Leadership

Members of the Cabinet of the Office of Academic Affairs

Alicia Alvero

Vice Chancellor for Academic and Faculty Affairs

Office Phone: 646-664-9110
Email Address: Alicia.Alvero@cuny.edu

Alicia M. Alvero began her academic career at Queens College in 2003 as a professor of Organizational Behavior Management and she helped streamline workflow within the Department of Psychology to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of processes affecting students, staff and faculty. She served as the Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs at Queens College for over 3 years. Her responsibilities during this period included oversight of all academic programming and curriculum; general education assessment and appeals, writing across the curriculum; faculty workload; development of department chair training and faculty development sessions; the Office of Student Advocacy and Appeals; the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL); interdisciplinary programs; the Office of Graduate Studies; Centers and Institutes; and academic program reviews. She significantly expanded the support available to faculty, including support on tenure and promotion, leadership development and support for teaching. She expanded the mission of CTL to encompass leadership development, department chair training, and tenure and promotion support, rebranding it as the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Leadership (CETLL). She introduced a new faculty partners program to help add FT faculty support and expanded program offerings to include faculty leadership support and academic DEI initiatives. Read More

She created very popular leadership pipeline workshops and formal department chair training. She was a founding member of the CUNY Faculty Development Consortium and helped develop and co-chair the first-ever CUNY Introduction to being a CUNY Department Chair. She also co-chaired several CUNY-wide inaugural events: CUNY Conference for Department Chairs; CUNY Department Chair’s Leadership Development Program; Parenting through the Pandemic; Female-Identifying Academic Leaders Networking Event.

Alicia received her B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University, her M.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and her Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University (WMU). Dr. Alvero was awarded the prestigious Ford Foundation Fellowship while at WMU for her research in behavioral safety and the effects of safety observations. She has extensive experience teaching leaders across a number of domains, including human service agencies and higher education, how to utilize OBM to help solve organizational challenges and strengthen their leadership skills. She has published in various journals including the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Behavior Analysis in Practice, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education and has served on several editorial boards. Dr. Alvero has been an invited speaker across the country and also serves as an organizational consultant in the areas of training, leadership, and performance management.

Lauren Andersen

University Associate Provost of Careers and Industry Partnerships

Office Phone: 646-664-3536
Email Address: Lauren.Andersen@cuny.edu

Lauren Andersen is the University Associate Provost of Careers and Industry 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.

Dona Anderson

Executive Director, New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute

Office Phone: 718-254-7711
Email Address: dona.anderson@cuny.edu

Dona Anderson is the Executive Director at the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, which is housed at the City University of New York within the Office of Academic Affairs. She leads the work of a dynamic, intelligent, and passionate team dedicated to building essential systems and services to ensure a highly effective early childhood workforce for New York in order to guarantee that all young children and their families have access to excellence. Read More

She is responsible for strategic planning, fund development, project growth, and all aspects of the successful management and leadership of the Institute and leads the organizational culture of inclusivity, diversity, teamwork, flexibility, responsiveness, and collaboration. She previously served as Deputy Executive Director at the Institute, where she had programmatic and operational oversight, coordinated internal data collection, evaluation and communication efforts, and represented the Institute at community and university events. Prior to her work at the Institute, she was the Director at the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness, where she led a team of researchers in exploring the impacts of poverty and homelessness on children, students, and families in New York City and across the United States. She also supervised early childhood care and education programs, after school programs, residential summer camps, and a family support program as the Director of Programs and Development at Homes for the Homeless, a homeless services provider. Dona has presented at national conferences and co-authored a variety of public policy reports on the topics of child poverty, homelessness, early childhood, and trauma. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College.

