Special Message from the Dean
Dear Friends of CUNY SPS:
Joining the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) last year marked an important milestone in my career which has been dedicated to advancing innovative and accessible education models that meet the needs of nontraditional students. Thank you all for the warm welcome.
In October, we celebrated the scholarship awardees at the 10th Annual Scholarship Reception, along with their achievements and the transformative power of scholarships that help students reach their educational goals. Congratulations to the 2023 scholarship recipients! My heartfelt thanks go to the generous supporters who made these awards possible.
CUNY SPS continues to thrive! I am especially pleased to share the following updates:
Ä Escalated Growth in Enrollment: We’ve seen nearly a 10% increase over last year at this time. As of Fall 2024, our student population exceeds 4,600.
Ä Recognition for Quality and Expertise: In January U.S. News & World Report ranked CUNY SPS 11th in the nation for the quality of our online bachelor’s degree programs. We remain the highest-ranked online program in New York State and New York City.
Ä Largest Graduating Class: At our May commencement, we celebrated 1,250 graduates—an exciting milestone for CUNY SPS.
Ä New Program Innovation: Our CUNY SPS program directors and faculty have designed new degree and certificate programs including Generative AI, Nonprofit Management, Cybersecurity and more.
As you review this report, I invite you to reflect on the vital role CUNY SPS plays in strengthening the workforce. A recent survey of our graduates reveals that 69% of respondents reported a title change after completing a CUNY SPS degree or program, and 60% received a pay increase within the first year. Simply put, CUNY SPS empowers individuals to achieve career mobility and financial stability. Through the generous support of donors, like you, we are able to provide hardworking students with the quality education they need to succeed in today’s competitive workplace. Thank you!
Warm regards,
Lisa R. Braverman, Ph.D. Dean, CUNY School of Professional Studies
About the Foundation
The CUNY SPS Foundation Board, founded in 2011, is a nonprofit entity that continuously explores new fundraising opportunities to promote and support the School’s educational and charitable goals and its students.
Inspired by CUNY SPS students, the Foundation’s Board exists to enhance public understanding and recognition of CUNY SPS, to promote the School’s mission, and to champion the dedicated and hardworking students we serve. The Foundation Board continuously explores new fundraising opportunities for CUNY SPS that will further the commitment to our students by promoting the educational and charitable purposes of the School.
ALetter from the Foundation Board Chair
s we close the 2024 Fiscal Year, we have notable successes for the CUNY School of Professional Studies and our Foundation. These are due to the vision of Dean Lisa R. Braverman, Ph.D. as she implemented effective new enrollment and fiscal systems, fostered innovative programs, and promoted strong leaders in several departments who helped make these successes a reality. The staff and faculty steadfastly supported quality and accessibility in our educational programs and remained passionately committed to our students overall. The Foundation Board and our varied donors also remained loyal in the face of new leadership and helped achieve a 12.9% increase in funding over the previous fiscal year.
Thanks to your generosity and focus on removing barriers CUNY SPS students face, we established three new scholarships and raised nearly $80K for Giving Tuesday
A special Thank You to the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation for their ongoing support for mature students, and the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation for their specialized support for food insecurity and emergency grants.
As we look ahead for the coming 2025 Fiscal Year, we are thrilled to welcome more students, with a 10% increase in enrollment for the fall (and the fourth consecutive term of growth). With more students, however, we also have greater need for scholarships and student supports, such as textbooks and emergency grants, that boost retention and graduation rates. With a new Board member (and CUNY alum), Jay Landauer, and a seasoned new Executive Director of Development, Andrea M. Brown, we will be rolling out an expanded strategy to achieve our ambitious goals. We look forward to engaging with you in our shared vision of helping CUNY SPS students succeed.
Sincerely,
Blake Foote Chair, CUNY SPS Foundation Board
Celebrating Foundation Scholars at the 2023 CUNY SPS Annual Scholarship Reception
On November 15, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) community gathered to attend the 2023 Annual Scholarship Reception and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event, which was first held back in 2013. In addition to observing this decade milestone, the evening also spotlighted our many deserving and talented scholarship recipients and the donors who help make these awards possible.
In her opening remarks, Dean Lisa R. Braverman, Ph.D. welcomed the CUNY SPS community and reminded the audience of the critical role that scholarships play in helping students achieve success. "For our students, many of whom are working adults, CUNY SPS has been a lifeline to complete degrees and advance in their careers,” she noted. “Many of these students attend parttime while they juggle work, family, and other life responsibilities. And because they are working adults, their financial aid options, other than scholarships, are often limited.”
