FOR BARUCH COLLEGE “I Am Proud to Become the Eighth President of Baruch
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPRING/SUMMER 2020 BARUCHALUMNI MAGAZINE to have had the opportunity to partner with the trustees of SPRING/SUMMER 2020 Farewell Message from the Baruch College Fund (BCF), the College’s fundraising IN THIS ISSUE foundation. I especially thank the BCF presidents during my tenure—Helen Mills, Max Berger (’68, LLD-Hon. ’19), PRESIDENT Joel J. Cohen (’59), and Lawrence Simon (’65)—as well as past BCF Chairman Lawrence Zicklin (’57, LHD-Hon. 6 COVER STORY Baruch Alumni Magazine ’99) for their vision, dedication, and commitment. WALLERSTEIN The Wallerstein Decade: Celebrating Cheryl de Jong–Lambert Director of Communications Dear Friends, Meeting alumni, literally all over the world, has been 10 Years of Transformative Change among the highlights of my tenure and has shown me what As President Mitchel B. Wallerstein, PhD, winds down his EDITOR IN CHIEF: Diane Harrigan Let me begin by expressing my hope that you, your family, a committed, purposeful group you are. Thus, on behalf decade-long tenure in June, the Baruch community looks back SENIOR EDITOR: Gregory M. Leporati and friends are safe and well. Our country—and the New of this June’s graduating class and recent alumni, I have a on a period of historic accomplishments, transformation, and GRAPHIC DESIGN: Vanguard York region, in particular—has endured tremendous request: If you have or know of employment opportunities, a culture of proactive problem solving that continues to this day. challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, and I send my OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS please share them with the College. Our graduating students Says Max Berger (’68, LLD-Hon. ’19), “I suspect that very few AND VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT deepest condolences to anyone who has suffered a loss. are facing one of the most difficult job markets since the college presidents can lay claim to a similar record of success.” Great Depression. They will need our help more than ever. Janet B. Rossbach, Director of Alumni Although my decade-long tenure as Baruch’s president is Relations and Volunteer Engagement ending very differently than I had envisioned, I am pleased Though I am signing off as president, I am surely not David Shanton, Vice President of College to have the opportunity to share the great strides we have saying goodbye. After a brief research leave, I look forward 2 UNPRECENTED CHALLENGES Advancement made during the past 10 years. In many ways, this terrible to returning in the fall to join the faculty ranks of the Amidst COVID-19 Crisis, crisis has brought into bold relief what Baruch excels at: Marxe School of Public and International Affairs as a Baruch Community Adapts Baruch Alumni Magazine community connectedness and economic opportunity. Despite CUNY University Professor, teaching graduate courses Innovation and teamwork were front and center as the College © 2020 by Baruch College the enormous hardships caused by the coronavirus, the in my specialty area, international security. The City University of New York College community—faculty, staff, administrators, and navigated the unprecedented and ever-shifting landscape. Read alumni—rose to the challenge, innovating and opening their I also look forward to seeing the College continue its how professors pivoted to entirely new instructional methods, Please address all editorial correspondence to: hearts and wallets to support the many students in need. trailblazing role as a premier provider of public higher how career services and Student Life expanded digital and education under the accomplished leadership of our virtual outreach and services, how alumni and donors rallied, Baruch Alumni Magazine Office of Communications, Marketing Needless to say, our students are at the heart of everything incoming president, S. David Wu, PhD. and more—all to support Baruch’s students. & Public Affairs we do. Since the beginning of my presidency, in August It’s been the greatest honor of my career to have led Baruch One Bernard Baruch Way, Box A-1503 2010, we have done everything possible within a highly New York, NY 10010-5585 constrained public budget to ensure student success. For College for the past 10 years. You, the College’s alumni, email: [email protected] 17 ALUMNI TRIBUTE example, we significantly expanded a “start-to-finish” truly make Baruch a special place and a force for positive change in the world. I offer my thanks and appreciation! Please send all inquiries about program designed to support low-income, first-generation Remembering Lawrence N. Field (’52) the Baruch College Fund, as well as college students through graduation and into the real His name is familiar to all who know and love Baruch College. address changes, to: Sincerely, world. And I am proud to report that for five consecutive For more than two decades, Lawrence N. Field—visionary entrepreneur, The Baruch College Fund years Baruch College has been recognized as the top college MITCHEL B. WALLERSTEIN