Colin Chellman

Senior University Dean, Office of Applied Research, Evaluation, and Data Analytics

Office Phone: 646-664-8147
Email Address: colin.chellman@cuny.edu

Colin Chellman is Senior University Dean overseeing the Office of Applied Research, Evaluation, and Data Analytics (OAREDA) and currently serves as President of the Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP). In his role at CUNY, he directs several inter-related yet distinct units: Data Infrastructure, Architecture, and Strategy; Evaluation and Program Support; Institutional Research; Operations; Policy Research; and Testing. These units conduct a wide variety of analyses to guide and evaluate policy, programs, and administrative processes at CUNY. OAREDA collects, manages, and organizes survey, administrative, and program data to support the analytic, evaluation, and reporting needs of the CUNY system. Read More

His research has been published in Education Week as well as peer-reviewed journals such as Economics of Education Review, Education Finance and Policy, Teachers College Record, Urban Affairs Review, Educational Policy, Education and Urban Society, Housing Policy Debate, and the Journal of the American Planning Association. Prior to Colin becoming President of AEFP, he served on the board from 2013-2016 and the Program Committee for five years. 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 Politics from Johns Hopkins University.

Gary Dine

University Dean of Fiscal Administration

Office Phone: 646-664-8002
Email Address: gary.dine@cuny.edu

Gary Dine, University Dean 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.

Althea Forde

Interim University Dean for Office of Special Programs

Office Phone: 646-664-8852
Email Address: Althea.Forde@cuny.edu

Althea Forde is the Interim University Dean for the Office of Special Programs. She is responsible for the University’s eighteen opportunity programs, Search for Education Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) and College Discovery (CD). Read More

Dr. Forde’s career spans more than two and a half decades in higher education, much of which has been with CUNY. Prior to being the Interim Dean, she served as the Senior Director of Academic Programs at Lehman College. She managed a portfolio of diverse programs supporting student enrollment, retention, and graduation. Programs under her oversight included the Office of Academic Standards and Evaluation; the Lehman College Accelerate, Complete, Engage (ACE) Program; the Lehman College Now program; the First Year Initiative, administering English Composition, English as a Second Language (ESL) and First Year Seminars; Go Persist Succeed (GPS), facilitating first-year onboarding, registration, and advising; the Instructional Support Services Program (ISSP), providing academic support for Lehman students; and Search for Education Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) Program. Dr. Forde also wrote the proposal for Lehman’s Learning Recovery Program, first program providing holistic support for pandemic-impacted first-year students, including academic advising, socio-emotional and educational support, mentoring, and faculty development.

Dr. Forde received her B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross, her M.Ed. in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and her Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania.

G. Michael Guy

University Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies

Office Phone: 646-664-9111
Email Address: michael.guy@cuny.edu

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.

Kristin Hart

University Dean for Libraries and Information Resources

Office Phone: 646-664-8035
Email Address: Kristin.Hart@cuny.edu

Kristin Hart is the University Dean for Libraries and Information Resources. She and her team at the Office of Library Services provide strategic direction and support to the student-centered system of 31 libraries that serve all CUNY students, faculty and staff. OLS collaborates actively with libraries and peer academic and service units to prioritize and implement centralized library services, platforms, and content in support of CUNY’s mission. OLS develops and oversees the University-wide open education and open research initiatives aimed at fostering innovative pedagogy, removing barriers to student access to course materials, and creating equitable, open access to the scholarly conversation. Read More

Kristin started her library career at NYPL, working as a Young Adult Librarian in the Bronx before moving to leadership positions at SUNY Maritime, then Queens College, and now the Office of Academic Affairs at CUNY. She is also a long-time neighborhood land use and housing activist in the Bronx and brings this focus on community engagement and empowerment to her work in academic libraries. Kristin’s first aspiration was to be a novelist, and she spent most of her twenties sometimes waiting tables, sometimes roaming around the US and Mexico with a beloved dog, writing. She holds a BA in English and Comparative Religion from Western Michigan University, an MLS from Queens College, CUNY, and an MS in Educational Technology from Adelphi University. Her first novel, a psychological thriller about a young woman unhinged by romantic obsession, is scheduled to be published by Washington Street Press in late 2022.

