Leadership

Members of the Cabinet of the Office of Academic Affairs

Alicia Alvero

Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Effectiveness and Innovation

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

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

University Dean for Applied Research, Evaluation, and Data Analytics

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

Colin Chellman is University Dean for Applied Research, Evaluation, and Data Analytics. Before taking the role of Dean, he was Associate Dean and the founding Director of CUNY’s Office of Policy Research. Currently, his analytic work focuses on post-graduate student outcomes and – with the support of a recent federal Institute of Education Sciences (IES) grant – transfer student success and the transfer process at CUNY. Read More

His work has been published in Education Week as well as academic journals such as Economics of Education Review, Education Finance and Policy, TCRecord, Urban Affairs Review, Educational Policy, Education and Urban Society, Housing Policy Debate, and the Journal of the American Planning Association. From 2013-2016, he served on the board of the Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP). 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 Relations/Political Science from the 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.

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.

Donna Linderman

Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Office Phone: 646-664-8261
Email Address: donna.linderman@cuny.edu

Donna Linderman is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs within the CUNY Office of Academic Affairs. Her portfolio includes a broad array of university-wide programs designed to support the academic preparation and degree success of CUNY students including: Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), a nationally recognized associate degree completion program currently found at nine CUNY colleges; Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE), a four-year baccalaureate version of ASAP currently at five CUNY colleges; CUNY Start/Math Start, pre-matriculation programs designed to eliminate or significantly reduce remedial need in the areas of reading, writing, and math before students enter CUNY degree programs delivered at 10 CUNY colleges; CUNY Educate, Develop, Graduate, and Empower (EDGE), a degree completion program for public assistance recipients at 19 CUNY colleges; CUNY Literacy and Language Programs, which delivers basic education, high school equivalency instruction, and intensive English language instruction to students across 14 CUNY colleges; and the Fostering College Success Initiative (FCSI), a residential program with wraparound support services for foster care youth pursuing CUNY degrees Read More

AVC Linderman also oversees ASAP/ACE national replication efforts through provision of technical assistance for colleges outside of CUNY who aim to replicate ASAP and ACE. She also provides leadership within CUNY Academic Affairs including support for initiatives focused on academic momentum and timely degree completion and developmental education reform.

AVC Linderman is regularly asked to speak at national conferences on community college completion, and her written work has appeared in several education journals and conference proceedings. She was formerly the University Director of the CUNY Middle Grades Initiative/GEAR UP program, served as an Assistant Professor of Theater and Education at Brooklyn College, and has also taught at Lehman College. She is currently a doctoral candidate in higher education administration at Northeastern University.

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

Email Address: denise.maybank@cuny.edu

Dr. Denise B. Maybank is the recently appointed Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for the City University of New York. In this role, she assumes responsibility for unifying the Student Affairs and Enrollment Management functions of the university’s Central Office to guide the work of supporting student engagement from recruitment through to completion and beyond. 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

Interim Senior University Dean in the Office of Academic Affairs and University Dean for Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development

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

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

In her position as Interim Senior University Dean and Vice Provost of Academic Programs and Policy, Dr. Nicols-Grinenko manages the work of the Office of Undergraduate Studies, Academic Programs & Policy (OUSAP) and serves as an advocate for faculty and the curriculum and a voice for the colleges. In these positions, Dr. Nicols-Grinenko 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.

Currently, Dr. Nicols-Grinenko also serves as 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, which is also funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Prior to her positions at CUNY, 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 is a cognitive psychologist who received her Ph.D. from the Graduate Center of CUNY and has 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 students, especially those who are underrepresented in their fields.

Reine Sarmiento

Interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management

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

Dr. Reine Sarmiento has achieved notable success in her 30-year career in the private and public sectors as an innovative and inclusive leader committed to higher education. Increasing enrollment and the college’s profile in her various leadership positions, she has served the City University of New York for the past 19 years. Dr. Sarmiento served twelve years at LaGuardia Community College as Assistant Dean for Enrollment Services and most recently spent seven years at Lehman College as Vice President for Enrollment Management and Associate Provost. She has cultivated diverse teams and leveraged partnerships that have increased access and opportunity in under-served communities at record levels in both institutions. Lehman was recently ranked third in the nation as a top engine of social mobility. Read More

She is known for inclusive leadership and belief in shared governance by aligning academic affairs, student services, finance, and information technology. She was selected as Lehman College’s lead in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Center for Student Success Pilot cohort. She is a recent graduate of AASCU’s prestigious Millennial Leadership Institute.

Recognized as an accomplished practitioner, she has served on New York City task forces regarding work-based learning and has received national recognition in various programs under her leadership. Dr. Sarmiento also remains connected to the mission of community colleges by leading the Bronx Transfer Affinity Group (BTAG) by partnering with four community colleges and community-based organizations. BTAG has been recognized by the Bronx Borough President and 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.

