Westchester Community College, State University of New York

President’s Weekly Messages

May 13, 2022

Colleagues,

This past week provided opportunities for each of us to reflect upon the impact we make in the lives of our students, their families, our colleagues and our community.

Yesterday we celebrated Commencement in person for the first time since the pandemic hit us in the spring of 2020. It was heartwarming and inspiring to see the hundreds of students receive their degrees with the rousing support of their loved ones in our Physical Education Building. Speaking with students at the event and watching interviews on News12 make clear the transformational experience provided by a SUNYWCC education. There were multiple instances of a parent and child graduating together, showing how inspiration and motivation are cross-generational. The care and support these students received from each of you made all that possible.

We look to members of our SUNYWCC faculty and to the staff that support them with great admiration for the critical roles they play in our students’ achievements. Thank you! Special thanks also go to Tiago Machado, Amy Mozingo, Ed Tatton and the entire Commencement Committee for producing a memorable, innovative day of ceremony. For those of you who missed the ceremonies or would like to view them again, you can find the videos here.

Congratulations go out to those who were recognized for their accomplishments. To start, SUNYWCC had its 12^th Jack Kent Cooke Scholar named, Paola Beber Sanches, who is also this year’s valedictorian. She is our second JKC Scholar in as many years, a remarkable testament not just to these two students but to all those at SUNYWCC who taught them, guided them and supported them during their journeys with us. We also honored our 50^th Anniversary alumni at a special luncheon and at the 2:00 Commencement ceremony. They are representative of all the alumni who have carried as they climbed, serving as mentors and models for the generations of graduates who followed.

Also honored this week were our future healthcare heroes at the Nurse Pinning Ceremony. The past couple of years, as we struggled through the pandemic and the resulting shortages of nurses and other healthcare workers, the role SUNYWCC plays in preparing students for critical roles in maintaining our region’s healthcare infrastructure has never been more evident. Photos of this year’s ceremony are presented here: https://www.sunywcc.edu/about/nursing-pinning-ceremony-2022/.

The Center for Teaching and Learning’s Faculty Development Day showcased some of the many faculty accomplishments this year as well as engaged in a timely and critical conversation on racial equity in the classroom with Dr April Baker- Bell. And the WCC Foundation’s Annual President’s Forum, now named for its visionary founder, Lester Crystal, highlighted critical topics of the day, featured a special tribute to Les by PBS NewsHour anchor and managing editor, Judy Woodruff, and showcased a panel of leading news experts moderated by Brian Lehrer, host of WNYC Public Radio’s The Brian Lehrer Show.

We have so much about which to be #VikingProud! Thank you for all you do to make this happen.

Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President

2022 Weekly Messages

2021 Weekly Messages

2020 Weekly Messages

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