New York, Tuesday, February 23, 2016— On Thursday, February 25th Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) presents “Women with Power and Purpose,” an MCNY Graduate Info Session featuring guest speakers NYC Public Advocate, Letitia James and Vice President of Community Affairs for ABC-TV, Saundra Thomas. Topics covered during this forum will include: the power of women in public service, the importance of higher education in today’s changing job landscape and finding your purpose within your field of study, career and beyond.

Humphrey Crookendale J.D., Dean of the MCNY School for Public Affairs and Administration

Humphrey Crookendale J.D., Dean of the MCNY School for Public Affairs and Administration

“We are honored to have Saundra Thomas speak, and excited to have Tish James return to MCNY.  These are the kinds of speakers that inspire students.  We look forward to some powerful discussions as both James and Thomas have been serving the community, through government and media, throughout their careers,” says Dean Humphrey Crookendale.

“Women of Power and Purpose” Graduate Info Session will include introductions by MCNY’s President, Dr. Vinton Thompson and Director of Admissions Stephen Ostenorff. The Host Interviewers are Humphrey Crookendale, Dean of MCNY’s School for Public Affairs and Administration and Multi-Media expert and MCNY Professor, Walter Tucker.

Multi-media Expert and Professor, MCNY

Walter Tucker, Multi-media Expert and Professor, MCNY

The event kicks-off promptly at 6pm at MCNY’s Manhattan Campus, 431 Canal Street, NY, NY. Dinner and refreshments will be served.

This event is sponsored by City & State (http://cityandstateny.com).

Media please RSVP to:

Tina Georgiou 646-648-0694 tgeorgiou@mcny.edu

Graduate Applicants please RSVP to:

http://www.whatsyourpurpose.nyc/events/grad-info-session/

About Letitia James

Letitia James, NYC Public Advocate

Letitia James, NYC Public Advocate

Letitia James is the Public Advocate for the City of New York, the second highest ranking elected office in the City. As Public Advocate, she serves as a direct link between New Yorkers and their government, acts as a watchdog over City agencies, and investigates complaints about City services.

Public Advocate James made history in 2014, by becoming the first woman of color to hold citywide office in New York City. In less than two years, Letitia James has transformed the Office of the Public Advocate to deliver real results and reforms for all New Yorkers. Public Advocate James is a strong advocate for criminal justice reform, and led the push for police body-worn cameras in the NYPD. She was one of the first to call for special prosecutors to be used in all cases of police misconduct. Currently, Public Advocate James is leading the fight to reform the grand jury process through litigation to unseal the Eric Garner grand jury minutes.

Whether it’s through her Worst Landlords list, legal action, or pushing for legislation, Public Advocate James is working to protect tenants and affordable housing. She released the Worst Landlords List in October 2014, with significant improvements. She has sued landlords and the City in several cases where tenants were being harassed. And she has been a leading voice in the fight for rent regulation laws at the State level.

Public Advocate James is a graduate of CUNY’s Lehman College and Howard University Law School. She previously served as an Assistant Attorney General, and a public defender. She currently resides in Brooklyn.

About Saundra Thomas

V.P. of Community Affairs, ABC-TV

Saundra Thomas, V.P. of Community Affairs, ABC-TV

Saundra Thomas, Vice-President of Community Affairs at WABC-TV since 2001, has made community service the center of her life. Thomas is nearing her 3rd decade at Channel 7. In her role as Community Affairs director, Saundra Thomas oversees all on-air public service announcements, community outreach and station community projects for the tri-state. As liaison between the public and the station, Thomas recommends news and programming coverage of important local topics, and is responsible for philanthropic endeavors on behalf of the television station.

Thomas has been instrumental in brokering station community-related partnerships with organizations including BRIC (Celebrate Brooklyn), World Science Festival, and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Thomas’ leadership has resulted in among other things, the stations commitment to holding town hall style community forums around the tri-state throughout the year. A recent candidate for City Council and an active board member, Thomas has served as a member of Jazz Reach, Global Action Project and Dancewave, is currently a board member of New York Women in Communications, Open House New York, Brooklyn Book Festival and board chair of the Council for Unity. Thomas also sits on the advisory boards of The Grace Institute, Services for the Underserved and the Young Men’s Initiative.

Thomas holds a B.A. in Journalism from Rutgers University and an M.A. in Media Studies from the New School. She is a proud and enthusiastic resident of Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, where she lives with her family.

About Metropolitan College of New York

Audrey Cohen, educational visionary and activist, founded the Women’s Talent Corps in 1964. Through development and training for new professional positions, the Talent Corps created employment for thousands of people. It became The College for Human Services, later Audrey Cohen College, and today Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY). For over 50 years, MCNY has continued the tradition of offering highly motivated learners an education that combines applied skills with professional knowledge to effect personal transformation and positive change in the workplace and community. MCNY is a not-for-profit, accredited, independent college. Full year-round offerings accelerate degree completion, and a unique approach to learning permits close integration of workplace activities and study. MCNY locations are in Soho/Tribeca at 431 Canal Street, New York, NY 10013 and in the Bronx at 529 Courtlandt Ave., Bronx, NY 10451.  For more information on MCNY, visit www.mcny.edu or call 800.333.THINK.