A Message from the President

Dear Guttman Friends & Supporters,  

As we step into the final stretch of the academic year, May brings a spirit of both reflection and celebration. It is Mental Health Awareness Month—a powerful reminder that wellness is foundational to student success.  

At Guttman, we recognize that our students are navigating not just finals and deadlines but also the broader realities of political and economic uncertainty. That’s why our dedicated staff work tirelessly to create a compassionate and responsive environment. The teamwork of our campus professionals working in departments like Counseling and Wellness, Public Safety, Advising, Connect Center, and more embody our commitment to ensuring that every student feels safe, seen, and supported in their journey. 

This month, we also proudly celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month, honoring the cultural richness, historical depth, and vital contributions of our APIDA communities. With a slate of thoughtful and engaging events—from community discussions and career panels to acupuncture workshops and anime table talks—our campus is alive with learning and solidarity. We embrace this opportunity not just to recognize history, but to uplift present-day voices that shape our college and society with resilience and creativity. 

As we prepare for Commencement on June 17, 11:00 a.m. at Bryant Park, we take pride in the progress we've made and the purpose that drives our work. We are not just educating students. We are empowering future citizens and thought leaders. 

Sincerely,  

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

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President Strengthens Community Ties with United Charter Schools Visits   

Visiting United Charter for the Humanities I and II in the Bronx on 5/12, President Larry Johnson joined Admissions team members Jesse Rodriguez and Chelsea Gonzalez for an engaging day with students, staff and leaders of both schools.

Johnson and Knight Advocate for Guttman at City Hall 

On 5/15, President Johnson and Vice President/Chief of Staff Rosslyn Knight joined NYC Council Member Gail Brewer, other council members and CUNY leaders at the Legislative Breakfast to request more support for students with disabilities and additional resources for mental health, CUNY Reconnect and much more. 

Two President’s Speaker Series This Month 

Hosted by Dr. Johnson, Stonewall Club President and Human Services major Trixie Johnson facilitated the dialogue with trans artist–activist Laith Ashley on the “Spirit of Inclusive Democracy” on 5/15 at CUNY@Amazon. “The conversation provided a safe and uplifting space to talk about important queer issues that many LGBTQ+, and more specifically, trans folks, are facing today,” said Trixie. 

“Amplifying AAPI Voices: Stories of Strength and Solidarity,” was the topic of the 5/29 President’s Speaker Series also held at CUNY@Amazon. Director of Student Life Drew Bennett welcomed back to campus Nila Bhaumik, former HR director and now vice president of human resources at Pace University, and fellow panelists Michael Wong, Guttman admissions manager, and Vivian Young, global head of Asian and Pacific Islander affairs with JPMorgan Chase. 

Dr. Johnson and Students Address NCORE Conference 

Participating in a fireside chat with Columbia University’s Dr. Thomas Brock, director of the Community College Research Center, and facilitating a panel of Guttman students, President Johnson was a featured presenter at the 5/27 National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) held in NYC.

College Partners with NYCPS Division of Inclusion and Accessible Learning to Host UK Education Delegation  

Dr. Johnson discussed “The Disproportionate Exclusion of Black and Brown Males from Schools” with Asst. Dean Courtney Stephenson, New York City Public Schools’ Andie Corso, Dr. Stanley Mims, Michelle Patterson and a delegation from the UK on 5/29. The delegation, tasked with policy and culture change for students with special needs and disabilities, were interested in Guttman’s model and support for neurodiverse learners.

Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Month   

Although Asians have been present in America since the mid-1500s, their heritage wasn't officially recognized until 1978 when President Carter signed a resolution in recognition of their many contributions. In 1992, President Bush established May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. Including Americans of South Asian descent, we celebrate the cultural richness of Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans during APIDA Heritage Month this May at Guttman. Read more.

Promoting Student Wellness in Stressful Times  

Nationally, almost one in three students report poor mental health. Recognizing the immense pressure that affects students’ academic focus, learning and performance, Guttman’s Division of Student Affairs is always finding creative ways to promote wellness throughout the year.

This May, Mental Health Awareness Month, the College paid special attention to students’ emotional wellbeing through a thoughtful variety of programming. According to Student Psychological Counselor Xioel Terrero and her Guttman Counseling and Wellness Center colleagues, promoting mental health awareness can break down stigmas and encourage open conversations. Read more.