Following Dean Braverman’s remarks, Blake Foote, Chair of the CUNY School of Professional Studies Foundation Board, introduced the scholarship recipients, who each shared their own stories.
The first speaker was Museum Studies Scholar Isabella Lazzarino (MA Museum Studies), who reflected on her academic journey as a firstgeneration college student.” I stand before you today as a proud Latina woman and the first in my family to enter graduate school,” she explained. “My journey has been forever transformed by the opportunities made possible through [the Museum Studies Scholarship]…[It] has provided me with not only the financial support but also the mentorship and guidance necessary for personal and professional development.”
Next, Newcombe Scholar Marco Panchame (BA Human Relations) took to the podium to share the impact the award has had for him. “For over a decade, I have dedicated my life to working with
2023 Scholars in Their Own Words
“The [New York Historical President’s Fellow in] Museum Studies Scholarship at CUNY SPS eased the financial burden of graduate education and permitted me to concentrate on my studies and career development through the opportunity to apply and be accepted into the CUNY Cultural Corps ”
– Isabella Lazzarino, 2023 New York Historical President’s Fellow in Museum Studies Scholar
“College students know the importance scholarships play in the lives they touch as they alleviate the financial stress faced to allow us to focus on what is essential: our families and our studies.
I want to highlight the importance of Disability Studies programs and point out how proud I am to attend CUNY SPS. In my opinion, CUNY SPS is a school that, simply by making these programs available to the masses, introduces the concepts of universal design and equity. . . These programs change perspectives, they change lives, and they change the world ”
– Lennyn Jacob, 2023 William J. Kissane III Scholar continued on next page
Celebrating Foundation Scholars at the 2023 CUNY SPS Annual Scholarship Reception
the city’s homeless population, witnessing firsthand the challenges and traumas that they face daily,” Panchame said. “The Newcombe Scholarship has come as a beacon of hope, allowing me to continue my pursuit of one day obtaining a master’s in social work.”
Lastly, William J. Kissane III Scholar Lennyn Jacob (BA Disability Studies) spoke, recounting her moving story as a student with an invisible disability. “I lived in fear of the stigma associated with my disability,” Jacob said. “I didn’t know how I would make college work after the many failed attempts, but I knew I had to have courage...Today, I stand before you as a student activist and proud loving mother of a neurodivergent son with autism.” Jacob then detailed some of her recent activist efforts and accolades, including being named on the City & State Power 100: Most Influential People in Higher Education list for both 2022 and 2023.
After the student speeches concluded, Blake Foote returned to the podium to offer her final
remarks. “Scholarships have an enormous impact on our students – as you just heard from our speakers. However, with our current resources, the School is only able to provide scholarships to a very tiny percentage of our students annually.”
Foote continued, “For example, this year, the SPS Bursar’s Office received 626 scholarship applications and was only able to award 83 students. As we grow beyond 4,000 students, we are committed to increasing our number of available scholarship opportunities.”
To close the evening, Dean Braverman took the stage again to propose a congratulatory toast to the Foundation Board as a specially prepared 10th anniversary cake was wheeled out.
“Thank you so much to our amazing Board Members for your ongoing commitment to the school and our students,” Dean Braverman said. “And to our wonderful and thoughtful Board Chair, Blake Foote. Your hard work and dedication are inspiring!”
“For over a decade, I have dedicated my life to working with the city's homeless population, witnessing firsthand the challenges and traumas that they face daily. This experience has not only shaped my understanding of their needs but has also fueled my determination to make a difference in their lives. The Newcombe Scholarship [for Mature Students] has come as a beacon of hope, allowing me to continue my pursuit of one day obtaining a Master's in Social Work.”
– Marco Panchame, 2023 Newcombe Scholar for Mature Students
Key Demographics of Our Students
During the 2022-23 academic year, over 5,855 students attended CUNY SPS in total. Of those 4,075 are in undergraduate degree or certificate programs, over 1,780 are in graduate degree or advanced certificate programs, and over 258 are non-degree students.
Ä Over 85% of our undergraduates work fullor part-time or serve in the military, and are therefore ineligible for key state/federal financial aid.
Ä Approximately 73% of our students are women.
