Why Higher Education Still Matters: Metropolitan College of New York Brings Leaders Together

As the value of a college degree faces renewed scrutiny and workforce pathways expand, the Brooklyn conversation asks what higher education must deliver for today’s students

New York – September 29, 2026 – Does a college degree still matter? As students and families weigh the cost and value of higher education against expanding workforce pathways, Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) is bringing together leaders from higher education, government and the community in Brooklyn to examine what colleges must deliver for today’s students and working adults.

“Why Higher Education Still Matters: Purpose, Opportunity & the Future of Higher Education” will take place Tuesday, September 29, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Crown Hill Theatre in Crown Heights. The event also marks the Brooklyn kickoff of MCNY’s Purpose Powers New York 5-Borough Tour, an initiative designed to bring the College into communities across New York City, reconnect with alumni and strengthen relationships with civic, business and community leaders.

MCNY President Dr. Charles J. Gibbs will be joined by New York State Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education; Lola W. Brabham, President of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU); New York City Council Member Rita C. Joseph, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Higher Education; and Dr. Brian Blough, M.S.Ed. ’12, MCNY Associate Dean of Education. Shelley Wade, Afternoon Host on New York City’s 94.7 The Block, will moderate the conversation.

The discussion comes as the relationship between higher education and workforce preparation receives renewed national attention. Beginning July 1, 2026, federal Pell Grant eligibility expanded to qualifying short-term workforce programs, increasing the pathways available to students seeking education and training connected to in-demand careers.

“The question is no longer simply whether a college degree matters. It is what higher education must deliver to matter to today’s students,” said MCNY President Dr. Charles J. Gibbs. “Students want an education that connects to opportunity, their careers and the lives they are building right now. We have to listen, evolve and make sure higher education continues to create pathways that allow them to move forward.”

The latest federal data also reinforce the economic value of higher education. In September 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published Education Pays, 2025, reporting that full-time wage and salary workers age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree had median weekly earnings of $1,578 in 2025, compared with $966 for those with a high school diploma. Workers with a master’s degree had median weekly earnings of $1,876. Unemployment rates were 2.8 percent for bachelor’s degree holders, 2.6 percent for master’s degree holders and 4.3 percent for workers with a high school diploma. Bureau of Labor Statistics

(The BLS figures are national averages and do not guarantee individual outcomes. BLS notes that geographic location, experience and hours worked can also affect earnings and employment. The agency also notes that its 2025 annual estimates are based on 11 months of data because October data were not collected during the federal government shutdown and therefore are not strictly comparable with annual averages from other years. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

For MCNY, the national conversation is particularly relevant. Founded by Audrey Cohen in 1964 to serve adult learners, the College has built its academic model around Purpose-Centered Education, connecting academic study with professional application. Through MCNY’s Constructive Action® approach, students put what they are learning to work on actual challenges and opportunities in their workplaces, internships and communities.

As colleges consider how to respond to changing workforce needs, MCNY’s Purpose-Centered Education offers an approach in which academic study and professional preparation work together rather than compete with one another. For working students and adult learners, that connection allows education to have an impact while they are earning their degrees, not simply after graduation.

“At MCNY, Purpose-Centered Education is not a new response to the workforce conversation. It has been central to who we are since our founding,” said MCNY President, Dr. Charles J. Gibbs. “Our students apply what they learn to real challenges in their workplaces and communities while they are earning their degrees. We should be creating more opportunities for New Yorkers to work, learn and advance without having to choose one over the other.”

The Brooklyn event launches MCNY’s Purpose Powers New York 5-Borough Tour, taking the College into communities across New York City to reconnect with its more than 12,000 alumni and build relationships with civic, business and community leaders.

Following the panel, guests are encouraged to stay for an Alumni & Community gathering to meet the panelists, reconnect with MCNY alumni and friends, network and continue the conversation. The evening will include light bites and music by DJ Tommy Lee.

Event Information

Purpose Powers New York: Brooklyn
Why Higher Education Still Matters: Purpose, Opportunity & the Future of Higher Education

Tuesday, September 29, 2026
6:00–9:00 p.m.
Crown Hill Theatre
746–750 Nostrand Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11216

Admission is FREE.

