Members of the Cabinet of the Office of Academic Affairs

Colin Chellman, University Dean for Institutional and Policy Research

Colin Chellman

Dean for Institutional and Policy Research

Office Phone: 646-664-8147
Email Address: [email protected]

Colin Chellman is Dean for Institutional and Policy Research at the City University of New York (CUNY), overseeing both the Office of Institutional Research (OIR) and the Office of Policy Research (OPR). Before taking the role of Dean, he was Associate Dean and the founding Director of CUNY’s Office of Policy Research. Currently, his analytic work focuses on post-graduate student outcomes and – with the support of a recent federal Institute of Education Sciences (IES) grant – transfer student success and the transfer process at CUNY. Read More

His work has been published in Education Week as well as academic journals such as Economics of Education Review, Education Finance and Policy, TCRecord, Urban Affairs Review, Educational Policy, Education and Urban Society, Housing Policy Debate, and the Journal of the American Planning Association. From 2013-2016, he served on the board of the Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP). In 2006, he was the recipient of AEFP’s New Scholar Award. He holds an M.P.A. and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Finance from NYU’s Wagner School, and a B.A. in International Relations/Political Science from the Johns Hopkins University.

Sherry Cleary, Director of CUNY Pre-K Program

Sherry M. Cleary

University Dean for Early Childhood Initiatives

Office Phone: 718-254-7285
Email Address: [email protected]

Sherry M. Cleary is the University Dean for Early Childhood Initiatives at the City University of New York and the Executive Director of CUNY’s New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute. The Institute is a unique public/private partnership that brings together City and State agencies, a consortium of private funders, and the nation’s largest urban university to create a center that coordinates the establishment of a workforce system to insure funding, standards and competencies, career development resources, qualifications and credentials, training, and program quality assurance for individuals who work with children throughout New York. Additionally, the Office of Early Childhood Initiatives focuses on CUNY-centered early childhood projects such as the CUNY Early Childhood Workforce Scholarship, the CUNY Family Empowerment Project, and oversight of the 17 campus children’s centers. Read More

Sherry has contributed to the development of the state’s competency-based Core Body Knowledge, Early Childhood Guidelines, the NYS Trainer Credential, ASPIRE – NYS’ workforce registry, and the implementation of New York’s quality rating system, QUALITYstarsNY. The Institute coordinates the New York City Early Childhood Research Network and the Early Childhood Development Center and is launching four new satellite centers across the state. Under Sherry’s direction, the Institute designed and offers the graduate courses for the statewide Children’s Program Administrator Credential (CPAC) and New York’s credit-bearing Child Development Associate Certificate (CDA). Sherry co-chairs the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, for the state of New York. She has served as the President of the New York State Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NYSAECTE) and has served on the Board of National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators. Sherry was named to Mayor de Blasio’s six-member Early Childhood Working Group, initially charged with building the model to be used for a Universal Pre-kindergarten implementation in New York City.

For the 14 years prior to her return to New York, Sherry was at the University of Pittsburgh where she was the Director of the University Child Development Center, the founder and Executive Director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Excellence in early Childhood Education, and a faculty member in the School of Education, teaching a full-time load of graduate courses in childhood education. Prior to re-locating to New York City, Sherry served on the Boards of Directors of the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum; the PLEA organization, serving autistic children; and the Three Rivers Community Foundation. Prior to that, Sherry was the Director of the Erie Community College Laboratory and taught in the early childhood development department. She was on the Community College of Allegheny Advisory Board for the Department of Child and Family Studies and the past-Chair. She is past-President of the National Coalition of Campus Children’s Centers and the past-President of the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children, which serves a 10-county region. In the past, Sherry was the co-chair of the University of Pittsburgh Provost Advisory Committee on Women’s Concerns.