Ä More than 65% of our students are over 30 years old.
Ä More than 72% are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).
34% are Black
20% are Hispanic
16% are Asian or Pacific Islander
<1% are American Indian or Native Alaskan
Ä Nearly 70% of our students reside in NYC; over 80% live in NYS.
12% are from the Bronx
22% are from Brooklyn
10% are from Manhattan
23% are from Queens
3% are from Staten Island
FY24: Total Giving by Constituency*
- Friends
- Foundations
- Faculty and Staff
- Students and Alumni
34% - Board Members
- Corporations
FY24: Total Giving by Fund*
2% - Textbook Emergency 6% - Other scholarships/grants
2% - Otilia Abraham Memorial
2% - Bob Martin Memorial
7% - Petrie Food Access Grant
15% - Newcombe Mature Students
34% - Friends of CUNY SPS
32% - NYCHSRO Medical Coding
Even a small donation goes a long way at CUNY SPS!
Tuition is nearly one tenth of what private colleges cost. And unlike other nonprofits and foundations, CUNY SPS covers our staffing and most of our Foundation overhead costs, ensuring that nearly all of your charitable gifts will go directly to students in need.
CUNY SPS Foundation Scholarships, Prizes, and Grants
With the help of our generous supporters, the CUNY SPS Foundation has awarded scholarships, prizes, and grants of more than $2.8 million to over 2,750 students since 2012
The following list of scholarships, prizes, and grants reflect the diversity of support that the Foundation offers to our unique student body. We recognize that students at the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS), who are returning to college, may have different—and far more urgent—financial needs than traditional undergraduates. Nearly all our students work full-time, and many are female heads of households, raising families while juggling school and work. These determined students may struggle not only with the costs of higher education—especially since they are often ineligible for federal financial aid because they are working or going to school part-time —but also with paying their bills in New York City where the cost of living is so great. To meet our students where they are at, the Foundation seeks to customize and expand the types of awards we provide to ensure that all our students may get the specific help they need to succeed at CUNY SPS and beyond.
Because CUNY’s undergraduate tuition is only $7,000 per year, your contributions towards scholarships and other supports go a long way to helping our hard-working students finish their degrees and move ahead in their careers.
SCHOLARSHIPS
ACHIEVE COLLEGE EDUCATION (ACE) SCHOLARSHIP: 10 Awardees
BOB MARTIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: 4 Awardees
EUGENE WALTERS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: 3 Awardees
FINISH LINE DEBT FORGIVENESS SCHOLARSHIP: 31 Awardees
FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT SUCCESS SCHOLARSHIP: 8 Awardees
FOUNDING DEAN’S SCHOLARSHIP: 7 Awardees
NANCY KLINGER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: 2 Awardees
NEW YORK HISTORICAL PRESIDENT’S FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP IN MUSEUM STUDIES: 4 Awardees
NEWCOMBE SCHOLARSHIP FOR MATURE STUDENTS: 179 Awardees
PATTI LIEBERMAN SCHOLARSHIP FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: 3 Awardees
PETRIE NURSE SCHOLARSHIP: 8 Awardees
RUSS PETERSON TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP: 3 Awardees
SCHULMAN, BOMBOY AND GRAY SCHOLARSHIP: 1 Awardee
STEPHEN M. ROSSEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: 1 Awardee
TIMOTHY MEADE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: 2 Awardees
U.S. MILITARY BACHELOR’S DEGREE COMPLETION SCHOLARSHIP: 1 Awardee
U.S. MILITARY SCHOLARSHIP: 5 Awardees
VITELLO SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE DISABILITY STUDIES PROGRAM: 1 Awardee
WILLIAM J. KISSANE III SCHOLARSHIP: 3 Awardees
YOUTH STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP: 1 Awardee
The average scholarship award was $673.00 for 2023–24 academic year.
PRIZES
2024 ADJUNCT FACULTY
TEACHING EXCELLENCE
PRIZE: 1 Awardee
Dr. Jill Johnson, adjunct professor, Psychology “We come to our college learning experiences with memories and emotions held from a time we were last in school. If those experiences were strong and positive the mind is sooner open and believes that school can be an enriching experience. Some students come to college holding onto the last series of negative challenges they encountered when last in school. When this is true, I believe it is an educator’s opportunity to help rebuild the student experience so that students can genuinely recognize their greatest potential.”
