year has been filled with countless achievements, both big and small, that have led our students to new paths, successful careers and bachelor’s degree programs.

We would like to announce that Joseph Spadaro has transitioned from his position as BMCC’s Vice President for Information Technology to a new role outside of the college community.

The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) and the City University of New York (CUNY) have a long-standing commitment to affirmative action, equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion.

We are pleased to announce the certified Officers and Senators who will serve in the 2023–2024 SGA term, starting from July 1, 2023.

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.

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.

Congratulations on starting your Fall 2022 semester at BMCC.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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").

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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