Kara Heffernan

Interim University Dean for Student Success Initiatives

Office Phone: 646-664-9201
Email Address: Kara.Heffernan@cuny.edu

Kara Heffernan is the Interim University Dean for Student Success Initiatives. She oversees a unit comprised of multi-campus access and success initiatives designed to support students’ entry into, and movement through, the University. These programs include the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) and Accelerate, Complete and Engage (ACE); CUNY EDGE; CUNY Start & Math Start; the Adult Literacy Program and the CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP); and CUNY Fatherhood Academy. Kara also supports the advancement of the University strategic priorities, particularly improving system-wide transfer, through leadership of the CUNY Academic Momentum Campaign 2.0. Read More

Kara has spent most of her career working to advance equity and economic opportunity in under-resourced urban communities. Previously at CUNY, she oversaw the operations of the CUNY Institute for Software Design and Development, which housed workforce development and research programs focused on promoting tech-based economic development, led the team that provided technical assistance to the first ASAP replications outside of CUNY in Ohio and also supported ASAP’s scale-up at CUNY. Additionally, she was also part of the leadership team at LIU Brooklyn School of Business, Public Administration, and Information Systems, working to redesign curriculum to enhance career connections and improve the student experience. Prior to working in the higher education sector, Kara worked in the areas of communications, development, and grantmaking at non-profits dedicated to advancing more sustainable and equitable urban community development.

Kara holds an M.B.A. in Business Administration from Baruch College and an M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA.

Ian James

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Office Phone: 646-664-8757
Email Address: Ian.James@cuny.edu

Ian James is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. 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 two decades. Dr. James has served as the Special Assistant to the Executive Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Additionally, he serves as the Director of the Office of Student Advocacy and Referral, guiding students in matters concerning University regulations, policies and procedures.

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. In addition, 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 several national conferences and has been a member of and continues to serve on the boards of several professional associations and university committees.

Jeanette Kim

University Associate Dean for Pre-Matriculation Programs and Program Assessment

Office Phone: 646-664-3006
Email Address: Jeanette.Kim@cuny.edu

Jeanette Kim is the University Associate Dean for Pre-Matriculation Programs and Program Assessment and divides her time working in two areas within CUNY’s Office of Academic Affairs. Part of her time is working with the University’s Student Success Initiatives and overseeing a set of programs designed to improve student’s academic skills prior to matriculating into degree programs such as CUNY Start, the Adult Literacy Programs, and the CUNY Language Immersion Programs. Read More

Jeanette is also a member of the leadership team within the Office of Applied Research, Evaluation, and Data Analytics and helps oversee the research and evaluation services to more than 30 different programs administered by CUNY’s Central Office. In this capacity, she works across the University to strategize on areas of program improvement, staff development, design and streamlining program reporting and assessment needs, as well as determining growth potential for programs within Academic Affairs.

Prior to this, she managed dual enrollment and other pre-college programs both at CUNY and at Westchester Community College (SUNY) and spent several years training teachers to establish school‐based science research programs. Jeanette has a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from SUNY Albany and an M.A. in Educational Administration and Policy from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Melissa Kirk

Senior University Dean for Enrollment Management

Office Phone: 646-664-3598
Email Address: Melissa.Kirk@cuny.edu

Melissa Kirk serves as the Senior University Dean for Enrollment Management. In addition to overseeing the University Registrar and supporting all units in the Office of Enrollment Management (OEM), she is responsible for developing a comprehensive enrollment management plan to advance a modern approach to admissions, financial aid, scheduling, and other programs and services that increase enrollment and remove barriers for students, as outlined in the CUNY Strategic Roadmap. Read More

Melissa brings over 20 years of professional experience to her role as well as a profound commitment to public higher education and the impact it has on lifting students, families, and communities. She has previously served more than 17 years on two CUNY Academic and Student Affairs leadership teams in The Bronx: Bronx Community College and Lehman College. Most recently, she was the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success and then the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Antioch University. She is a proud graduate of the CUNY Executive Leadership Program (ELP) in 2018.

Throughout her career, Melissa has skillfully navigated the intricate landscapes of student affairs, academic affairs, and enrollment management, accruing invaluable experience and expertise, especially in the areas of student services/student success programs and initiatives, student life, student government, first-year programs, campus internationalization, academic policy, shared governance, faculty affairs, registrarial operations, and strategic planning. She has a long history of working closely with teams faculty, staff and administrators in the development of e-forms, business intelligence dashboards, and the implementation of e-tools to support campus and university best practices and efficiencies.

Melissa is the first member of her immediate family to earn a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a Doctorate. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from the State University of New York at Cortland, an M.A. in Special Education with K-12 certification from Fairfield University, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota.