EMERGENCY GRANT FUNDS
CUNY SPS STUDENT EMERGENCY GRANTS
To date, 103 CUNY SPS Student Emergency Grants have been awarded during the 2023-24 academic year, with an average award of $723. Overall, the School has awarded more than 1,000 CUNY SPS Student Emergency Grants.
PETRIE STUDENT EMERGENCY GRANTS
To date, 63 Petrie Student Emergency Grants have been awarded during the 2023-24 academic year, with an average award of $816. Overall, the School has awarded more than 260 Petrie Student Emergency Grants.
CUNY SPS TEXTBOOK GRANTS
To date, 178 CUNY SPS Textbook Grants have been awarded during the 2023-24 academic year, with an average award of $157. Overall, the School has awarded more than 660 CUNY SPS Textbook Grants.
VIRTUAL FOOD PANTRY GRANTS
To date, 214 Virtual Food Pantry Grants have been awarded during the 2023-24 academic year, with an average award of $50. Overall, the School has awarded more than 2,000 Virtual Food Pantry Grants.
CUNY SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES FOUNDATION
2024 Board of Directors
(Alphabetical order by last name)
Donatus Anusionwu
Managing Director, Investments HarbourView Equity Partners
Stephanie Benjamin Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
The City University of New York (Ret.)
Lisa R. Braverman, Ph.D. Dean
CUNY School of Professional Studies
Pamela Brier
President and CEO (Ret.) Maimonides Medical Center
Joel I. Cohen, Vice-Chair Managing Director (Ret.)
JPMorgan Chase
Beatriz (Bea) de la Torre Chief Philanthropy Officer Trinity Church Wall Street
Blake Foote, Chair Workforce Development Consultant
Natalie Giles Green Former mayoral appointee, Panel for Educational Policy NYC Board of Education
Lea Kilraine
Associate Director of Strategic Projects
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP
Robert Kissane * Honorary Member, CUNY SPS Foundation and former Chairman, CCS Fundraising, Inc.
Jason Kubica, Treasurer Senior Vice President, Wealth Management
UBS Financial Services Inc.
Jay F. Landauer ** Managing Partner Union Capital Associates LP
Patti Lieberman, Secretary Trustee
A.L. Mailman Family Foundation, Inc.
Nadine Martin
Associate Director, Oncology
Global Marketing Merck
Brennon Marcano CEO
The National GEM Consortium
Debbie Rosen Former Chief of Staff, First Deputy Mayor, New York City
* Denotes an alumnus.
** Joined the Foundation Board in Summer 2024.
CUNY SPS Foundation board members, left to right: Patti Lieberman; Jason Kubica; Blake Foote; Dean Lisa R. Braverman, Ph.D.; Debbie Rosen; and Horace Barker (former member).
Jay Landauer Joins CUNY SPS Foundation Board
The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) is pleased to announce that Jay F. Landauer, a finance executive and CUNY alumnus, has been appointed to serve on the School’s Foundation Board.
“We are delighted to welcome Jay to the Foundation Board, where he will serve as a member at large,” said Blake Foote, Chair of the CUNY SPS Foundation Board. “With his invaluable finance skills and acumen, Jay will contribute greatly to our fundraising initiatives and our efforts to expand the scholarships and opportunities that will support current and future CUNY SPS students on their path to success.”
A longtime finance expert, Landauer has spent over twenty years investing in majority positions of companies ranging from $20 million to $300 million with a focus on driving earnings growth through operational improvements and talent recruitment and training.
Currently, he is a Managing Partner at Union Capital Associates, LP, a lowermiddle market private equity firm based in Greenwich, CT, which has made investments in over 50 businesses in
CUNY
member Jay Landauer,
Below,
various industries including food manufacturing, specialty manufacturing, business process outsourcing, group purchasing organizations, and marketing services.
In addition to serving on the board for numerous privately-held companies, Landauer has also served for many years as President of the MIT Sloan Club of New York and has helped support Baruch College as an alumnus.
Landauer received his MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and earned his BBA from CUNY’s Baruch College, where he received the school’s top award in finance.
SPS Foundation board
second from left with Blake Foote, Beatriz de la Torre, and Jason Kubica.
Jay Landauer with 2024 Alumni Legacy Scholarship awardee Helen Torres.
