Welcome, Dr. Robin L. Garrell

March 31, 2020

Dear Graduate Center Colleagues,
Last night, the CUNY Board of Trustees voted in favor of Chancellor Matos Rodríquez’s motion that Robin L. Garrell be named the next president of The Graduate Center. It is my pleasure to welcome Dr. Garrell to her new role, which she will begin on August 1.

In selecting Dr. Garrell, Chancellor Matos Rodríguez and the search committee have chosen a top scholar and proven leader to serve our dynamic community. Having met her, I am confident that she is the right leader for our institution and for these times.

Dr. Garrell is a champion of diversity and inclusive success in graduate education who spearheaded initiatives to dramatically increase the enrollment of students from historically underrepresented groups. At UCLA, she significantly expanded professional and career development opportunities for graduate students, and she made strategic changes in how student support funds are allocated.

You can read more about her background and impressive credentials in this announcement.

I will be meeting (virtually) with Dr. Garrell over the coming months to ensure a seamless transition. Before she begins her appointment, she is eager to learn all she can about The Graduate Center, to meet as many of you as she can (again virtually), and to become familiar with the many programs and activities that contribute to The Graduate Center’s excellence in teaching and knowledge generation.

I look forward to continuing to serve The Graduate Center through July. We have much to do to keep our momentum going while we meet the ongoing challenge of COVID-19. We have a strong leadership team in place. Our remarkable faculty and students are adjusting to remote instruction and learning. Our staff are ably keeping our institution running despite the disruption caused by having to perform their roles remotely or amid the strain of working onsite.

The Graduate Center is an exceptional school. I feel extremely fortunate to lead it and to collaborate with so many treasured colleagues to ensure its continued success during Dr. Garrell’s tenure as president.

Sincerely,

James Muyskens
Interim President