RSVP for Purpose Powers New York: Brooklyn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Tina Georgiou, Director of Communications, Metropolitan College of New York
212-343-1234 ext. 2626 or tgeorgiou@mcny.edu

Event Contact
Theresa Redd, Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, 212-343-1234 ext. 3202 or tredd@mcny.edu
RSVP HERE to Register for this FREE event!

About the Panelists & Moderator

Dr. Charles J. Gibbs

President, Metropolitan College of New York

Charles J. Gibbs, Ed.D., is the seventh president of Metropolitan College of New York, bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience across higher education, nonprofit and public service. His career has focused on expanding access, strengthening institutions and connecting learning to action through strategic pathways across higher education.

Prior to joining MCNY, Dr. Gibbs served as National Chief Executive Officer of 100 Black Men of America, Inc., the nation’s largest African American male mentoring organization, and as President of the Propel Center-HBCU Consortium, a $50 million initiative supported by Apple and Southern Company to expand research and workforce development pathways for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He has also held senior leadership roles at Howard University, Clark Atlanta University and Miles College.

Since assuming the presidency in July 2024, Dr. Gibbs has led MCNY in securing more than $10 million in public and private partnerships, enhanced academic offerings supporting the nation’s veterans and secured one of five awards from the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development to lead the Bronx Fatherhood Initiative, supporting families through education, workforce readiness and parenting resources. A triple alumnus, former student-athlete and Hall of Famer of Howard University, Dr. Gibbs is known for his hands-on leadership style, collaborative approach and commitment to student success, community engagement and preparing graduates to lead with purpose.

Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman

Chair, New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education

Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman represents New York’s 29th Assembly District and serves as Chair of the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education. Before her election to the Assembly in 2015, she served for 10 years on New York City’s Community District Education Council 29, including four years as president. Her advocacy there helped secure $30 million in capital funding for technology, facilities and other improvements across 36 elementary and middle schools. New York State Assembly

Her professional career includes more than 15 years with the New York State Education Department as a Senior Professional Conduct Investigator overseeing adult trade and vocational schools. She has also worked with Brooklyn College’s Educational Talent Search Program, the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of NYIT and the State Education Department’s Office of Higher Education. Hyndman holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz and a master’s degree in public administration from Framingham State College.

Lola W. Brabham

President, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities

Lola W. Brabham is President of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU), the statewide association representing more than 100 independent colleges and universities across New York. She became CICU’s ninth president in 2021 following a 26-year career in public service.

Before joining CICU, Brabham served as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Civil Service and President of the Civil Service Commission. She previously served as Deputy Commissioner for Administration and Chief Financial Officer at the New York State Department of Labor and held senior positions in the New York State Executive Chamber and Division of the Budget. Her public service career began in the New York State Assembly.

Brabham holds dual bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and sociology from the State University of New York and a Master of Public Administration from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy. Her work at CICU focuses on public policy affecting New York’s independent higher education sector.

Council Member Rita C. Joseph

Chair, New York City Council Committee on Higher Education

New York City Council Member Rita C. Joseph represents Brooklyn’s 40th District and serves as Chair of the New York City Council Committee on Higher Education. A public school teacher for more than two decades before entering elected office, Joseph brings her experience as an educator, union member and community organizer to her work in city government. New York City Council

Joseph’s community advocacy began when she was 19, when she helped lead a large demonstration challenging the FDA’s then-policy restricting blood donations from Haitians. A former teen mother who attended college on a full scholarship, she went on to build a career in education and community advocacy. In addition to chairing the Higher Education Committee, Joseph serves on the Council’s Education, Immigration, Children and Youth, Disabilities, and Housing and Buildings committees. She is also Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus.

Dr. Brian Blough, M.S.Ed. ’12

Associate Dean of Education, Metropolitan College of New York

Dr. Brian Blough is Associate Dean of Education at Metropolitan College of New York, an alumnus of MCNY’s M.S.Ed. program and author of Lead, Teach, and Learn with AI: An Ethical Roadmap for Schools. He earned his M.S.Ed. from MCNY in 2012 from the program he now helps lead.

