New President Officially Named at Kingsborough Community College

Suri Duitch was formally installed as the eighth president of Kingsborough Community College during a May 7 ceremony on the school’s waterfront campus in Manhattan Beach. The event, led by CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez, included elected officials, alumni, and community partners from across the City University of New York system. Duitch, a two-time CUNY graduate with a master’s in social work from Hunter College and a doctorate in urban education from the CUNY Graduate Center, has spent much of her career at CUNY. She previously worked in academic affairs, helped launch the university’s School of Professional Studies, and created the CUNY Service Corps, a paid experiential learning program connecting students with NYC nonprofits. After serving as dean of Tulane University’s School of Professional Advancement from 2016 to 2024, Duitch returned to CUNY in January 2024 as interim president of Kingsborough. She was officially appointed president last year following a national search. During the ceremony, Duitch addressed student challenges amid economic instability, political division, and debates over immigration, diversity, and artificial intelligence. She stressed the importance of accessible education in fostering both professional skills and human development, calling it essential for upward mobility and civil society. The event also featured introductions from Kingsborough students and community leaders, including representatives from the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation and the Open Door Arts-in-Education Project.