Gary Dine Executive Director of Fiscal Administration

Gary Dine

Executive Director of Fiscal Administration

Office Phone: 646-664-8002

Email Address: [email protected]

Gary Dine, Executive Director of Fiscal Administration, is responsible for the administration of sponsored programs within the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA).  In this capacity, Gary supports the day-to-day fiscal activities of over 190 University projects, a mix of programs and initiatives supported by private foundations, New York City agencies, and New York State agencies.  Additionally, Gary developed and oversees the Employee Resources and Staff Development unit and the Operations unit of OAA sponsored programs. Read More

The Employee Resources and Staff Development (ER&SD;) unit works to ensure that the sponsored programs workforce of over 300 full time staff is agile and innovative and assists employees in sustaining a healthy and equitable organizational culture capable of adapting to change.  The Operations Unit supports OAA sponsored programs with logistics management, planning, and operational workflow processes across five NYC locations.

Gary has been with CUNY Office of Academic Affairs since 2001, and during this time has administered over $1 billion in sponsored programs.  Gary has chaired and served on a number of key CUNY OAA and CUNY Research Foundation committees, and from June of 2009 to December of 2019, Gary served as the Grants Officer for CUNY School of Professional Studies.

Gary holds an MBA and B.S. in Accounting from Baruch College, CUNY.

Jonathan Gagliardi, Vice President for strategy, policy and analytics at Lehman College

Jonathan S. Gagliardi

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Effectiveness and Innovation

Email Address: [email protected]

Jonathan S. Gagliardi currently serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Effectiveness and Innovation for the City University of New York. In this role, he focuses on creating and facilitating evidence-based policies and interventions that promote student success and equity and enhance teaching, learning and advising. Read More

Previously, Dr. Gagliardi has served as the Assistant Vice President for Strategy, Policy, and Analytics at Lehman College, Assistant Director of the American Council on Education’s Center for Research, Chancellor’s Fellow of the State University of New York (SUNY) System and the Deputy Director of the National Association of System Heads (NASH).

A co-founder of Taking Student Success to Scale, a NASH initiative aimed at leveraging systems to make dramatic gains in student success and equity, Dr. Gagliardi is recognized for his expertise in organizational transformation, and innovation and entrepreneurship, having served as an Advisory Board member for the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness and Economic Prosperity, and for the Center for Leadership and Service at the University at Albany. Dr. Gagliardi holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Higher Education Policy and Leadership, and B.A. from the University at Albany. Jonathan’s research has focused on the intersection of leadership and data to promote higher education innovation and organizational transformation. He is co-author of The Analytics Revolution in Higher Education: Big Data, Organizational Learning, and Student success (Stylus, 2018), and has been quoted in the New York Times, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Business Officer Magazine, and other media outlets.

Ian James, Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Ian James

Deputy to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Office Phone: 646-664-8757
Email Address: [email protected]

Ian James is the Deputy to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs., and, as a member of the Vice Chancellor’s senior staff, he is directly involved with setting university policy and advocating for university-wide policies and practices that support student access and persistence. Read More

Dr. James’ career in higher education spans nearly 15 years. Dr. James has served as Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for almost 10 years. Prior to his current position, he worked in the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs’ Office of Student Advocacy and Referral providing guidance to students in matters concerning University regulations, policies and procedures, and has also taught at Medgar Evers College.

Dr. James holds a doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership from Delaware Valley University, a Masters in International Relations from The City College of New York/CUNY and a Bachelor in Psychology and Political Science from the CUNY Baccalaureate Program. He holds advanced certificates in Immigration Law from the School of Professional Studies/CUNY, the Harvard Institute of Education Management and the American College Personnel Association Management Institute. Dr. James has presented at a number national conferences and been a member of and continues to serve on the boards of several professional associations as well as university committees.

Donna Linderman, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Donna Linderman

Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Office Phone: 646-664-8261
Email Address: [email protected]

Donna Linderman is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs within the CUNY Office of Academic Affairs. Her portfolio include a broad array of university-wide programs designed to support the academic preparation and degree success of CUNY students including: Read More

Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), a nationally recognized associate degree completion program currently deployed in nine CUNY colleges; Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE), a four-year baccalaureate version of ASAP currently being piloted at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; CUNY Start/Math Start, pre-matriculation programs designed to eliminate or significantly reduce remedial need in the areas of reading, writing, and math before students enter CUNY degree programs; CUNY Educate, Develop, Graduate, and Empower (EDGE), a degree completion program for public assistance recipients; CUNY Literacy and Language Programs, which deliver basic education, high school equivalency instruction, and intensive English language instruction to students across 14 CUNY colleges; and the Fostering College Success Initiative (FCSI), a new residential program with wraparound support services for foster care youth pursuing CUNY degrees. AVC Linderman oversees ASAP’s national replication efforts through provision of technical assistance for community colleges outside of CUNY who aim to replicate ASAP. She also provides leadership within CUNY Academic Affairs including support for initiatives focused on academic momentum and timely degree completion.