A veteran New York City educator and school leader, Dr. Blough brings more than a decade of experience spanning early childhood through grade 12. Before joining MCNY’s academic leadership, he served as Founding Principal of Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter High School in Brooklyn. His career has also included school leadership positions in the Bronx.

His work focuses on instructional leadership, educator development and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in education. He has presented to corporate leaders, university faculty, educators and school communities on integrating AI in ways that support teaching and learning while protecting the critical thinking students need to develop.

Shelley Wade

Moderator and Afternoon Host, 94.7 The Block

Shelley Wade is an award-winning radio and television personality, entertainment journalist and voice-over artist heard weekday afternoons on New York City’s 94.7 The Block. Her broadcasting career has included major radio stations in Houston, Los Angeles and New York, where she became the first African American to host a full-time show on Z100. Audacy

Wade has interviewed some of entertainment’s biggest names, including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z, Queen Latifah and Janet Jackson. Her honors include a Gracie Award for Best Music Interview and a New York State Broadcasters Excellence in Broadcasting Award for Best Interview. She is also the host of The Goodness Factor with Shelley Wade, which spotlights good news and people making a positive difference. Her work reflects the community connection that is also part of 94.7 The Block, including programming focused on conversations and stories from New York’s neighborhoods.

About Crown Hill Theatre

Crown Hill Theatre occupies a space with deep roots in Brooklyn’s Black cultural and civil rights history. Formerly home to The Black Lady Theatre, founded in 1984, it became a gathering place for artists, activists and community members during Brooklyn’s Black empowerment movement. Today, Crown Hill Theatre continues that tradition of culture and community, making it a fitting home for MCNY and its mission of education, opportunity and social impact.

About Metropolitan College of New York

Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) is a private, nonprofit institution of higher education that provides Purpose-Centered Education, integrating academic study with professional application and empowering students to turn learning into immediate impact in their careers and communities. Founded by Audrey Cohen in 1964, serving adult learners for over 60 years, MCNY offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, certificate, and workforce development programs, including bachelor’s degrees that can be completed in under three years and one-year graduate programs designed for working professionals.

The College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is designated as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and Minority-Serving Institution (MSI). MCNY’s three schools, the Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education, the School for Business, and the School for Public Affairs and Administration, prepare graduates for career advancement and leadership in high-demand fields.

Metropolitan College of New York is located at 463 East 149th Street, Bronx, New York 10455. For more information, visit www.mcny.edu or call 212-343-1234.

Media Contact
Tina Georgiou, Director of Communications, Metropolitan College of New York
212-343-1234 ext. 2626 or tgeorgiou@mcny.edu

Event Contact
Theresa Redd, Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, 212-343-1234 ext. 3202

MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Why Higher Education Still Matters: MCNY Brings New York Leaders Together to Examine the Future of College, Careers and Opportunity

As the value of a college degree faces renewed scrutiny and workforce pathways expand, the conversation asks what higher education must deliver for today’s students

New York — September 29, 2026 — Does a college degree still matter? As students and families weigh the value of higher education against expanding workforce pathways, Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) is bringing together leaders from higher education, government and the community in Brooklyn to examine what colleges must deliver for today’s students and working adults.

WHAT:
Purpose Powers New York: Brooklyn, featuring the panel discussion “Why Higher Education Still Matters: Purpose, Opportunity & the Future of Higher Education.”

The conversation will examine the value of a college degree, workforce preparation, economic opportunity and how higher education must evolve to meet the needs of today’s students.

In September 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published Education Pays, 2025, reporting that full-time wage and salary workers age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree earned median weekly wages of $1,578, compared with $966 for high school graduates. Workers with a master’s degree earned $1,876. Unemployment rates were 2.8 percent for bachelor’s degree holders, 2.6 percent for master’s degree holders and 4.3 percent for high school graduates. Bureau of Labor Statistics

For Pres approval
“The question is no longer simply whether a college degree matters. It is what higher education must deliver to matter to today’s students,” said MCNY President Dr. Charles J. Gibbs. “Students are asking us to connect education to opportunity and to the lives they are building right now. We have to listen to those expectations and be willing to evolve with them.”

