A LETTER FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Letter from Gary P. Jenkins, MPA’06

To the MCNY Community,

It’s good to come home! As I write this message just one year into being Board Chair, I am reminded that there is nothing like feeling welcomed, being supported and sharing a common goal of improving the workplaces and communities in which we work and live. This goal was the reason I enrolled in MCNY’s School of Public Administration in 2005. Years later as a graduate, an adjunct professor, a trustee and now as Board Chair, my commitment to MCNY’s mission of educating and empowering students to make constructive change is stronger than ever.

Metropolitan College of New York is home to me and thousands of alums and students that have experienced the journey of Purpose-Centered Education. This PURPOSE drives us into the world, carrying out a mission of social justice, equity and equality. I have been known to say, “We do great work. Great work that transforms lives and our communities.” This 2022 Annual Report highlights the work of MCNY faculty, staff and students over the last year; I encourage you to celebrate the successes that you helped make possible.

As we look ahead, MCNY is working to transform to meet the needs of a changing workforce and vastly different higher education landscape post-pandemic. As you read through the Annual Report, we hope you will be inspired to continue this purposeful journey with us and invest in our students so that they, too, can work toward our shared mission for years to come.

Sincere regards,

Gary P. Jenkins

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

A Message from Joanne Passaro, PhD

2022 brought renewed vibrancy and energy to the MCNY community—and to our campuses—as we move past the pandemic. Students, faculty and staff continued to demonstrate resilience and dedication as they enthusiastically returned to campus for in-person events that reconnected us all as we worked towards our common goals.

In June, our first in-person Commencement Ceremony since the pandemic, held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, was a joyous celebration of the power of Purpose-Centered Education. Two key members of the MCNY community were honored: alumnus and Chair of the Board Gary P. Jenkins and founding faculty member and outgoing MCNY trustee Thomas L. Webber. Their speeches were rousing calls to action to advance the work of our mission of social justice. Graduates and their families stood and roared their agreement; one graduate later told me that she “had goosebumps when they spoke. Their words were…the capstone of my MCNY degree.” If you didn’t have the opportunity to hear Gary and Tom in person, I highly recommend that you take the opportunity to do so. (Link to speeches: Gary P. Jenkins Thomas L. Webber)

Faculty and staff continued to innovate to better serve our students. Among the new initiatives highlighted in the 2022 report are these important programs:

  • The Black Maternal Health Initiative (BMHI) was launched with grant funding from the American Library Association, with future growth supported by the TD Charitable Foundation for 2023. BMHI is a student and community engagement project that responds to the crisis of outcomes related to Black maternal health in the US, New York City, and most specifically, the Bronx. Key to the initiative are partnerships with Bronx-based community groups working in the field.
  • A new Office for Career and Professional Development, led by Director Philip Meade and MCNY alumnus Coordinator Michael Goodwin, has increased its outreach to students and alums; worked with faculty and staff to embed career development into all academic programs; and expanded in-person and group workshops. A new platform, Handshake, now offers students and alums better ways to find meaningful jobs and build their professional networks.

One important focus in 2022 was to continue strengthening students’ abilities to succeed in online and hybrid learning environments. With new tools and support, faculty and staff reported significant growth in students’ comfort and competence in online environments—this inspired faculty to plan for additional online course offerings, starting at the graduate level. In 2022, School for Business faculty developed the MBA in Healthcare Systems and Risk Management program for launch as an online program in fall 2023.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, adult students are looking for targeted, accelerated educational programs to meet their career advancement goals. MCNY has begun the exciting work of transforming its offerings to address existing and emerging needs of adult learners. We are developing new degree programs as well as new options for “stackable” credentials and certifications that students can access as needed for professional growth. These shorter-term credentials can be accumulated over time and become the basis of a degree program at a later date.

As we work towards realizing our mission in new ways, our connections with MCNY alums and friends will be more important than ever. We will reach out for your advice and support. The College will offer more on-campus events to strengthen our community and enrich alum connections and networks. We look forward to working with our alums and friends as we chart an exciting new path for expanding the reach of Purpose-Centered Education. Stay tuned!

Warmest regards,

Joanne Passaro

2022 IMPACT

Speakers

HIGHLIGHTS

DONORS 2022

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATION

GIVE A GIFT WITH PURPOSE

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