Cheryl Littman

Chief Data Strategist

Office Phone: 646-664-8108
Email Address: Cheryl.Littman@cuny.edu

Cheryl Littman is the Chief Data Strategist in the Office of Applied Research, Evaluation, and Data Analytics (OAREDA). She is responsible for the collection, management, transformation, and documentation of data assets and contributes to the research, analytic, and reporting functions of the office. Cheryl sets the direction for business intelligence in the academic domain for the University and she is creating and implementing a vision to help improve the way academic data is being transformed into information for internal and external stakeholders and data consumers. Read More

Cheryl began her CUNY career in 2001 working for the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA) where she led the institutional research unit for ten years. Additionally, she served as the University Associate Dean for Institutional Effectiveness at CUNY Central where she was responsible for managing the Performance Management Process (PMP) and the evaluation of Presidents and Deans. Cheryl also established the Office of Institutional Effectiveness in 2016 while she was Dean of Institutional Effectiveness at Queens College and then returned to CUNY Central in early 2021.

Cheryl holds a B.S. in Biology from Cornell University, an M.S. in Biology Education from Long Island University, C.W. Post, and a Ph.D. in Measurement, Evaluation and Statistical Analysis from the University of Chicago. Prior to her arrival at CUNY, Cheryl had been a middle school science teacher, a research analyst for the Chicago Public Schools, and a college instructor at Ohio University.

Anne Lopes

Interim Senior University Dean of Graduate and Undergraduate Programming

Office Phone: 646-664-8007
Email Address: Anne.Lopes@cuny.edu

Anne Lopes is the Interim Senior University Dean of Graduate and Undergraduate Programming. She oversees the offices of Academic Initiatives, International Education, Academic Program Review and Policy, Teacher Education Programs, and Health and Human Services. Read More

Previously, Dr. Lopes served for five years as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College. She collaborated with faculty on academic planning, led accreditation efforts, fostered a culture of assessment, developed new programming and online capabilities, increased faculty diversity, and expanded support for faculty development and research. Dr. Lopes worked closely with other CUNY colleges on building a healthcare career pipeline for Central and South Brooklyn from high schools to graduate school. She also served as a peer reviewer for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Previously, Dr. Lopes served the University in various positions over a decade at John Jay College, as Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Graduate Studies, Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives, and Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Dr. Lopes’ tenure at John Jay was marked by a strong focus on advancing high-impact educational practices, increasing student retention and graduation rates, fortifying academic offerings, and promoting faculty diversity and satisfaction. She oversaw the expansion of graduate education and spearheaded numerous international and online projects, most notably the establishment of John Jay Online. Additionally, Dr. Lopes played a pivotal role in driving strategic initiatives related to technology, adult education, and professional studies. Prior to her tenure at John Jay, Dr. Lopes served as Associate Dean at Empire State College-SUNY and as chair and professor at Metropolitan College of New York.

Throughout her career, Dr. Lopes has received numerous university, government, foundation, and donor grants and awards for research and for institutional development. She has been honored with teaching awards from both New York University and Metropolitan College of New York. A political theorist by training, Dr. Lopes’ research focused on the relationship between politics and gender. Her academic degrees include a doctorate summa cum laude in Political Science from the Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany, a MA in Political Theory from Goddard College, and a BA with honors in Political Science from Ramapo College.

Robert Maruca

Associate University Provost for Planning

Office Phone: 646-664-8034
Email Address: Robert.Maruca@cuny.edu

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

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Office Phone: 646-664-2918
Email Address: denise.maybank@cuny.edu

Dr. Denise B. Maybank serves as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for the City University of New York. In this role, she assumes responsibility for coordinating the functions of the University’s Central Office to guide the work of supporting student development from recruitment to completion. Under her leadership, Student Affairs facilitates the academic progress and success of students through holistic approaches to engagement beyond the classroom, addressing areas such as health and wellbeing, essential needs, student government and leadership development. 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

