A Message from the President

Dear Colleagues & Supporters:

Welcome to the latest edition of Press from the Prez! 

This past month at Guttman has been filled with excitement as we welcomed the vibrant fall foliage in Bryant Park, marking a beautiful seasonal change in the space we consider our “quad.”

In this issue, you’ll discover more about our "Bright Futures Start Here" campaign as we prepare for Giving Tuesday. We’re thrilled to share stories from our students, faculty and staff about their experiences and how you can help support the transformative education Guttman provides current and future students.

I also want to welcome to our campus Jewel Jones, Guttman’s newly appointed chief diversity officer. Jones will lead one of our key strategic priorities: Pillar #1, Elevating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. 

We recently concluded Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of engaging events organized by Student Life and leadership. As a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, we are immensely proud to celebrate the cultural contributions of our community. Additionally, Guttman student leaders are actively encouraging their peers to register and vote, emphasizing the importance of their participation in local, state and national elections. Finally, check out PIX11 New York Living's fantastic segment featuring Guttman Community College!

Guttman continues to be a place where students can pursue their dreams, and we’re excited to highlight the best of who we are.

Sincerely,

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

Guttman launched its #GuttmanGivingTuesday campaign, “Bright Futures Start Here: Contribute to Student Success.” This dynamic initiative showcases Guttman’s unwavering commitment to student success focusing on raising vital funds for five mission-critical areas: Student Success, Scholarships, the Connect Center, United Men of Color and Women of GRIT. Make an impact today – to make a gift, visit guttman.cuny.edu/give.

President’s Speaker Series

Dyjuan Tatro, government affairs officer and alumnus of the Bard Prison Initiative, spoke with President Johnson at the 10/10 President’s Speaker Series, about how he leverages his education and experience to shift public policy in favor of expanding college in prison.

Inaugural Board Retreat

Guttman Community College Foundation Board members, led by Board Chair Andre White and joined by Dr. Johnson and Senior Advisor for Partnerships, Alumni Engagement and Development Robert Pagan, for the first annual retreat 10/11 at the CUNY Board Committee Room. Participants were reinvigorated in their commitment to the College and ideated potential deliverables for the year ahead to inform their efforts in the coming months.

Advising Aspiring Community College Leaders

On 10/14, Dr. Johnson was invited by the Thomas Lakin Institute for Mentored Leaders to address aspiring community college presidents around the U.S. on the topic, “Leveraging Socia Media in Higher Education,” an event sponsored by the Presidents' Round Table in Harford, Conn.

President Delivers Keynote

“Cultivating Inclusive Excellence: Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in Higher Education” was the theme of the 10/18 keynote President Johnson delivered to higher education practitioners gathered at Mercer County Community College for their 2024 fall conference.

A 2024 Power Player

PoliticsNY and amNY Metro chose President Johnson for their annual list, published on 10/30, of community leaders who are shaping the future of the city and the state in its 2024 Power Players in Education.

UMOC: Belonging, Growing, Learning and Leading

Affiliated with the 19-years old CUNY Black Male Initiative, Guttman’s United Men of Color (UMOC) program has fueled men of color with brotherhood and self-awareness through mentoring and fortifying academic skills since the group began at the college. UMOC members engage in character-building through community and sociocultural dialogue through a rich array of workshops, service, cultural and recreational opportunities offered throughout each semester. Read more.

Four Questions for Dr. Paul Reifenheiser, Guttman’s New Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Since joining the college this summer, what would you say differentiates Guttman from other community colleges? 

Guttman intentionally sees itself as different, and that differentiates us. We don’t see ourselves as a smaller version of bigger schools. Something in the DNA of the place demands that you see it as unique, even as something for others to envy in approach. We want to be the school others look at and say “Oh… I wish we could do that for our students.” That brings wonderful possibilities to dream big and to take risks. Of course, it is very important to be open to learning from other institutions, but there is something liberatingly wonderful about being at a school that sees itself as sui generis not just because of location or size but because of its model. 

Read the full interview.

New Technology Takes Campus Beautification To the Next Level

Students and faculty in our sixth-floor classrooms are taking advantage of brand-new, state-of-the-art technology that is improving the teaching and learning experience this fall semester. The classrooms are equipped with new laptop carts, movable seating and smart lecterns, and they're designed for both in-person and online classes. Additionally, modern directory signage has been installed on each floor. The new technology is the latest in a series of beautification efforts that have included fresh coats of paint, new Guttman branding and office signage around campus and new furniture for students to enjoy.

Chief of Staff Dr. Rosslyn Knight was welcomed by Guttman partner Wayne Ho, president and chief executive officer of the Chinese American Planning Council (CPC), at the CPC’s 10/3 Fall Fest, celebrated in their new Lower East Side space, CPC One. Featured speakers discussed their work in the community from providing support for food insecurity to access to health and wellness. Featured speakers discussed community support for food insecurity, health and wellness access, including a student who shared CPC’s direct impact.

On 10/10, student Marc-Aurele Eboa Ebongue, SGA secretary and delegate to the University Student Senate, and Guttman Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Danny Ambrose participated in “Brave Solutions Fueling our Economic Future,” a GlobalMindED convening sponsored by the Foundation for the Support of the United Nations.