Students and Alum Explore Career Options Including Civil and Public Service

For current students and alumni who enjoyed their civic engagement experiences at Guttman and are considering careers in government administration or community-based service, Guttman’s Office of the President and its Center for Career Preparation and Community Partnerships (CCPP) collaborated to host two information sessions. Read more.

“Live and Learn” NYPL-BAHSIT Guttman Partnership 

From a simple conversation last year between Dr. Marcia Edwards, Business Administration, Human Services and Information Technology (BAHSIT) department chair, and her colleague Rev. Nancy “Dominique” Dessables, Human Services practicum manager about how their BAHSIT students and ultimately, the entire college community, could increase their awareness and use of the New York City Public Library (NYCPL) emerged a fruitful new partnership with one of the College’s closest neighbors. 

Edwards and Dessables began by meeting with leaders of the NYPL to discuss how BAHSIT could develop and expand a more hands-on working partnership with them particularly for resume, job search and internship development. Last year they piloted their first “Live and Learn Series,” consisting of a three-day program where students met with staff of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library to learn about library resources, followed by two days of visiting the physical library for a resume workshop, library tour, and resume review lab. Included in the series was also a short segment on interviewing skills facilitated by Human Services (HSVS) Practicum Associates. Read more.

Student Advising: "The Guttman Difference” 

It’s almost impossible to have a conversation with a Guttman alum of any class — from the first graduating Grizzlies in 2014 to the present — in which they don’t bring up the name of their Student Success Advisor (SSA) in the first five minutes. Nine times out of ten, they’ll mention how important their Bridge Program was, and then they’ll ask about their advisor.

And it’s no wonder. At the heart of each graduate’s Guttman experience is their relationship with a member of the Advising and Transfer Support team whose sole job is to help them identify, shape and attain their educational and personal goals. Read more.

Vote for Guttman! We have been nominated to the “The City’s Best” list, College & University category. You can vote every day through 7/31.

Catch our Guttman MTA ad when you catch your train! You can find our ads throughout the subway system on any train car that ends in a 6 or an 8.

Recognizing, Responding to and Reporting Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming included a 5/1 talk facilitated by Liz Artz, education coordinator with the NY County DA's Office and sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Compliance.

Students Meet Academic Resilience Program Goals 

Celebrating their resilience, school leaders hosted a luncheon on 5/6 for students who met their goals and exited from academic probation. With the encouragement of Krystal Liriano-Gonzalez, director of strategic enrollment and persistence, and her colleagues, 105 students were readmitted. The Enrollment Management team is proud to report an 18% reduction in academic dismissals over the past two years. Read more.

Faculty Authors and Guest Present Humanities and Social Science Book Talks     

Guttman’s Humanities and Social Sciences department offered two book talks this month. On 5/8 Liberal Arts faculty Dr. Ria Banerjee presented her recent "Drafty Houses in Forster, Eliot and Woolf: Spatiality and Cultural Politics," and Dr. Kristina Baines discussed her new "Heritage in the Body: Sensory Ecologies of Health Practice in Times of Change."

On 5/29, Urban Studies and Secondary Education programs hosted dinner and discussion with Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Experiential Learning at The New School, Dr. Ujju Aggarwal, author of "Unsettling Choice: Race, Rights, and the Partitioning of Public Education."

Faculty Explore AI Through Boodlebox Partnership     

Drs. karen Williams, Dan Collins, Meghan Gilbert and Sebastian Buttet with Prof. Camilla Torres Rivera, participants in the AAC&U-sponsored AI Institute, have received free licenses for Boodlebox, a collaborative platform for generative AI. The company has generously extended access to FYE students and embedded tutors.

Honor Society Inducts New Members  

On 5/13, Guttman’s chapter of the national honor society Phi Theta Kappa welcomed 68 new members, recognized for their academic excellence as scholars and leaders in pursuit of their degree.

Three Programs of Study Recognize Guttman Interns and Their Supporters     

The Internship Celebration for 73 Human Services, Business and IT (BAHSIT) student interns, their supervisors and practicum associates was held on 5/15. Business and IT interns completed 120 hours each and Human Services, 250 hours. The event was moderated by Human Services’ Dominique Dessables and Center for Career Preparation and Partnerships Patricia Jean and Shaina Davis. President Johnson, Provost Paul Reifenheiser, Dr. Marcia Edwards and Dr. Sebastien Buttet greeted participants, faculty distributed certificates, and interns and supervisors offered remarks.