Senior University Dean for Faculty Affairs

Office Phone: 646-664-8068
Email Address: Annemarie.Nicols-Grinenko@cuny.edu

Dr. Annemarie Nicols-Grinenko is the Senior University Dean for Faculty Affairs in the Office of Academic Affairs at the City University of New York (CUNY). Prior to assuming this role, she served as University Dean for Faculty Affairs from 2021-2023, Interim Senior University Dean and Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Policy from 2022 – 2023 and University Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs from 2015 – 2021. Read More

She works collaboratively with colleagues across the university to enhance faculty development, recognize faculty excellence in teaching, scholarship and service, cultivate academic leadership and provide support on issues related to faculty recruitment and retention. She is co-founder of the CUNY Innovative Teaching Academy (CITA), Administrative Director of CUNY’s Mellon-funded Transformative Learning in the Humanities program and Co-Director of The CUNY Leadership Institute for Urban-Serving Institutions. Prior to her positions at the CUNY central office, Dr. Nicols-Grinenko spent eight years as Senior Advisor for Faculty Affairs in the Office of the Provost at Hunter College where she led faculty development efforts, supervised faculty tenure, promotion and reappointment processes and served as Co-Principal Investigator on the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that launched Hunter’s Undergraduate Research Initiative. From 2002 to 2011, she was Director for Programs and Research of Hunter’s NSF-funded Gender Equity Project (GEP) and Co-PI on one of the NSF grants that funded the GEP. Dr. Nicols-Grinenko, a cognitive psychologist who received her Ph.D. from the Graduate Center of CUNY, has also taught in the Department of Psychology at Hunter and Brooklyn Colleges. In all of her work, Dr. Nicols-Grinenko aims to advance and support CUNY faculty and advance CUNY’s mission to provide a first-rate education to all students, regardless of means or background.

Reine Sarmiento

Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management

Office Phone: 646-664-2876
Email Address: Reine.Sarmiento@cuny.edu

Dr. Reine Sarmiento is the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management. For over the past 35+ years, she has achieved notable success in the private and public sectors, as an innovative and inclusive leader committed to higher education. While serving in her various leadership roles at the City University of New York, Dr. Sarmiento has helped increase both University-wide enrollment and contributed to enhancing their campus profiles for the past two decades. Dr. Sarmiento began her career at CUNY as the Assistant Dean for Enrollment Services for twelve years, and most recently served as Vice President for Enrollment Management and Associate Provost for eight years. During her years at LaGuardia Community College and at Lehman college, she cultivated diverse teams and leveraged partnerships that resulted in increased access and opportunity in under-served communities at record levels for both institutions. Lehman was recently ranked third in the nation as a top engine of social mobility. Read More

Dr. Reine Sarmiento is known for her inclusive leadership and belief in shared governance by aligning academic affairs, student services, finance, and information technology. For seven years, she led the annual celebration of Asian Heritage Month at LaGuardia Community College. She was also selected as Lehman College’s lead in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Center for Student Success Pilot cohort and is a recent graduate of AASCU’s prestigious Millennial Leadership Institute.

As an accomplished practitioner, she has served on numerous New York City task forces regarding work-based learning and has received national recognition for the various programs under her leadership. Dr. Sarmiento remains dedicated to the mission of community colleges by leading the Bronx Transfer Affinity Group (BTAG) that partnered with four community colleges and community-based organizations. BTAG has been hailed as a system model of partnership by cultivating a graduation culture at community colleges and eliminating technical and social barriers in the transfer process and recognized by the Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz.

Dr. Sarmiento holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Administration and Policy from Fordham University, an M.S. in Urban Affairs from Hunter College, and a B.A. in Business Administration from National University.

Carrie Shockley

Interim University Assistant Dean for Student Inclusion Initiatives

Office Phone: 646-664-8233
Email Address: Carrie.Shockley@cuny.edu

Carrie Shockley. Ed.D. is the Interim University Assistant Dean for Student Inclusion Initiatives. Formerly serving as the University Director of Disability Programs, Dr. Shockley has been a pivotal figure in field building and inclusivity within the CUNY community for the past two decades. Read More

Dr. Shockley spearheads initiatives aimed at enhancing access, fostering success, and promoting inclusion for historically marginalized student groups. Additionally, she holds the esteemed role of Director at the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Institute, where she is instrumental in directing and fundraising for professional development programs for frontline, incumbent workers in the health and human services field.