AVC Linderman is regularly asked to speak at national conferences on community college completion, and her written work has appeared in several education journals and conference proceedings. She was formerly the University Director of the CUNY Middle Grades Initiative/GEAR UP program, served as an Assistant Professor of Theater and Education at Brooklyn College, and has also taught at Lehman College. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in higher education administration at Northeastern University.

Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Team Organizational Chart

Bob Maruca, Associate University Provost for Planning

Robert Maruca

Associate University Provost for Planning

Office Phone: 646-664-8034
Email Address: [email protected]

Robert “Bob” Maruca is a career public servant and financial manager. As Associate University Provost for Planning at CUNY, he manages the offices of Academic Financial Planning, Teacher Education, Libraries, and Academic Communications. He is also overseeing the creation of the new office of Health and Human Services. Bob co-leads two major strategic framework committees, one related to technology and operations and that is attempting to update CUNY’s economic model. Read More

Prior to coming to CUNY in 2011, Bob spent 15 years in New York City government. He served at the Office of Management and Budget for seven years and the Department of Correction for eight years. As the Deputy Commissioner of Budget, Management, and Planning at DOC from 2003 until 2011, he served as the chief financial officer of the 10,000-person organization and was responsible for the design, construction, and rehabilitation of the city jail system. His major accomplishments included: developing a ten-year facilities master plan, converting the Rikers Island boiler plant to a 15-megawatt cogeneration facility (which has saved an estimated $7 million per year in energy costs and reduced carbon emissions by at least 25 percent), overseeing the creation of an online overtime management system, and creating the financial model used in the nation’s first social impact bond.

Bob has a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Columbia University.

Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management, Denise Maybank.

Denise B. Maybank

Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

Email Address: [email protected]

Dr. Denise B. Maybank is the recently appointed Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management for the City University of New York. In this role, she assumes responsibility for unifying the Student Affairs and Enrollment Management functions of the university’s Central Office to guide the work of supporting student engagement from recruitment through to completion and beyond. Read More

Prior to joining CUNY, she served as the Vice President and Associate Provost for Student Affairs and Services at Michigan State University (MSU). During her 15-year tenure at MSU, she served in progressive leadership roles, beginning as an Associate Vice President in 2005. Dr. Maybank contributed to significant initiatives structuring the undergraduate experience, developed partnerships with the Graduate School and colleges to initiate the Graduate Student Life and Wellness emphasis, and she conceived and implemented lasting innovative programs and services.
Throughout her career, she has been a member of professional associations representing the disciplines and contexts in which she serves. She is a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) Board of Directors, representing the Council on Student Affairs; she values the opportunities to have her voice and expertise included in national initiatives on higher education. As an active member of the communities in which she lives, she has served on various boards of directors for civic and social service organizations, often being elected to leadership positions. She is also an active member of her church community and sorority.

A lifelong learner, Dr. Maybank has earned additional credentials as an educational leader through the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the Harvard Institute for Educational Management. She holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Michigan State University and a MA in Educational Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Maybank is a proud CUNY alumna, having earned a BA in Elementary Education from Brooklyn College.

