July 9, 2026
Dear MCNY Community,
It is with deep gratitude that I share with you that Vice President for Academic Affairs Humphrey A. Crookendale, J.D., has made the decision to retire from his administrative role at Metropolitan College of New York.
Every college is fortunate to have dedicated faculty and leaders. Once in a great while, however, someone comes along whose integrity, compassion, and commitment become part of the institution’s cultural fabric.
Vice President Crookendale is one of those threads.
For more than four decades, Vice President Crookendale has dedicated his life to higher education, including decades of extraordinary service to The College for Human Services, Audrey Cohen College, and Metropolitan College of New York. Throughout his distinguished career, he has served as Professor, Associate Dean and Acting Dean of the Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education, Dean of the School for Business, Dean of the School of Management, Dean of the School for Public Affairs and Administration, and ultimately as Vice President for Academic Affairs.
There are very few people who know this College the way Vice President Crookendale does. He has not simply studied the history of this College. He has lived it. He has experienced our growth, helped lead us through challenges, celebrated our successes, and protected the values that define Metropolitan College of New York. Few people possess the institutional knowledge he carries with them every day, and few have done more to preserve and strengthen Purpose-Centered Education for future generations than he has.
His contributions to MCNY are extraordinary. He led the development of the College’s first graduate program in public administration and helped create the Master of Public Administration concentration in Emergency and Disaster Management. Through Urban Dialogues, he welcomed New York City mayors, borough presidents, City Council members, district attorneys, public advocates, and many other distinguished civic and community leaders to our campus, creating opportunities for our scholars to engage directly with the people shaping public policy and the future of our city.
His influence reaches far beyond our classrooms. Throughout New York and beyond, there are leaders serving in government, education, business, and nonprofit organizations who carry with them lessons learned from Vice President Crookendale. Some were his students. Others were his colleagues. Many sought his advice. All are better because they crossed paths with him.
Colleagues, I am not sure Vice President Crookendale has ever stopped to consider just how many lives he has changed. He simply comes to work each day, gives his very best, shares his knowledge, encourages those around him, celebrates the success of others, and quietly makes this institution stronger. It comes naturally to him because it is simply who he is.
Personally, I have the privilege of knowing Vice President Crookendale not only as a colleague but as a trusted advisor and a dear friend. He reminds me that leadership is never about a title. It is about the way you treat people. It is about showing up every day with humility, kindness, and a genuine desire to help others succeed.
Although Vice President Crookendale is retiring from his administrative responsibilities, he is not departing from the College. Our scholars will continue to benefit from his wisdom as he continues teaching in our Master of Public Administration program and will transition to the Office of the President, serving as the Senior Advisor for Administration.
As we look forward, I would like to share that over the past three months, the College conducted a national search for Vice President Crookendale’s successor. At my direction, I asked Vice President Crookendale to lead this process with several members of the board and faculty. I’m excited to share that Vice President Crookendale, through the committee’s work, has recommended to me and I have accepted four prospective candidates to be interviewed and, in consultation with Vice President Crookendale, we have narrowed that process down to a successful candidate, which I will announce under a separate communication.
We will celebrate the extraordinary service of this gentle giant in the coming months so that we all can share in the life’s work of this great servant leader.
Vice President Crookendale, because of your leadership, this College is stronger.
Because of your wisdom, generations of scholars, faculty, and colleagues have succeeded.
Because of your character, you have shown all of us what it means to lead with humility, kindness, and purpose, and personally, my life is richer because of our friendship.
You have made this College better simply by being who you are, and for that, I say thank you.
Colleagues, please join me in celebrating this wonderful soul.
With gratitude,
Dr. Charles J. Gibbs
President
Metropolitan College of New York