Prior to her current roles, Dr. Shockley served as a Post-Doctoral Fellow with the University Dean for Health and Human Services at CUNY. Additionally, she held the position of Director of Health Programs at Lehman College’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing education and opportunity for New Yorkers.

Dr. Shockley received a B.S. in Business Management from Hampton University, an M.B.A. from Boston University, and an Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests encompass the facilitation of belonging and the development of inclusive models within higher education, reflecting her ongoing dedication to fostering diverse and equitable learning environments.

Kim Siegenthaler

Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Innovation

Office Phone: 646-664-9308
Email Address: Kimberly.Siegenthaler@cuny.edu

Kim Siegenthaler, Ph.D., is the associate vice chancellor for Academic Innovation, a new division within the Office of Academic Affairs, which advances CUNY’s strategic initiatives for transformative pedagogy, academic technology, and online education. Dr. Siegenthaler’s top priorities are development and execution of strategies to establish a sustainable, innovative, and highly successful digital education enterprise that delivers high-quality online courses and programs for both degree-seeking and nondegree-seeking learners across CUNY colleges; ensure successful systemwide transition from Blackboard to D2L Brightspace; and increase efficiencies and economies of scale in the acquisition and operationalization of academic technologies CUNY-wide. Dr. Siegenthaler also leads the Career and Credential Pathways initiative to facilitate development of stackable credentials and noncredit to credit pathways to support discipline-specific higher education pathways and OAA’s initiative to accelerate the CUNY’s adoption of artificial intelligence in the areas of educational excellence and workforce readiness, inclusivity and equity, operational efficiency, research innovation, ethical and unbiased AI use, and community impact. Read More

Prior to CUNY, Dr. Siegenthaler was the inaugural associate provost for Online Strategies at Georgia State University. She was responsible for developing and implementing a university-wide strategy for delivering high-quality online courses, certificate programs, degree programs and executive education to traditional and adult learners. In 2021, she led the launch of Georgia State Online with over 80 online and hybrid program options from the associate to the doctoral level. She was responsible for administrative oversight and coordination of all aspects of digital education and had a major impact on both Georgia State University’s online offerings, and the support structure needed for enrollment growth and faculty training.

Additionally, Dr. Siegenthaler was the director of Mizzou Online at the University of Missouri and led the University of Missouri toward a strategic vision for distance education. During her tenure, the University of Missouri experienced a significant increase in the number of programs and students enrolled and developed the infrastructure necessary to deliver high-quality programs and effective student support programs.

Dr. Siegenthaler brings diverse expertise to her associate vice chancellor role, having served as administrator and faculty in a variety of institutions and has taught both online and in the classroom. She is a passionate advocate for increasing higher education opportunities and has consistently demonstrated a strategic and collaborative approach that resulted in clear plans of action and widespread buy-in on initiatives. Furthermore, she has led institutional efforts to build non-credit to credit pathways, develop portfolios of micro- and stackable credentials and helped expand educational partnerships with industry.

Dr. Siegenthaler received her Ph.D. from University of New Mexico, M.S. from University of Oklahoma and a B.S. from Baylor University. She has held a variety of leadership roles in UPCEA (University Professional Continuing Education Association), the nation’s largest professional, continuing and online education association, including the National Council for Online Education. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of UPCEA’s Board of Directors.

Patricia Simino Boyce

University Dean for Health and Human Services

Office Phone: 646-664-8065
Email Address: Patricia.Boyce@cuny.edu

Patricia Simino Boyce is CUNY’s University Dean for Health and Human Services (HHS). She is responsible for a portfolio of more than 350 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. Since then, she has held a series of progressive leadership positions at various health care systems, including those for state and federal government, and the private sector such as: 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).

Andrea Soonachan

University Dean for K-16 Initiatives

Office Phone: 718-254-7694
Email Address: Andrea.Soonachan@cuny.edu

As University Dean for K-16 Initiatives in the Office of Academic Affairs, Andrea Soonachan supports partnership between the City University of New York (CUNY) and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) 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; a network of 19 early college high schools; and College and Career Bridge for All, a college transition program serving every graduating student from NYCPS.