Annemarie Nicols-Grinenko, CUNY Office of Academic Affairs

Annemarie Nicols-Grinenko

University Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

Office Phone: 646-664-8068
Email Address: [email protected]

Dr. Nicols-Grinenko has been the University Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the Office of Academic Affairs at CUNY since July 2015. In this position, she works collaboratively with colleagues across the university to enhance faculty development, recognize faculty excellence in teaching, research and service, cultivate academic leadership and provide support on issues related to faculty recruitment and retention. Read More

Prior to this position, she spent eight years as Senior Advisor for Faculty Affairs in the Office of the Provost at Hunter College where she led faculty development efforts and supervised faculty tenure, promotion and reappointment processes. From 2010 to 2015, she served as Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that launched Hunter’s Undergraduate Research Initiative and from 2002 to 2011, she was Director for Programs and Research of Hunter’s Gender Equity Project (GEP) and Co-PI on one of the NSF grants that funded the GEP. In her work on these NSF-funded projects, Dr. Nicols-Grinenko worked to advance and support faculty and students in the sciences and mathematics, particularly women and other groups typically underrepresented in these fields.

Prior to her administrative work, Dr. Nicols-Grinenko served as an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Hunter College. Dr. Nicols-Grinenko is a cognitive psychologist who received her Ph.D. from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Christopher Rosa, Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Christopher Rosa

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Inclusion Initiatives

Office Phone: 646-664-8759
Email Address: [email protected]

Dr. Christopher Rosa serves as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Inclusion Initiatives. Leveraging CUNY’s historic access mission and abiding commitment to inclusion as a core value, Dr. Rosa leads the Office of Student Inclusion Initiatives, which is responsible for promoting the full participation in all aspects of University life for student communities that have historically been underrepresented at CUNY. These communities include undocumented & immigrant students, LGBTQI+ students, student veterans, women, students with disabilities, and students from different faith traditions. Read More

Prior to leading the Office of Student Inclusion Initiatives, Dr. Rosa served Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for three years. Previously, Dr. Rosa served as the CUNY’s Assistant Dean for Student Affairs for eight years. He also served as the Central Office’s Director of Student Affairs, where he was responsible for administrative leadership of key student service areas including Student Activities, Mental Health and Wellness Services, International Student and Scholars Services, Veterans Services, Child Care, Women’s Centers, and Career Services.

Dr. Rosa joined the CUNY Office of Student Affairs in 2004 after 11 years of experience at his alma mater, Queens College. While at Queens, Rosa served as Director of Services for Students with Disabilities and Director of the college’s Student Support Services Program, following time spent as the 504/ADA Compliance Officer, Affirmative Action Officer, and Student Disciplinary Officer. While Dr. Rosa has diverse, broad-based student development experience, he is best known at CUNY for his nationally recognized work on behalf of inclusive higher education opportunities for students with disabilities, and he has secured more than $12 million in external funding to support efforts in this area. These include the highly acclaimed CUNY LEADS program, which transitions CUNY graduates with disabilities to competitive employment at more than twice the national average, and more recently, the establishment of model inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual disabilities at CUNY, through funding from the U.S. Department of Education.

A published disability studies scholar, Dr. Rosa serves in national leadership roles for organizations that promote access and wellness for Americans with Disabilities, including the Executive Committee for the U.S. President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Board of Directors.

Tamera Schneider, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at The City University of New York

Tamera Schneider

Associate Vice Chancellor for Research

Office Phone: 646-664-8910
Email Address: [email protected]

Tamera Schneider is Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at the City University of New York, overseeing the Offices of Central Programs, Research Administration and Compliance, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The Office of Research team promotes and supports the research, scholarly, and creative pursuits of the CUNY community, provides assurance to funding agencies and to the public that research at the University is conducted in accordance with the highest ethical standards, and enhances technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and economic development activities. Read More

Before joining CUNY Dr. Schneider was Deputy Division Director for Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences at that National Science Foundation and Professor of Psychology at Wright State University. Her research is often conducted across academic disciplines, such as combining her stress and emotion psychophysiological expertise with remote sensing to assess the human state, applying her biobehavioral model of persuasion to promote cancer screening or extreme weather-related behaviors in municipalities, and applying persuasion and affect research to develop effective implicit bias training and develop emotional competency curricula for STEM teams to foster innovation. She has been a PI/Co-PI on over $5 million in extramural funding, has received numerous teaching and research awards, including Wright State University’s Presidential Award for Faculty Excellence in Early Career Achievement in 2004, and has over 53 publications and 150 presentations. Her Ph.D. is from Stony Brook University and her postdoctoral fellowship was at Yale University.