The discussion reflects MCNY’s Purpose-Centered Education model, connecting academic study with professional application so students can put learning to work in their careers and communities.

WHO:
Dr. Charles J. Gibbs, President, MCNY; New York State Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Chair, Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education; Lola W. Brabham, President, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU); New York City Council Member Rita C. Joseph, Chair, Council Committee on Higher Education; and Dr. Brian Blough, M.S.Ed. ’12, MCNY Associate Dean of Education.

Shelley Wade, Afternoon Host on New York City’s 94.7 The Block, will moderate.

WHEN:
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | 6:00–9:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Crown Hill Theatre
746–750 Nostrand Avenue
Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11216

Crown Hill Theatre occupies a space with deep roots in Brooklyn’s Black cultural and civil rights history. Formerly home to The Black Lady Theatre, founded in 1984, it became a gathering place for artists, activists and community members during Brooklyn’s Black empowerment movement. Today, Crown Hill Theatre continues that tradition of culture and community, making it a fitting home for MCNY and its mission of education, opportunity and social impact.

The evening also launches MCNY’s Purpose Powers New York 5-Borough Tour. Following the panel, guests are invited to stay for an Alumni & Community gathering with networking, light bites and music.

Admission is FREE.

RSVP:
Register for Purpose Powers New York: Brooklyn

EVENT CONTACT:
Theresa Redd
Executive Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving
Metropolitan College of New York
TRedd@mcny.edu

MEDIA CONTACT:
Tina Georgiou
Director of Communications
Metropolitan College of New York
212-343-1234 ext. 2626
tgeorgiou@mcny.edu

About Metropolitan College of New York

Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) is a private, nonprofit institution of higher education that provides Purpose-Centered Education, integrating academic study with professional application and empowering students to turn learning into immediate impact in their careers and communities. Founded by Audrey Cohen in 1964, serving adult learners for over 60 years, MCNY offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, certificate, and workforce development programs, including bachelor’s degrees that can be completed in under three years and one-year graduate programs designed for working professionals.

The College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is designated as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and Minority-Serving Institution (MSI). MCNY’s three schools, the Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education, the School for Business, and the School for Public Affairs and Administration, prepare graduates for career advancement and leadership in high-demand fields.

Metropolitan College of New York is located at 463 East 149th Street, Bronx, New York 10455. For more information, visit www.mcny.edu or call 212-343-1234. 

MCNY 5-Borough Tour

PURPOSE POWERS NEW YORK: BROOKLYN

Why Higher Education Still Matters: Purpose, Opportunity & the Future of Higher Education

Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Crown Hill Theatre | Brooklyn


This Evening’s Agenda

6:00 PM | Welcome Reception
Check-in, light refreshments and an opportunity to connect with MCNY leadership, alumni, community leaders, elected officials, educators, employers and friends of the College.

6:45 PM | Program Begins

Introduction:  Humphrey A. Crookendale, Senior Advisor to the President for Administration

Opening Remarks:  Dr. Charles J. Gibbs, President, Metropolitan College of New York

Introduction by Moderator:  Shelley Wade of 94.7 The Block / 1010 WINS.

Meet the Panel:  Moderator Shelley Wade introduces the evening’s panelists

  • Charles J. Gibbs, President, Metropolitan College of New York
  • New York State Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Chair, Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education
  • New York City Council Member Rita C. Joseph, Chair, Council Committee on Higher Education
  • Lola W. Brabham, President, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU)
  • Brian Blough, M.S.Ed. ’12, Associate Dean of Education, Metropolitan College of New York

6:55 PM | Moderated Conversation

7:35 PM | Audience Q&A

7:45 PM | Closing Reflections from the Panelists followed by Closing Remarks by President Charles J. Gibbs, Ed.D.

Immediately following…Networking & Community Reception
Stay with us to continue the conversation, reconnect and spend time with MCNY leadership, alumni, community partners, educators, employers and fellow guests over
food and music by DJ Tommy Lee.