A Message from the President

Dear Friends & Supporters,

Happy New Year! We just closed out another highly productive year, and I am filled with pride for the incredible accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff. 

In this edition of Press from the Prez, you will read about the historic success of our Giving Tuesday campaign, which resulted in the highest gifts ever raised. We are deeply grateful to each of our new and returning donors for your generous contributions to student success. 

You will also find inspiring stories of students like Keoni, Ejatu, Milo and Nicolli, whose research interests have led them to participate in the NY-LSAMP initiative. Additionally, our Phi Theta Kappa (Beta Phi Gamma) chapter is exemplifying the true spirit of community colleges, leading by example with their dedication and passion. There are also stories celebrating retirements and MORE. 

As we begin this new year, we do so with optimism and a belief in the power of collective action. While we may not have all the answers, we know that when we come together with hope and determination, we can transform lives for the better. 

Wishing you a wonderful and productive new year, and remember—the best is yet to come! 

Warmly, 

Dr. Larry D. Johnson, Jr. ("Dr. J")

Happy New Year from Dr. Johnson

Transfer Exploration with Hunter College Leadership

On 12/17, Drs. Larry Johnson and Paul Refeinheiser, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, traveled to Hunter College to explore partnerships that will allow students to transfer seamlessly from select Guttman programs.

Touring One Police Plaza

On 12/4, Dr. Johnson was invited by Rev. Dr. Chris Williams to tour One Police Plaza where he explored opportunities to collaborate in support of student success. Detective Williams introduced the president to NYPD Officer Chajdon Monestine, Lt. Patrick Gordon and Officer Shellona Duncan.

Gaining Strategic Insight

Dr. Johnson, along with Elisa Hertz, assistant dean of institutional effectiveness and strategic planning, Sasha Ortiz, associate director of assessment and academic affairs, and Dr. Paul Reifenheiser, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, attended the annual Middle States Commission on Higher Education conference 12/11-13 in Philadelphia to gain insight supporting the College’s accreditation reaffirmation goals.

Guttman-LSAMP: Next Generation STEM Explorers

Remember these names: Ejatu, Milo, Keoni and Nicolli.

Chances are, you’ll be hearing about these students who are on track to becoming “the next generation STEM discoverers,” according to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Guttman’s Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) 2024-25 Fellows (clockwise from top left) Ejatu Jalloh (LAS- AA), Emiliano “Milo” Corte (SCI-AS), Keoni Quiroz (IT- AAS), and Nicolli Mesquita (SCI-AS) were chosen to take part in NYC-LSAMP, a 2018 alliance of 11 CUNY schools that was awarded $3.97M by the NSF to provide rewarding research experiences and faculty-mentored training in science, technology, mathematics and engineering for promising students.

Named after Louis Stokes, the first African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio and served 15 consecutive terms, LSAMP was created for underrepresented undergraduates in the nation's colleges and universities to further the country’s STEM enterprise. Read more.

Honor Society Hosts Spirit Week for College Project 

Members of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society collaborate with campus administrators to plan a yearly college project supporting the College mission. This year, Guttman’s Beta Phi Gamma PTK chapter organized "Spirit Week: Putting the Community in Community College" from 12/3 to 12/7 with themed activities to foster belonging. Determined that they wanted their project to cultivate a sense of belonging among all undergraduates, Guttman’s Beta Phi Gamma PTK chapter planned a 12/3-12/7 “Spirit Week: Putting the Community in Community College” with daily, themed activities.  

Monday’s Faculty Facts Bingo aimed to strengthen student-faculty bonds, while Tuesday featured a career panel and networking. Wednesday’s campus scavenger hunt introduced students to various services, and Thursday showcased student-created talent through recorded performances and live acts. The week wrapped up with a gingerbread house competition and movie night on Friday. The event was a success thanks to Beta Phi Gamma officers Lanasia White, Campbell Brice, Sabrina Qiu, Ejatu Jalloh and Safiya Richardson.

Notes From the Field:

Guttman’s Innovative Human Services Practicum 

Preparing interns for meaningful careers that address human needs, improve and transform lives through prevention and remediation is the work of every member of Guttman’s Human Services (HSVC) program. Its distinctive, multilayered system of support for pre-professional students from the classroom to their myriad field placement sites across the city was cited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) for the faculty and staff’s experience, scholarship and ethos. Guttman is only one of two nationally accredited human services programs in the state of New York. Read more.

Time, Place & Manner Reminder

Under the leadership of Dr. Danny Ambrose, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, Guttman has adopted campus-based procedures to ensure that First Amendment rights are supported, while establishing protocols that will support and protect learners, employees and visitors. 

All In for #GuttmanGivingTuesday  

This year’s Giving Tuesday campaign united the Guttman community in a powerful display of generosity, raising over $22,000 from 66 donors—the largest in the College’s history. Senior Advisor for Partnerships, Alumni Engagement, and Development Robert Pagan called it “a celebration of unity and shared purpose.” The campaign’s success was amplified by heartfelt video appeals from students, alumni and staff, along with the efforts of our Marketing and Communications team. Thanks to all who made this possible!

New Grizzlies Accepted 

The possibility of an “on the spot” acceptance was much anticipated for future Grizzlies at the 12/3 Admissions-sponsored event. “Seeing prospective college students’ excitement and hope was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. Community colleges are more than institutions of learning — they are gateways to opportunity,” said Director of Admissions and Access Sophea Sainsurin. Congratulations to all our newly accepted students!

No “Long Winter’s Nap” Here!  

The Office of the President hosted the annual holiday party “Winter Jam” on 12/5 for hard-working faculty and staff. With delicious food, music and a festive pajama theme, a few karaoke stars were born!  