Andrea Soonachan, University Dean, K-16 Initiatives

Andrea Soonachan

University Dean for K-16 Initiatives

Office Phone: 718-254-7694
Email Address: [email protected]

As University Dean for K-16 Initiatives in the Office of Academic Affairs, Andrea supports partnership between the City University of New York (CUNY) and the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) to help ensure that entering undergraduates are prepared for success, starting with early education and assisting them up to and through college. Read More

K-16 Initiatives covers a wide range of programs, including College Now, the largest dual enrollment program in the country; the Lessons in Navigating College Transitions (LINCT) program, which aims to reduce the need for remediation in college by addressing English and math gaps in 12th grade; a network of 22 early college high schools; CUNY Prep, a nationally recognized college preparatory school for out-of-school youth; CUNY Tutor Corps, which trains CUNY students to work in middle and high school STEM classrooms; the New York City Science and Engineering Fair; College Bridge for All, the Creative Arts Team and other partnership programs between New York City schools and the University.

Andrea’s career includes service in the Office of Post-Secondary Readiness at the New York City Department of Education, most recently as Executive Director of College and Career Planning.  At NYCDOE, she founded and designed the College Access for All initiative, developing a strategic vision and policy agenda for increasing postsecondary access and success for New York City public school students. Andrea most recently served as Deputy Director of Career Readiness at New Visions for Public Schools, where she led the development of network-wide strategy to support student success and completion at 80 New Visions schools throughout the City.  She launched her career at Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, where, as the Director of College Success Programs, she managed higher education access and retention programs, and where she had also served as Education Director and as Director of Youth and Family Services. In addition, as Dean of Youth Development and Strategic Partnerships for Cypress Hills Collegiate Prep, Andrea led the planning team and school design process for a new public high school. She has also conducted research examining policy and practices that support increased access and success among community college students at the Community College Research Center at Columbia University.

Andrea holds an Ed.D. in higher education from Teachers College, Columbia University, an M.A. in education from Stanford University, and a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College

Rachel Stephenson, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships

Rachel Stephenson

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Strategy and Operations / Chief of Staff

Office Phone: 646-664-8001
Email Address: [email protected]

Rachel Stephenson began her tenure as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Strategy and Operations/ Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost on July 1, 2019. In this role, she is a thought leader and partner who works with senior leadership and affiliated administrative and deliberative bodies of the Office of Academic Affairs to advance the Executive Vice Chancellor’s strategic and operational priorities. Read More

Rachel served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships from June 2017 through June 2019. In this role, she drove a range of University-wide priorities and initiatives focused on campus climate, diversity, equity and inclusion. She also played a major role in CUNY Health for Academic Success & Engagement (CHASE), an initiative urging University stakeholders to address the link between student wellbeing and academic success, as well as CUNY Service Corps Puerto Rico, a program that, in partnership with Governor Cuomo, has sent hundreds of CUNY students and staff to rebuild in Puerto Rico since summer 2018. In addition, Rachel facilitated projects aiming to serve undocumented students at CUNY, improve access to college for adult students and map the transfer process.

Prior to her role as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships, Rachel was the founding university director of the CUNY Service Corps (2013), TheDream.US Scholarship Program (2014), the Program for DREAMers at CUNY (2015) and the CUNY Cultural Corps (2016). She began her professional life at CUNY in continuing education and workforce development supporting the design and implementation of innovative and holistic programs, including Jefferson Houses Jobs-Plus (2009).

Before joining CUNY in 2009, Rachel worked as an educator and program director in NYC-based college-access, youth development, and community-serving organizations, including the Central Park Conservancy and Legal Outreach, Inc. She was also a language arts middle school teacher.

Outside of her recent work at CUNY, Rachel has written and spoken about grief after giving a TEDx talk called “Against Grieving in Silence” in 2015 in New York City. Rachel has a B.A. in English (summa cum laude) from Trinity University and an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Columbia University. She lives in Queens, New York, with her husband and three daughters.