UMOC Retreats to Boundless Adventures in Purchase, NY   

Challenging boundaries with high ropes and obstacles, members of United Men of Color (UMOC) participated in their spring retreat at Boundless Adventures in Purchase, N.Y. on 5/20.

Office of Academic Affairs Highlights Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Research 

Highlighting the best in Guttman’s innovative teaching and dedicated scholarly work, the 5/21 Faculty Teaching and Research Showcase featured pedagogy presentations by Dr. Marlyn González, Dr. Samuel Finesurrey, Dr. Jerald Isseks, Dr. Nicole Kras and Prof. Meagan Lacy, along with recent scholarship by Drs. Nicole Kras, Ji Kim and Andrea Morrell. 

Graduation Gets a Glow-Up with Lavender Celebration  

This year’s 5/22 Lavender Graduation Celebration featured speakers from the campus Stonewall Club, a slideshow and plenty of food. The festivities were organized by the club and their advisors Associate Director of Academic Technology Chris Roth and Profs. Meghan Gilbert and Tara Bahl.

Students Present Faculty-Mentored Research at CUNY Conference   

At the Third Annual CUNY-wide Undergraduate Research Conference (CURC) held at John Jay College on 5/23, four Guttman students presented posters based on their chemistry, health information technology and history research: Lisa Ansvananda, Nathalia Marmol, Keoni Quiro, and Lanasia White. Faculty mentors supporting nine students’ research this semester were Profs. Laquan Black, Samuel Finesurrey, Karla Fuller, Chulsung Kim and Jihyun Kim. 

Alumni Speak about Transfer

Guttman held its annual Transfer Alumni Panel on 5/27 with Shomari Townsend ‘14 who attended Brooklyn College, and three members of the Guttman class of ‘23: El Hadji Diagne, (Hunter College) and Sydnye Lee and Jan Rahman (both at Baruch College). 

AI Lunch and Learn with NYC Men Teach

On 5/28, NYC Men Teach participants Ibrahima Bah and Jonathan Erazo were joined by dozens of Guttman students, Secondary Education Program Coordinator Lori Ungemah and Anthroplogy Prof Andrea Morrell for a Lunch and Learn session on “AI in Education” with presenter Dr. karen williams.

Robert Pagan, senior advisor for partnerships, alumni engagement and development, was appointed by Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President to serve as one of the 50 voting members of Manhattan Community Board 5 through May 1, 2026. 

Dr. Tara Bahl, associate professor of interdisciplinary studies, presented her Anthrozoology work and research on “The Curious and Contradictory Nature of Human-Animal Bonds” on 5/21 at Lectures on Tap, a public lecture series in Midtown, to a sold-out crowd. 

Dr. Andrea Morrell, associate professor of anthropology, just published her new book, "Prison Town: Making the Carceral State in Elmira, New York" with the University of Nebraska Press.

Will Stock, communications and multimedia coordinator, attended an invite-only Chico Review photography retreat in Montana. His photos were reviewed by celebrated photographers, curators and publishers. 

Dr. Douglas Medina, assistant professor of political science, was elected to the University Faculty Senate Executive Committee ('25-'26). 

Joyce Molinari, administrative assistant who has been with Guttman since September 2011, has now been promoted to facilities coordinator.

Elisa Hertz, Nyssa Hasan and Teruo Yokoyama, Guttman’s Institutional Research team, presented “Overcoming Analysis Paralysis: Leveraging Data for Decisions” at the 2025 Association for Institutional Research Conference in Orlando, Fla.

This year, 17 outstanding faculty and staff were nominated by their supervisors or colleagues for their significant contributions to student and employee success. Read more and see a list of the NISOD Excellence Award recipients.

Guttman to Receive over $68,000 to Operate CUNY EDGE in FY2025

CUNY EDGE, a partnership with the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA), is dedicated to helping students who receive public assistance benefits to achieve academic excellence, graduate on time, and find employment while meeting HRA’s full-time (30 hours per week) participation requirements. Additionally, CUNY EDGE operates the HRA Fellowship Program, which provides paid work opportunities for select CUNY EDGE students.  

A Philosopher in the Courtroom: Noy Kruvi, J.D., Esq., Class of ‘15

Currently an attorney of practice with Consumer Legal Group, this philosophy alum credits Guttman for successful legal career.

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