Creative Break Before Finals 

Students of LGBTQ+ Stonewall Club partnered with Guttman’s Counseling and Wellness Center to offer a 12/5 art therapy workshop to unwind, reduce stress, boost creativity and improve focus prior to exam week.

Poets of the Caribbean 

A collaboration between Student Life and Academic Affairs, Guttman’s End-of-year Poetry Night on 12/6 highlighted Caribbean culture, showcasing local artists including faculty Tau Battice and former Guttman staff Carlos Iros while raising awareness about the importance of education, particularly in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Keeping Up with Peer Leaders 

Information, inspiration, perspiration and celebration! You name it, Peer Leadership was all about it in December. On 12/9 peer leaders from multiple divisions across campus, such as Student Government Association, Admissions and AccessABILITY participated in SNoWHuGE (Secret Nondenominational Winter Holiday Gift Exchange). On 12/10 they hosted a pop-up workout session to get active, and the United Men of Color enjoyed informal conversation and connection at a Barbershop Talk.

Alumna Receives Prestigious  CUNY Award 

On 12/10, alumna Samantha Ruiz Correa ’24 was recognized by the Belle Zeller Scholarship Trust for her outstanding academic achievement and remarkable service-leadership to the Guttman community. Senior Advisor for Partnerships, Alumni Engagement and Development Robert Pagan graciously accepted the award on her behalf. Ruiz-Correa received a $5000 scholarship — a new award named for the late Professor Helga Feder, a librarian at the CUNY Graduate Center’s Mina Rees Library, whose estate left a generous bequest for the Belle Zeller Scholarship Fund and the university’s talented students that it supports.

Financial Aid Assistance,

Step by Step

Students connected with Jessica Portilla, financial aid advisor, to check the status of their financial aid, complete their application and submit required documents on 12/12, one of three financial aid workshops Guttman held in December. Staff assisted all students, answered questions and provided guidance through the entire application process.

Dr. Knight Appointed as VP of Strategy and Chief of Staff

On 12/17, Dr. Rosslyn Knight was appointed vice president of strategy and chief of staff, a role that empowers her to lead key institutional priorities the College has identified in its strategic plan as well as continuing to shape policies, practices and procedures in coordination with the President’s Cabinet. Guttman congratulates Dr. Knight! Read more.

Presenters Show Guttman Spirit at CUNY IT Conference 

Guttman professionals from Institutional Research, Information Services and Academic Affairs collaborated for their presentation at the 2024 CUNY IT Conference on 12/6 at John Jay College. Nyssa Hasan, Elisa Hertz, Christopher Eng, and Sasha Ortiz presented “SPIRIT! Supporting Progress with Institutional Research & Information Technology.” The presenters showcased Guttman’s SAGE planning and assessment tool, which was developed from a successful IR/IT collaboration.

Teaching Awardee 

The New York Section of the American Chemical Society has chosen Dr. Ji Kim as the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Two-Year College Chemistry Teaching Award in recognition of her highly effective teaching and inspirational leadership of students in chemistry.

Fellowships Received 

College Now faculty Anna Grevenitis and Pre-College Advisor/FYS Instructor Bob Sodikkhujaev were accepted to the 2024-25 CUNY K16 Pedagogy Fellowship. This selective, paid opportunity convenes instructors of CUNY dual enrollment courses from across the city to refine their teaching in service of maximizing the success of high school students enrolled in college courses.

Professor Jerald Isseks, who teaches AMST 103 - Introduction to Social Justice and AMST 203 - Civic Engagement in a Global Society, has won a 2025 CUNY Adjunct Incubator Fellowship with the Public Scholarship Practice Space at the Center for the Humanities, highlighting his critical and community-engaged scholarship and teaching, including experiential learning with students examining decarceral organizing in Chinatown.

Retirement Recognition

CIO: John Stroud retired from his role as associate vice president for technology & information services in December. Stroud led Guttman’s Information Technology and Systems since November 2012 and helped drive strategic planning and accreditation. “One of my greatest achievements was building the Information Services office, realizing my vision for efficient and effective service delivery."

Registrar: After 10 years of dedication and service to Guttman, Marisol Cortes will be retiring from CUNY in Spring 2025. We are grateful for her contributions and her steady leadership as registrar. Marisol will continue to serve in this role as we seek her successor, ensuring a thoughtful transition.

Faculty: Math Professor Rebecca Walker has retired after a total of 39 years in the classroom! She arrived to Guttman in 2012 when the College opened, and colleagues decorated the classroom to surprise her for her very last class on December 10. “I am most proud of the times when I have helped students to better believe in themselves and in their ability to reason quantitatively."

Best Wishes for New Ventures 

Director of IT: Robert P. Klein, who for 13 years has directed the College’s Office of Information Technology, will be leaving Guttman after 13 years to lead the IT Infrastructure and Security division for a national corporation. Among other contributions, Robert has created and supervised a commendable team of IT HelpDesk professionals.

Interim Dean of Academic Innovation & Career Success: Over 21 months, Curtis Dann-Messier brought a wealth of knowledge and connections to his role here at Guttman, including charting out the workforce direction of the CCPP (Center for Career Preparation and Partnerships) and Career Innovation Hub initiatives and writing grants to fund strategic goals.

At the close of the semester amid papers and finals, we asked current students what they like to do when they’re not studying. Here's what two students do for fun. 

The College appreciates the Petrie Foundation's generous donation of $75,000 to support student emergency grants, helping students stay on track with their education during unforeseen challenges.

Fine Tuning with Marcos Fermin, Guttman Class of 2017

Graduating from Guttman in 2017 with a 3.9 GPA, Marcos has since earned 13 different specialty certificates.

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