Director, Office of Policy Research, Sarah Truelsch

Sarah Truelsch

Director of Policy Research

Office Phone: 646-664-8141
Email Address: [email protected]

Sarah Truelsch is CUNY’s Director of Policy Research. She is one of the lead architects of CUNY’s comprehensive remediation reform plan and on the leadership team of CUNY’s Strong Start to Finish grant for developmental education reform. She also leads CUNY’s data sharing and collaborative research work with the New York City Department of Education and the Research Alliance for New York City Schools. Read More

In addition to her work defining college readiness and increasing college access, her other current research projects include work related to transfer students, adult learners, academic momentum, financial aid policies and student diversity.

Before joining CUNY in 2010, she was a Research Associate at the American Institutes for Research at New American Schools and a consultant for the New York City Department of Education. She has an MPA from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago.

Vivek Updahyay

Vivek Upadhyay

University Executive Registrar

Email Address: [email protected]

Vivek Upadhyay is the University Executive Registrar, wherein he is responsible for overseeing and managing university wide enrollment management policies and procedures, and recommend changes to system and processes, to ensure the most accurate, efficient and prompt service and support for students, faculty and staff. Read More

He directly supervises the Office of University Registrar, Office of Admissions Services, and Office of Student Financial Aid, engaged in activities related to implementation of consistent, equitable university policies that respect the diversity and needs of our colleges, applicants, students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community. Enrollment Management supports the facilitation of efficient services and processes that incorporate technology with an emphasis on customer service and continuously assess system performance, in order for the University to remain in the forefront of quality customer service, successful deployment of technology, and effective leadership. Mr. Upadhyay career spans a period of over 19 years of distinguished public service in enrollment management. He was appointed University Executive Registrar in July 2016 after serving in three other key positions at CUNY: University Director of Enrollment Operations (from 2015 to 2016), University Director of Student Records (from 2013 to 2015) and Deputy University Registrar (from 2012 to 2013).

At CUNY, Mr. Upadhyay has been instrumental in the development and implementation of University wide policies to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. Under his leadership, the Office of University Registrar has continually generated operational and financial efficiencies, in the areas of student records management, across the University. These accomplishments include achieving reductions in administrative spending and implementing shared services models for the university in the areas of Transfer Credit automation, NY State Excelsior Verification, NSLDS Enrollment reporting and HEOA compliance.
Before becoming University Deputy Registrar, Mr. Upadhyay served at the Office of Computing Services (CIS) (from 2010 to 2012 ) as Change Management Associate, spearheading training for end users and conversion/implementation from legacy systems to CUNYfirst (PeopleSoft). Prior to that, he worked at Queens College as Senior Academic Advisor (from 2008 – 2010), Training and Change management independent consultant (from 2003 to 2008), and Student Support Manager (from 2000 to 2003) at Queens College. He teaches undergraduate and graduate Computer Architecture and Networking courses at Queens College.

Lucinda Rhea Zoe, University Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Academic Affairs

Lucinda R. Zoe

Senior University Dean and Vice Provost of Academic Programs and Policy

Office Phone: 646-664-8055
Email Address: [email protected]

Lucinda Zoe has served as a University Dean at The City University of New York since September 2012. In her current position as Senior University Dean and Vice Provost of Academic Programs and Policy, she manages the work of the Office of Undergraduate Studies, Academic Programs & Policy. Read More

Prior to assuming her role as University Dean, Dr. Zoe served as a faculty member in the library department at Baruch College from 1994 to 2001. She subsequently served as Chief Librarian and Department Chair at Hostos Community College from 2001-2010, her last two years in the position of Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Zoe is also a member of the faculty at Hunter College where she served as Associate Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs from 2010-2012. With 20 years of experience on CUNY campuses, Dr. Zoe has developed a deep understanding of and appreciation for CUNY campus life and culture, as well as a great respect for the diversity and identity of each unique college.

Her research and professional interests focus on information technology management in higher education, educational technology training and development, academic readiness, retention and information literacy; and faculty leadership and curricular design. Before her arrival at CUNY, Dr. Zoe served as Assistant Director and Research Associate for the Center for Business and Economic Research in the College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Zoe received her Doctorate in Library and Information Science from Columbia University and earned her Master’s in Library and Information Science (MLIS) as well as a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Kentucky.