Tamera Schneider

Associate Vice Chancellor for Research

Office Phone: 646-664-8910
Email Address: Tamera.Schneider@cuny.edu

Tamera Schneider is Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at the City University of New York, overseeing the Offices of Central Programs, Research Administration and Compliance, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The Office of Research team promotes and supports the research, scholarly, and creative pursuits of the CUNY community, provides assurance to funding agencies and to the public that research at the University is conducted in accordance with the highest ethical standards, and enhances technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and economic development activities. Read More

Before joining CUNY Dr. Schneider was Deputy Division Director for Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences at that National Science Foundation and Professor of Psychology at Wright State University. Her research is often conducted across academic disciplines, such as combining her stress and emotion psychophysiological expertise with remote sensing to assess the human state, applying her biobehavioral model of persuasion to promote cancer screening or extreme weather-related behaviors in municipalities, and applying persuasion and affect research to develop effective implicit bias training and develop emotional competency curricula for STEM teams to foster innovation. She has been a PI/Co-PI on over $5 million in extramural funding, has received numerous teaching and research awards, including Wright State University’s Presidential Award for Faculty Excellence in Early Career Achievement in 2004, and has over 53 publications and 150 presentations. Her Ph.D. is from Stony Brook University and her postdoctoral fellowship was at Yale University.

Kim Siegenthaler

Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Strategy and Operations

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

Kim Siegenthaler, Ph.D., is the associate vice chancellor for Academic Strategy and Operations. Dr. Siegenthaler’s top priority will be the development of online educational infrastructure that supports our 25 campuses in their efforts to sustain and expand their online course and program portfolios and facilitate the development of world-class online pedagogy and programs at CUNY.

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. Read More

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.

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 supports partnership between the City University of New York (CUNY) and the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) 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; the Lessons in Navigating College Transitions (LINCT) program, which aims to reduce the need for remediation in college by addressing English and math gaps in 12th grade; a network of 22 early college high schools; CUNY Prep, a nationally recognized college preparatory school for out-of-school youth; CUNY Tutor Corps, which trains CUNY students to work in middle and high school STEM classrooms; the New York City Science and Engineering Fair; College Bridge for All, the Creative Arts Team and other partnership programs between New York City schools and the University.

Andrea’s career includes service in the Office of Post-Secondary Readiness at the New York City Department of Education, most recently as 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 New York City public school students. Andrea most recently served as Deputy Director of Career Readiness at New Visions for Public Schools, where she led the development of network-wide strategy to support student success and completion at 80 New Visions schools throughout the City. She launched her career at Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, where, as the Director of College Success Programs, she managed higher education access and retention programs, and where she had also served as Education Director and as Director of Youth and Family Services. In addition, as Dean of Youth Development and Strategic Partnerships for Cypress Hills Collegiate Prep, Andrea led the planning team and school design process for a new public high school. She 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

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 Executive Registrar

Email Address: Vivek.Upadhyay@cuny.edu

Vivek Upadhyay is the University Executive Registrar, wherein he is responsible for overseeing and managing university wide enrollment management policies and procedures, and recommend changes to system and processes, to ensure the most accurate, efficient and prompt service and support for students, faculty and staff. Read More

He directly supervises the Office of University Registrar, Office of Admissions Services, and Office of Student Financial Aid, engaged in activities related to implementation of consistent, equitable university policies that respect the diversity and needs of our colleges, applicants, students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community. Enrollment Management supports the facilitation of efficient services and processes that incorporate technology with an emphasis on customer service and continuously assess system performance, in order for the University to remain in the forefront of quality customer service, successful deployment of technology, and effective leadership. Mr. Upadhyay career spans a period of over 19 years of distinguished public service in enrollment management. He was appointed University Executive Registrar in July 2016 after serving in three other key positions at CUNY: 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).

At CUNY, Mr. Upadhyay has been instrumental in the development and implementation of University wide policies to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. Under his leadership, the Office of University Registrar has continually generated operational and financial efficiencies, in the areas of student records management, across the University. These accomplishments include achieving reductions in administrative spending and implementing shared services models for the university in the areas of Transfer Credit automation, NY State Excelsior Verification, NSLDS Enrollment reporting and HEOA compliance.
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 independent consultant (from 2003 to 2008), and Student Support Manager (from 2000 to 2003) at Queens College. He teaches undergraduate and graduate Computer Architecture and Networking courses at Queens College.

Members of the Senior Leadership Team of the Office of Academic Affairs

Sunday F. Coward

University Dean of Special Programs

Office Phone: 646-664-8852
Email Address: Sunday.Coward@cuny.edu

Sunday F. Coward is University Dean of Special Programs. In her new capacity as University Dean of Special Programs, she will be responsible for the stewardship of key CUNY-wide programs that increase, encourage and support the inclusion and educational success of underrepresented groups in higher education. These programs include the Percy Ellis Sutton Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) and College Discovery (CD) opportunity programs, the CUNY Black Male Initiative (BMI), the Single Stop College Initiative, CUNY’s TRIO programs, and the CUNY Foster Youth College Success Initiative, Youth Matter. Read More

Ms. Coward brings more than 30 years of higher education experience to her new position as University Dean of Special Programs. She holds a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University as well as a Master of Science in Education in School Counseling from St. John’s University. Prior to assuming this new position, Ms. Coward served as Assistant Dean of Academic Services at Stony Brook University (2016-2019), Director of the Percy Ellis Sutton SEEK Program at Hunter College (2012-2016), Assistant Dean of Academic Success Programs in the Center for Student Advising/Division of Student Affairs at Columbia University (2001-2012), and Director of the Upward Bound Program and the Upward Bound Math & Science Program at Hofstra University (1997-2001).

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.

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 150 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. She has since held a series of progressive leadership positions in health care systems, state and federal government, and the private sector, including: 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).

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 17,000 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 interdisciplinary fields of 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.

Current Students

Faculty & Staff

Future Students