With October focusing on Domestic & Workplace Violence Awareness, Campus Public Safety Captain Rufus Mathias and his team continue to make Guttman a safe space, educating the community on intimate partner violence, psychological bullying and stalking.

The Guttman Media Group student club explored the advantages of creating a photo book with professional photographer Professor Valdon (Tau) Battice on 10/10. (Photo credit: Isaac Manwaring)

Five Guttman science students joined Dr. Ji Kim at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing on 10/13 to celebrate 2024 National Chemistry Week.

On 10/15, Guttman’s HR team raised $334 with a community bake sale toward the $2,383 total for the 10/20 “Making Strides for Breast Cancer” Walk at Central Park. With annual college participation led by Assistant Director for Employee Services Nicole Paige and her HR peers, this year’s 20-member team enjoyed the four-mile walk for a good cause.

The Live and Learn Library and Career Development Series offered three days of collaboration on 10/15, 10/17 and 10/29 between New York Public Library, Guttman Business, IT and Human Services departments, and Guttman’s Career Innovation Hub. Students were introduced to NYPL’s career services, obtained library cards and took part in mock interviews, resume and cover letter construction. NYPL staff provided participants with personalized feedback at the nearby Stavros Niarchos Library.

An annual highlight of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, the 10/17 Conexiones networking panel sponsored by the Center for Career Preparation and Partnership and Student Life offices introduced Grizzlies to successful Guttman Latinx alumni. Students asked questions about transfer, careers, majors and work-life balance. The young professionals also promoted their employers’ current internships and part- or full-time time opportunities.

During CUNY Free Application Month (10/21-11/15), Guttman’s Marketing and Communications office launched an awareness and recruitment campaign highlighting each of the College's academic programs. A series of social media ads inspire potential applicants to "Be the Future" of accounting, business administration, health information technology, etc. Streaming ads will reinforce the campaign with audio messages across iHeartMedia radio and podcasts. 

With 75% of Guttman graduates transferring to CUNY or non-CUNY bachelor's degree programs within two years of earning an associate degree, Diana Zechowski, associate director of advising and transfer, and Nico Acosta, transfer support specialist, hosted visiting senior colleges and provided scholarship information during October’s National Transfer Student Week.

On 10/24, immigrant students connected with one another to share experiences and access resources to enhance their academic success at the Guttman Stands with Immigrants event. Participants enjoyed lunch, contributed to a community mural and participated in an interactive workshop facilitated by First Gen Empower, "Navigating College as a First Gen and Immigrant Student.”

We asked current students what they're studying, what they like to do for fun and what it takes to succeed in college. Here's what they had to say.

Faculty Tom Martin, Ph.D. and karen g. williams, P.hD.’s article, Ethnography from Home: Adapting Fieldwork Methods Instruction During the COVID-19 Lockdown, was published in “The Teachers College Record,” Volume 126 Issue 6-7.

Dr. Cristina Harvey-Ortiz, director of Financial Aid, received a plaque from CUNY Vice Chancellor Reine Sarmiento on 10/10 in recognition of her dedication, teamwork, hard work and humor in meeting the challenges of the past federal financial aid delay.

Director of Learning Innovation Errol Olton is now managing the fourth year of Guttman’s five-year $2.9M Title V grant, “Project Adelante: Advancing Latinx and Underrepresented Students by Strengthening Financial Literacy, Transfer Performance & Career Preparation.” This year, a key focus will be relaunching the Financial Education program, which includes a certificate program, campus-wide events, integration of modules into the math curriculum and targeted programming for student leaders.

English lecturer Valdon Tau Battice’s article, O cabelo dela revela: Towards decolonizing Afro Brazilian hair, was published in the "Journal of Postcolonial Writing,” Volume 60,

Issue 4.

English faculty Meghan Gilbert, Ph.D. was named a 2024-2027 John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education Russell Edgerton Innovation Fellow. Listen to her interview on Dr. Gardner's podcast.

$133,000 NIH Grant “Developing an Innovative Genomic Data Science Curriculum: Interdisciplinary Modules for Undergraduate Education”

This project introduces life science students to Computational Genomic Data Science, which combines aspects of genetics, statistics and informatics — preparing students to become skilled experts in a field of increasing importance. Biology Professor Karla Fuller, Interim Dean of Faculty is the principal investigator, and her co-P.I. is Clinical Psychologist Deidre Anglin-Roper of City College.

$129,000 Open Education Resources (OER) Grant

This grant reduces student textbook costs when faculty can design courses creating and using free, online instructional materials under an intellectual property license that ensures authors retain copyright to their work. Guttman faculty are leaders in providing these cost-saving texts for students (see our impressive OER Repository!), and this year’s grant allows them to produce digital course readers and textbooks, facilitate Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) partnership and expand the college’s Nature-Based Learning Initiative, OER professional development and new open-access public-facing projects. Professor Sam Finesurrey manages the grant.

$2,250 CUNY Office of Transformation Career Success Fellows Grant

Dr. Alia Tyner-Mullings, humanities and social sciences department chair, was awarded a $2,250 Career Success Fellows grant by the CUNY Office of Transformation for her role in helping students explore and prepare for careers.

“School is my Grammy!” Vibing with Kameo Latortue, Class of ‘24

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