Message from the Executive Director of Development
Andrea M. Brown
Executive Director of Development CUNY SPS Office of Development and Alumni Relations
SPS FALL 2024 (FY’25)
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role has been meeting our students and connecting with our donors. Each interaction has highlighted the transformative impact for both the donor and student. As you review this report, please know that your support has been instrumental in creating opportunities and changing the lives of CUNY SPS students. In the days and months ahead, I look forward to personally thanking you for your support and learning about the motivation behind it. If you’re in the area, let’s meet for coffee or schedule a Zoom call if that’s a better fit for you. I can be reached by email (andrea.brown@cuny.edu) or phone (646-664-8660). Thank you for your steadfast commitment to CUNY SPS and the students we serve!
FY24 Donors
Foundations, Corporations, & Organizations
Legacy Society ($100,000+)
New York County Health Services Review Organization, Inc.
Leadership Circle ($50,000-$99,999)
The Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation
Sustainers ($5,000-$24,999)
Bank of America Employee Giving Campaign
The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation
J.P. Morgan Charitable Giving Fund
Supporters ($1,000-$4,999)
Goldman Sachs Matching Gift Program
Jewish Communal Fund
The New York Community Trust
Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies
UBS Matching Gifts Program
Friends ($1-$999)
Benevity Community Impact Fund
Bonterra
Doris Duke Management Foundation
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Merck Gives Back Program
The Progressive Insurance Foundation
Schwab Charitable
Individuals
Sustainers
($5,000-$24,999)
Donatus Anusionwu♦ and Arpita Mazumdar
Stephanie T. Benjamin♦
Pamela S. Brier♦
Joel I. Cohen♦ and Terry Cohen
Blake W. Foote♦
Natalie Green Giles♦ and Douglas Giles
Jason Kubica♦
Patricia S. Lieberman♦
Zeita-Marion Lobley
Brennon Marcano♦
Debbie Rosen♦
Supporters ($1,000-$4,999)
Anonymous (3)
Tyerence E. Brown*
Beatriz de la Torre♦
Susan S. Ko
Nadine Martin♦
John Mogulescu
Susan G. Rosenthal
Friends ($1-$999)
Anonymous (19)
Anjali Anderson-Buckley
Michelle Attles
Nicholas Y. Barratt*
Mariette J. Bates
Dale A. Beaumont*
Leonard V. Blades*
Kathryn Brady
Lisa R. Braverman, Ph.D.
Harvey S. Brown
Rebecca Brown Cesarani
Leah Chajeczkis
Chandra Y. Cherry*
Michelle Coke*
Nidia E. Cordova*
Kelly Cunningham
Savannah N. Curry*
Charles G. Delaney
Jessica A. Dempsey*
Barbara R. Walters Doehrman
Deborah A. Douglass
Phara S. Forrest*
Shannon Gallo
Roxanne R. Garoutte
Patrycja Golinska*
Jason E. Gomez*
Raymond C. Habib
Mary K. Hannigan
Marilyn Harren*
Jonathan Holtz
Elaine Z. Hopkins
Vangjelina Hoxha*
Stephen Ippolito*
Lennyn Jacob
Alexandra Perez Jimenez
Michael P. Katzab*
Maura J. Kehoe*
William Kellogg
Juliette Kennedy*
Kathleen Kirk
Jeanne Kitay
Sarah A. Krusemark*
Joanne T. Lavin
Jennifer G. Lee
Kit K. Lei
Anne Marie Leveille-Tulce
Antonia M. Levy*
Bruce A. Lieberman
Grace V. Lieberman*
Okel London*
Rashad Long
Elizabeth Marmol
Verneisha T. Martin*
Yeiry Martinez*
Kristin Maynard
David McLellan*
Francis Mosquito
Randi Nieves
Brian A. Peterson
Tracey Pinelli*
Ann Richman
Arianna Rodriguez
Carlos Ronisky
Ruru Rusmin
Gregory Sanchez
Lianna Scull
Danny C. Shaw*
Lisa A. Sheridan*
Ashok Sinha
Jennifer R. Sparrow
Ellen Steinbaum
Bronwen Stine
Anthony Sweeney
Garrett McGuire Tabb
Jinelle Thompson* Aysel Toprakli*
Blanca M. Toscano*
Stephen Velasquez, Jr.*
Christopher C. Vine
Michael Visovsky
Sarit Wishnevski
Elizabeth Wyner
Patrick Yanez
Asterisk *= CUNY SPS Alum Diamond ♦= Foundation Board Member