Undergraduate Studies, Academic Programs and Policy Organizational Chart

Members of the Senior Leadership Team of the Office of Academic Affairs

Lauren Andersen

Lauren Andersen

University Dean of Industry and Talent Partnerships

Email Address: [email protected]

Lauren Andersen is the University Dean of Industry and Talent Partnerships at the City University of New York. In this role, she leads the University’s efforts to ensure postgraduate career success of CUNY students and support the recovery and growth of New York’s inclusive economy. Prior to assuming this role in July 2021, Lauren was the Executive Director of the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline (TTP), Mayor Bill de Blasio’s signature initiative to support the growth of the tech ecosystem by delivering quality talent for the city’s businesses and quality jobs for New Yorkers. Read More

As head of the City’s tech industry partnership, she worked with the city’s leading tech employers, academic institutions, and training providers to support new and expanded education solutions and to ensure long-term alignment of workforce needs and educational opportunities through policy and partnerships. These efforts included the launch of a $24M initiative — CUNY 2x Tech — which successfully doubled the number of tech bachelors awarded across CUNY and improved the rate of employment among computer science graduates at seven senior colleges. As a part of these efforts, CUNY also launched the Tech-in-Residence Corps (TIRC), a group of industry professionals (from 60+ companies including Google, LinkedIn, Salesforce) who commit to teaching for-credit electives on in-demand technologies across 10 colleges. To date, TIRC has enrolled over 3,000 students across CUNY. Prior to working for the City of New York, Lauren served as a Policy Advisor in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where she worked on initiatives to broaden participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and served as liaison to the White House Council on Women and Girls. Her previous work experience also includes positions on the Youth Economic Opportunity team at Citi Foundation, the Obama for America campaign in Florida, and a variety of digital and broadcast media outlets. Lauren received her Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, and an MPA from Columbia University.

Sunday F. Coward, University Dean for Special Programs

Sunday F. Coward

University Dean of Special Programs

Office Phone: 646-664-8852
Email Address: [email protected]

Sunday F. Coward is University Dean of Special Programs. In her new capacity as University Dean of Special Programs, she will be responsible for the stewardship of key CUNY-wide programs that increase, encourage and support the inclusion and educational success of underrepresented groups in higher education. These programs include the Percy Ellis Sutton Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) and College Discovery (CD) opportunity programs, the CUNY Black Male Initiative (BMI), the Single Stop College Initiative, CUNY’s TRIO programs, and the CUNY Foster Youth College Success Initiative, Youth Matter. Read More

Ms. Coward brings more than 30 years of higher education experience to her new position as University Dean of Special Programs. She holds a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University as well as a Master of Science in Education in School Counseling from St. John’s University. Prior to assuming this new position, Ms. Coward served as Assistant Dean of Academic Services at Stony Brook University (2016-2019), Director of the Percy Ellis Sutton SEEK Program at Hunter College (2012-2016), Assistant Dean of Academic Success Programs in the Center for Student Advising/Division of Student Affairs at Columbia University (2001-2012), and Director of the Upward Bound Program and the Upward Bound Math & Science Program at Hofstra University (1997-2001).

Michael Guy, Interim University Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies

G. Michael Guy

University Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies

Office Phone: 646-664-9111
Email Address: [email protected]

In his role as University Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Guy collaborates with various divisions within the Central Office and with CUNY’s Campuses to develop, implement, and evaluate initiatives aimed at improving student learning outcomes, increasing retention and graduation rates, and providing the highest quality educational opportunities both within and outside of the classroom. Read More

Michael participates in and leads initiatives aimed at improving student assessment and instructional supports for developmental education at CUNY. He actively participates in university-wide seminars and conferences, and sits on as well as chairs, multiple committees dedicated to CUNY’s Coordinated Undergraduate Education Council, Centers for Teaching and Learning Council, University Skills Immersion Program Council, and several other ad-hoc committees.