Andrea’s career includes service at the New York City Department of Education working in the Office of Post-Secondary Readiness, where she was most recently their 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 all New York City public school students. While working at New Visions for Public Schools, she led the development of a network-wide strategy to help support student success and completion at 80 New Visions schools throughout the city. As the Director of College Success Programs at Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation where Andrea launched her career, she managed higher education access and retention programs.

Additionally, Andrea 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.

Ashleigh Thompson

University Dean for Education

Office Phone: 646-664-8151
Email Address: Ashleigh.Thompson@cuny.edu

Ashleigh Thompson is CUNY’s University Dean for Education. She oversees Teacher Education across CUNY, a portfolio encompassing more than 15,000 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, notably NYC Department of Education and NY State Education Department. Read More

Dean Thompson oversees many CUNY-wide education initiatives including NYC Men Teach, an engagement and recruitment effort to inspire more men of color to become teachers; CUNY Reading Corps which engages CUNY students as paid tutors for reading science-aligned literacy interventions for K-2 students; and Computing Integrated Teacher Education which prepares teachers to integrate computing and digital fluency across subject areas. She is also Principal Investigator on several CUNY partnerships with the NYC Department of Education, including NYC Teaching Fellows. 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 fields of Education, Disability Studies and Youth Studies. She is 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.

Sarah Truelsch

Assistant Dean for Policy Research

Office Phone: 646-664-8141
Email Address: Sarah.Truelsch@cuny.edu

Sarah Truelsch is the Assistant Dean for 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 Upadhyay

University Chief Academic Technology Officer

Office Phone: 646-664-3501
Email Address: Vivek.Upadhyay@cuny.edu

Vivek Upadhyay is the University Chief Academic Technology Officer. He is responsible for overseeing deployment, implementation and integration across multiple platforms and technologies, and provision of training, academic and instructional support services to faculty and students across all CUNY college campuses and the University Office of Academic Affairs. Read More

Mr. Upadhyay career spans a period of over 20 years of distinguished public service in enrollment management. He was appointed University Chief Academic Technology Officer in April 2023 after serving in other key positions at CUNY: University Executive Registrar (from 2016-2023), 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).

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 consultant (from 2003 to 2008), and Student Support Manager (from 2000 to 2003) at Queens College. He also teaches undergraduate and graduate Operating Systems and Computer Architecture courses at Queens College.

Rosemarie D. Wesson

Associate Vice Chancellor and University Vice Provost for Research

Office Phone: 646-664-8910
Email Address: Rosemarie.Wesson@cuny.edu

Rosemarie (Rose) Wesson serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor and University Vice Provost for Research at the City University of New York (CUNY), where her primary focus is advancing the university’s research mission. Collaborating closely with the Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost and Chancellor, she leads strategic initiatives to foster and support research activities throughout CUNY. Read More

Dr. Wesson’s CUNY journey began as the Associate Dean for Research at the Grove School of Engineering at the City College of New York (CCNY), where she achieved a remarkable 30% increase in research expenditures in less than five years. In 2020, she assumed the role of Associate Provost for Research at CCNY, becoming the chief research officer and advocate for all research, scholarly, and creative endeavors. Her efforts centered on enhancing scholarly research across academic disciplines and establishing new institutional research programs through strategic partnerships within CCNY and CUNY’s 24 colleges and institutions.

With over thirteen years of experience at the National Science Foundation (NSF), Dr. Wesson excelled as both a Director and Program Director, securing over $100 million in funding. Her adept management of complex program demands earned her prestigious accolades, including the NSF Director’s Award for Collaborative Integration and the NSF Director’s Award for Superior Accomplishment.

Prior to her tenure at NSF, Dr. Wesson held influential leadership positions at Louisiana State University (LSU), Dow Chemical Company, and Battelle Memorial Institute. She has been elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AIChE), recognizing her outstanding contributions to advancing science and its applications in the field of chemical engineering. Dr. Wesson served a three-year term on the Board of Directors for AIChE and recently held the position of AIChE Treasurer.

With a solid technical foundation, Dr. Wesson holds an S.B. in Chemical Engineering from MIT and M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. She is also a licensed professional engineer.

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