business leader, and generous philanthropist—brought his many talents Office of College Advancement or university in the country for promoting the social President, Baruch College to bear on behalf of Baruch and its students. “Larry reminded all of One Bernard Baruch Way, Box A-1603 (2010–2020) New York, NY 10010-5585 mobility of our students. us how a Baruch education transformed his life,” says Dov Schlein phone: 646-660-6060 (’70, MBA ’75). email: [email protected] Baruch’s hardworking students deserve to learn in modern and up-to-date facilities. In this regard, there are a number For information about alumni programs of projects that were begun on my watch that are now either and activities, please contact: completed, nearing completion, or advancing, including ALSO INSIDE Baruch College Office of Alumni Relations the ongoing renovation of the Lawrence and Eris Field and Volunteer Engagement One Bernard Baruch Way, Box A-1603 Building at 17 Lexington Avenue, the Allen G. and Mary 4 NEWS & NOTES 12 CLASS NOTES New York, NY 10010-5585 E. Aaronson Student Center, and Clivner=Field Plaza. Baruch continues to earn Iyvon Edebiri (MA ’17) is phone: 646-660-6097 email: [email protected] accolades for excellence, making waves in theater. These capital projects—and so many other initiatives— online: alumni.baruch.cuny.edu would never have been possible without Baruch’s value, and social mobility, with The award-winning generous alumni community. I feel most fortunate recent honors from U.S. News producer showcases & World Report going to emerging, underrepresented artists. “American graduate programs in business theater often acts like these stories and writers Baruch Alumni Magazine online COLLEGIAL TRANSITION: Mitchel B. Wallerstein and S. David Wu, and public and international affairs. don’t exist,” she says, “but that’s a lie.” the seventh and eighth presidents of Baruch College, respectively, have baruch.cuny.edu/bam been working closely together to ensure a smooth transition since Cover photo by Karsten Moran, back cover and letter inset photos by Nadia Gomez and letter inset photos by back cover Karsten Moran, photo by Cover Tunis Sammy Sirin Samman; Edebiri photo by Commencement photo by February, when Dr. Wu was named Dr. Wallerstein’s successor. SPRING/SUMMER 2020 1 NEWS&NOTES NEWS&NOTES Rising to the Challenge staff-led weekly Zoom videoconferencing- based “coffee chats” to keep students Baruch’s Future: Dr. S. David Wu Named Amidst COVID-19 Crisis, Baruch Community Adapts up-to-date on services, resources, job and internship postings, and events. Eighth President of Baruch College Even more than usual, innovation and teamwork have Mentors—Baruch alumni and friends— fter a nationwide search, the chancellor and Board of Trustees of The City University been front and center as the Baruch community navigates also stepped up. It took the Executives on of New York appointed S. David Wu, PhD, as Baruch College’s next president. “Dr. Wu the evolving threat posed by the novel coronavirus. Some Campus (EOC) program less than 24 hours A brings an impressive record of academic leadership and vision to the university,” highlights of the College’s COVID-19 response: to shift the March 12 in-person Mentor said Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, PhD. “Baruch will benefit tremendously from his for a Morning to real-time phone- and skills, energy, and insights.” Zoom-based engagements that connected Learning Rebooted On the announcement of his appointment, which begins on July 1, Dr. Wu said, “It is a 150 students one-on-one with 80 business privilege to join this remarkable community, and I am both honored and humbled.” Dr. Wu During an emergency seven-day recess in March, the College leaders. Academic yearlong mentorships called Baruch “one of the most compelling institutions I have encountered in my academic rapidly pivoted from traditional, on-campus experiences to between junior-level undergraduates and career,” citing the College’s distinctive mix of academic strengths and successes, influential distance learning—“arguably the single greatest transition in first-year grad students also went digital. scholars, diverse student body, and devoted alumni. “On top of academic excellence Baruch College history,” noted James McCarthy, PhD, interim and social mobility, if you add the incredible location at the center of the world’s most provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Resources]. “Having these sites ready, Relief at Hand important city, there are truly very few institutions that can compete,” he added. Providing distance-teaching support was key. Baruch’s Center as well as having a teaching culture Of course, focusing on academics and For the past six years, Dr. Wu, an accomplished scholar in systems engineering and for Teaching and Learning (CTL) worked collaboratively with to share best practices among career goals is only possible when necessities operations research, has been provost and executive vice president of George Mason the Baruch Computing and Technology Center (BCTC) and colleagues, better equipped us for are met.