Prior to joining OAA, Michael was an Associate Professor of Mathematics at CUNY’s Queensborough Community College. He earned a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Georgia. His primary research interests are “college-readiness” and student progression through post-secondary education, particularly at community colleges. He coauthored open educational resource mathematics texts, and has published research on pedagogy in college mathematics.

Ekaterina Sukhanova, University Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Ekaterina Sukhanova

University Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Office Phone: 646-664-8054
Email Address: [email protected]

Dr. Ekaterina Sukhanova heads the Office of Program Review, working closely with college faculty and administrators across the University on proposals for curricular changes, new degree programs, institutes and centers, from initial draft through CUNY board approval and state registration. Read More

Her office serves as a resource on curricular and related policy matters and reviews a variety of special faculty personnel actions. Dr. Sukhanova is also the principal liaison to the New York State Education Department.

She has published a scholarly monograph, a number of book chapters and peer-reviewed articles, and edited multiple collective volumes. She has been engaged in interdisciplinary research on cultural constructs of mental health and continues to curate exhibits of Art Brut around the world as a vehicle for fighting stigma. Dr. Sukhanova is a long-serving elected Vice President of the Section for Art and the Section for Literature of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA).

Patricia Simino Boyce, University Dean for Health and Human Services

Patricia Simino Boyce

University Dean for Health and Human Services

Office Phone: 646-664-8065
Email Address: [email protected]

Patricia Simino Boyce is CUNY’s University Dean for Health and Human Services (HHS).  She is responsible for a portfolio of more than 150 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs across CUNY’s 25 colleges and graduate schools, representing close to 50,000 enrolled students. Dr. Boyce provides strategic direction across CUNY’s HHS portfolio and collaborates with academic leadership, industry partners and key stakeholders to mobilize resources, best practices, partnerships and innovations to ensure distinction in CUNY’s academic programs and clinical experiences that drive career success for our students and meet industry needs for the healthcare, allied health, public health and human service fields. Read More

Dr. Boyce, a New York State Registered Nurse, started her professional career as a critical care nurse at Bellevue Hospital.  She has since held a series of progressive leadership positions in health care systems, state and federal government, and the private sector, including: New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, Ernst & Young Healthcare Consulting, New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

Dr. Boyce holds a Ph.D. in Medical Sociology from The Graduate Center, CUNY, as well as Master’s Degrees in Sociology (The Graduate Center), Community Health (Brooklyn College, CUNY), Nursing Education (New York University), and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Hunter College, CUNY).

Ashleigh Thompson, University Dean for Education

Ashleigh Thompson

University Dean for Education

Office Phone: 646-664-8151
Email Address: [email protected]

Ashleigh Thompson is CUNY’s University Dean for Education. She oversees Teacher Education across CUNY, a portfolio encompassing more than 18,000 education students pursuing associate to doctoral degrees. Dr. Thompson convenes the Deans and Chairs from CUNY’s Schools and Departments of Education, creating and implementing University-wide strategy for teacher preparation both internally and with outside partners. Read More

Dean Thompson directs many CUNY-wide education initiatives, including NYC Men Teach, an engagement and recruitment effort of the Mayor’s Office aimed to inspire more men of color to become teachers in New York City. She is also Principal Investigator on CUNY’s NYC Teaching Fellows partnership with the NYC Department of Education. Dr. Thompson represents CUNY on boards and committees across the University, City and State.

Dr. Thompson has also served as University Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Prior to this, she was Deputy to the University Dean for Health and Human Services, and Deputy Director of the JFK, Jr. Institute at CUNY, promoting workforce development initiatives responding to health reform, labor market trends, and evidence-based research. Dr. Thompson has taught graduate coursework, presented and published, especially in the interdisciplinary fields of Disability Studies and Youth Studies. She is also a 2016 Fulbright recipient for France.

Before coming to CUNY in 2003, Dr. Thompson taught at an independent middle school for economically-disadvantaged girls in New York City’s Lower East Side, and she has also worked at several community-based nonprofits serving youth.

Dr. Thompson received her B.A. in English and Spanish from the University of Notre Dame, her M.S.A. in Nonprofit Administration from Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, and a Ph.D. in Urban Education specializing in Policy Studies from The Graduate Center, CUNY.